The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-22

st. Petersburg, August 19.-Russ;a's
national representative assemIy, .ha
frult of decades of stress and striving
for reform, which endows the Russian
people with the right of being consult
ed through their chosen representatives
IN the suggestion, preparation and re-
peal OF legislation, today takes It's
place among the fundamental instl.u-
ions Of the empire.
In Il solemn manifesto Emperor
Nicholas announces this morning to
his subjects the fTuition of his plans
summOnlng the representatives of the
people as outlined by him in a rescript
issued on March 3rd last, and fixes the
date for the first convocation as mid
January, and in a ukase, addressed to
the senate formally orders that body
to register as the imperial will a law
project, formulating the nature, pow
ers and procedure of the new govern
mental organization.
h manifesto, ukase and project aye
published this morning in special edi-
lions of the Official Messenger in st.
Petersburg and Moscow. They will !,e
given out for publication at noon to
all the newspapers throughout the m
p1re, many of which are preparing to
issue extra editions to signalize a mo-
mentOus historical event, overshadow-
ing in Importance the liberation of the
serfs in 1861.
The national assembly will be a
consultative organization in connection
with the council of the empire and net
Il legislative body. The powers of the
emperor remain theoretically absolute
AS the emperor is the supreme law
giver and autOcrat, the decisions OF
the dOuma have only a recommenda-
tory and not a binding force, though
the rejection Of any legislative meas
Ures by q twO-thirds majority of both
houses is sufficient to prevent that
measure from becoming law.
The representatives Of the people
will have not only the right to he
heard on any legislation proposed by
the government, but also can voice
their desires On new laws and will
have the right to exert a certain SUI
pervision v hudgetary expenditures.
The suffrage, though wide, is not uni
Versal. 1t is based on property qualifi-
cation, the ~peasantry having a vote
through membership in communal Or
CARNATIONS.
A considerable portion of the resi-
dents of the cities, possessing no lands.
together with women, soldiers, civil
fu%nctiOnaries, etc, are without SUI
frage.
The imperial manifesto says in paGt:
I'VE reserve to ourselves entirely The
care of perfecting the organization of
the DOuma: and when the course Of
events snail have shown the necessity
for changes corresponding to the needs
of the times and the welfare of the
empire. we shall not fail to give at the
proper the necessary direct
ions.
I'VE are convinced that those who
shall have been elected by the conf
dence of the whole people, and who
will thus be called upon to participate
in teh legislative work of the govern.
ment will show themselves in the eyes
of all Russia to be worthy OF the I'M
perial trust and that, in perfect har-
mony with other institutions and All
thorities of the state established by US
they will contribute proftably and
~Zealously to our labors for the strength
ening of the unity, the security and rhf
greatness of the empire as we'll as fol-
the tranquility and prosperity of thf
people"
The manifesto concludes by express
ing the hope that Russia will emerge
zsumphant from the trying ordeal:
through which she is now passing ant
will be born again in the strength, ths
greatness and the glory of her his
tory, extending through a Thousand
years"