Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-11-04
GAR GIVES
CIVIC FREEDOM
TO RUSSIA
Signed Imperial Manifesto Granting
People a Constitution.
N. wITTE THE FIRST PREMIER

M. WlIIE The FIRST PREMIER
Nicholas, With Throne lettering and
Subjects In Revolution, surrenders
to Demands Of People, Granting
Them La~-Making Powers and Per.
sonsi Freedom-Rule Of Absolutism
Ended After 500 Years.
St Petersburg. oct ST. am sure
the American people. who understand
what freedom is, and the American
press. which voices the wishes OF the
people. viii rejoice with the friendly
Russian nation at this moment when
the Russian people have received
from his imperial majesty the prom.
ises and Tie guarantees OF freedom.
and will join in the hope that the Rus.
sian people win wisely aid in the real
ization OF those liberties by cooperat.
ing with tie government for their
peaceful Introduction. Only thus will
Il be possible 70 secure the full bene-
fits of the freedom conferred upon the
people"
Count WJte, Russia's first premier.
sent the above message to the Ameri-
can people through the Associated
Press. He had just arrived at his
residence on Kammeniovrov Prospect
from Peterhof. where, in the Alexan-
der Palace. he emperor two hours be-
fore had given his final approval 10 a
manifesto and 10 program which will
forever end the rule OF absolutism ex-
ercised by him and his Romanoff an.
cestors for 900 years.
Text Of the Manifesto.
The following is the text OF the
imperial manifesto:
We. Nicholas the second by the grace
OF God, emperor and autocrat OF au.the
Russias, grand duke Of Finland. etc de-
clare 10 All our faithful subjects that the
troubles and agitation IN our capitals and
IL numerous other places an our heart
with excessive pain and sorrow
The happiness OF the Russian sover-
eign Is indis olubly bound up with the
happiness OF our people and the sorrow
ereign.
From the present disorders may arise
great national disruption. They menace
the Integrity and unity OF our empire.
The suprems duty imposed upon us by
our sovereign Office requires us TO ef-
face ourselves and to use all the force
and coordination OF the power OF the
central government and 10 assure the sue
cess OF measures for pacification In all
circles OF public life. which are essential
20 the well being or our people
We. therefore. direct our government
10 carry out our infiexible will In the fol-
lowing manner:
''first-To extend TO the population the
immutable foundations OF civic liberties.
based on the real inviolability OF person.
freedom OF conscience. speech. union and
association.
Second-Without suspending the al
ready ordered elections TO the state
doums, TO invite to participation in the
douma, so far as the limited time before
the convocation OF the douma will permit
those classes Of the population now COM
pletely deprived OF electoral rights leav-
ms the ultimate development OF the prin-
ciple OF the electoral right in general TO
the newly established legislative order of
things.
''Third-To establish as an unchange-
able rule that no law shall be enforceable
without the approval OF the state douma,
and that IL shall be possible for the elect
ed OF the people 20 exercise real partici-
patton in the supervision OF tina legality
OF the acts Of the authorities appointed
by -