The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-09
ZemsyOists VIII Present Re-
markabIs Petition
NO WORD OF LOYALTY
Recites That the Path to Enable Truth
to Reach the Emperor Is Bar
red BY the Selfish
Bureaucracy

st. Petersburg. June 9.-u:50 a. m.)-
The voice of the delegates of the zem-
stvos and municipalities demanding in
no uncertain tone the immediate convo-
cation of a national assembly to pass
upon the question of peace or war; to
heal International strife and to unite
the people for the rejuvenating of Rus
STA, will be heard in the address adopted
by the all-Russian zemstvo congress at
Moscow, which a deputation headed by
Count Hayden and NJ. Shipoff is bring
ing to present to the Emperor The
document bids fair TO become historic.
The customary phrases of respect at
the opening and the closing are omitted.
and it is otherwise unceremonlous, em-
ploying the direct personal pronoun. The
address arraigns the bureaucracy and
reminds the Emperor that his pledge to
conyoke a national assembly is slow OF
fulhllment. 1t says the country is ON
the verge of civil war. AMI even ven-
lures to criticlse a royal measure, con-
trasting the increase of the police power
by the ukase issued last Sunday with
weakening of the administrative pro-
cess, which the country had been led
to expect.
The address urges the summoning OF
national assembly that the war may
become national or ceHse. aud concludes
with a solemn reminder of the sover-
eign's duty to God and The fatheriand.
and prayer for acton iefuro il is too
late
There is intense iuteiss. taken in how
the Emperor will receive the bearers Of
so bold message, In tones such as never
before have been used between the En-
peror and his subjects. The address 10
buttressed with stream ot petitions
from individual zemstvos and muniei-
pallties.
The donmas OF nearly all the principal
cities have addressed the throne praying
/ that the people be summoned at once.
Want Assembly Called at Once.
Moscow. June The aIl-Russlan
Zemstvo congress today elected deputa-
ton of ten delegates headed by Count
Hayden and M. Shipon to present an adj
dress to the Emperor asking for the inn
mediate convocation of representative
assembly to decide tho question OF peace
CT war.
The address Is a lengthy document from
which the following are extracts:
Sir. Russia has been drawn into Q
disastrous war by criminal abuses ana
Tn negligence of your counsellors.
"Our army is poweress, and our fleet
has been annhilated but more menacing
than this extr me peril. Is the prospect
of civil war waged by your people
against all the vices of a dangerous ana
ignorant bureaucracy
Proceeding the address declares that
the Emperor's reform intentions have
been distorted and miscarrieds while the
pollce have been given unrestricted power
Barred From the Truth.
Martial law has been declared" ths
address says, "and the path to enable the
truth to reach you Is barred to your sub
jects **s
"Sr. before 1t is too late for the well
fare of Russia, command conyocatlon
ii representatives of the nation elected by
equal franchise and let these elected rep
resentatives decide with you the vital
question of war or peace, thus transform
ing the war into a national one
Let them establish an agreement with
you to secure a renovated national or
ganization
"sir. do not delay. Great is your re-
sponsibility before God an before Rus
sid In this terrible hour of national trial"
The address will nos be published in
the newspapers, but its contents VIII be
spread with the mysterious rapidity char
acteristic of Russia.
Throughout the address the word mai
esty" Is not used, and there Is not single
convential expression Of loyalty.