The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-31
(By the Associated Press. }


St. Petersburg, Oct. 30.-(6:O5 y.
m.)-TOnight the autOcracy of the
Romanoffs and the old order of things
cease to exist in Russia. Emperor
Nicholas has surrendered and Count
Witte comes into power as minister
president with an imperial mandate
which will enable him to convert the
farcical national assembly into a real
Legislative body elected by greatly ex-
tended suffrage and to confer upon the
people fundamental civil liberties. in
cluding free speech.
These welcome tidings reached st.
Petersburg shortly before 6 O'Clock
this evening. Count Witte had spent
the day with the Emperor at Peterhof
going over the final draft of the man
ifesto to which he insisted that GER
tain minor notifications be made. and
before taking the train for st. Peters
burg he telephoned to a friend that
the Emperor had affixed his signature
and that the imperial mandate COM
prising the conditions upon which he
had agreed to accept office was in
his pocket. These include freedom of
the immunity of the person. includ-
ing the right of habeas corpus.
Count Witte insisted on q cabinet
on the British model with select
ed premier responsible to the Imperial
Dcuma, or parliament while the En-
peror clung to the appointment of
the members of the cabinet on the
American plan by the Emperor as
chief of state.
The state department has instruct
ed Charge D'Afaires Eddy in case of
emergency to give American citizens
asylum at the embassy and if nee
essary to charter a steamer.
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff is re-
assuring the amba ssadors by formally
guaranteeing the mafety of foreign
residents. He announces that the gov
ernment is prepared 10 afford them
military protection in St Petersburg
and elsewhere in the event of disor-
dcrS
The imperial Manifesto.
The following is the text of the i'm
pcrial manifesto:
I'VE. Nicholas the Second. by the
grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat
of all the Russias. Grand Duke of Fin
land, etc. declare to all our faithful
subjects that the troubles and agita-
tion i'm our capitals and i'm numerous
other places Till Oiir heart with excess
siyc pain and SORROW.
THE happiness of the Russian SOW
erCign is indissoluhiy bound up with
the happiness of our people and the
sorrow of our people is the sorrow OF
the sovereign.
From these disorders may arise
great national disruption. They mcn-
acc the integrity and unity OF our en-
pira.
'''l'lc Supreme duty imposed upon
us by our sovcrcign's office requires US
to ehace ourscif and to use ali force
and reason at our command to hasten
i'm securing the unity and co-Ordina-
ton OF the power of the central gov
crEn1ent, and to assure the success OF
measures tor pacifcation in all CIR
cles of public life, which are essential
To the well being OF our people.
I'VE, therefore, direct our govern
merit 10 carry out our infiexibie will
i'm the following manner:
''EirSt--TOs extend to the population
the immutable foundations of civic
liberty. based on the real inviolability
of person, freedom OF conscience.
speech. union and association
"SccOnd-Witiiout suspending the
already ordered elections TO the State
douma, to invite to participation i'm
the douma. so far as the limited time
before the cOnyOcatiOG of the DONNA
will permit. those classes OF the popu-
Iation now completely deprived OF
electoral rights leaving the ultimate
development of the principle of the
electoral rights i'm general to the newly
established legislative order of things
"Third-TO establish as an un-
changeab!e rule that no law shall be
enforceable without the approval of
the State douna and that it shall be
possible for the elected of the people
TO exercise real participation i'm the
supervision OF the legality of the acts
of the authorities appointed by us.
I'VE appeal to all faithful sons OF
Russia TO remember their duty to-
wards the fatIlcriand, to aid i'm termi-
mating these Unprecedented troubles
and TO apply their forces. in co-oPera-
, with us. to Oration of calm
peace upoI atal soil.
Given at Pc October 80, in