Fergus County argus., 1905-09-01
CAR GRANTS
CONCESSIONS
PEOPLE OF RUSSIA At LAST TO
HAVE A NATIONAL AS
SEMBLY.

ST. Petersburg, Aug. 2l.-Emperor
Nicholas today announced the grant
to the people of Russia of a nation
al consultative assembly to be form
ed by elected representatives from |
the whole of Russia.
The imperial manifesto, which is
published simultaneously here and at |
Moscow, and which will be read in |
all the churches of the empire, is dat |
ed at Peterhof today, and is as fol-
lows:
The Manifesto.
"The emipre of Russia is formed
and strengthened by the indestructi-
BILE solidarity of the emperor with the
pecpe and of the people with the en-
peror. This concord Of emperor and
people is the great moral force which
has created Russia in the course of
centuries by protecting her from all
misfortunes and all attacks, and has
constituted up to the present time a
pledge of unity. independence, integ-
rity, material well-being and intellec-
tual development.
"In our manifesto of February "a,
1908, we called to close understand
ing all the faithful sons of the father
land in order to protect the organiza-
ton of the state by establishing on
firm basis the domestic life of the
empire and then we devoted ourselves
to the task of co-ordinating elective
public institutions with governmental
agreemnts existing between them
which had reacted so disastrously on
the normal course of our national life.
THE autocratic emperors, our an
cestors, constantly had that object in
view, and the time has come to follow
out their good intentions and to sum-
mon elected representatives from the
whole of Russia to take constant and
active part in the elaboration of the
laws, thereby attaching to the higher
state institutions special consulta-
tive body, intrusted with the prelimi-
nary elaboration and discussion of
measures and with the examination of
the state budget.
at is for this reason that, while
preserving the fundamental law regu-
lating the autocratic power. we have
deemed it we'll to form gosudarstven.
naia douma 0Ower house of the as.
sembly), and to approve the regula
tions for elections to this douma, ex.
tending the validity of these laws to
the whole territory of the empire with
such exceptions only as may be con
sidered necessary in the case of some
regions in which special conditions Oh
, tain.
: Gas regards the participation in the
labors of the gosudarstvennaia oduma
of delegates from the grand duchy oil
5 Finland on questions concerning the
empire in general and the grand duchy
in particular, we will take specia
l measures.
V "At the same time. We have order
l ed the minister of the interior to sub
l NIT Immediately for our appreciation
l regulations for the elections to thu
:. douma, so that deputies from city gov
e ernments and from the military pro
/ vince of the Don may be able to as
l semble not later than the middle O
January, 1906.
1--WE reserve to ourselves entire tn,
i, care of perfecting the organization
:, OF the gosudarstvennia douma. an,
9 when the course of events shall hav,
= = shown the necessity for changes. COZ
!, responding completely to the needs o
- the times and the welfare of the EN-
plre. we shall not fail to give at tn
proper moment the necessary diret
tions.
His New Born Confidence.
{ I'VE are convinced that those VIII
shall have been elected by the cor
l. hdence of the whole people, and VIII
l. will thus be called upon to participat
= IN the legislative work of the govern
S ment will show themselves in the eve
l. OF all Russia to be worthy of the in
e perial trust in which they have bee
d invited to cooperate in this grea
G. work. and that in perfect harmon
n with other institutions and authoritie
o OF the states established by us. the
e Will contribute profitably and zealou!
It ly to our labors for the we'll being {
J. our common mother, Russia, and fc
e the Strengthening of the unity, the S,
g. curlty and the greatness of the en-
" plre, as well as for the tranquility an
70 prosperity of the people.
h. "In invoking the blessing of tn
al Lord on the labors of the institution
established by us. and with unshal
,s able confidence in the grace of Go,
\ and in the infallibility of the gres
% historical destinies reserved by Divin
4 providence for our beloved Fathe
IT land. We firmly hope that with tn
q. help OF God Almighty. and with til
combined efforts of all her sons, Ru
~ sla will emerge triumphantly frol
~ the trying ordeals through which sf
~ is now passing. and will be born agai
~ in the strength. the greatness and til
glory of her history, extending throue
a thousand years.
nj Given at Peterhof. this 10Th da
H. or August. in the year of grace 100
Ie and the eleventh year of our reign.
d. NICHOLAS"