The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-21
CAPITAL OF TUE RUSSIAS
 SEETHES WITH DISCONTINUED

on being heard by the Emperor him. self. Appeal Bitter and Heart Reaching.
 The text of the workmen's petition to the Emperor follows:
 Sire: We, workmen, inhabitants of St. Petersburg, of all classes, our wives, children and indigent parents-l come to you our sovereign, asking for protection. We are poor. persecuted. strength. We are insulted, treated not as men but as slaves who ought to bear their cruel fate In silence. We have suffered. but we are being plung- ed deeper in the mire and deprived of our rights.
 "Uninstructed, stifed by destitution and injustice. we are perishing. We have no strength left. Sire. we have arrived at the extreme limits of en- durance; we have reached the terrible moment when death is to be preferred to the continuation of our fntolerable sufferings.
 We have left our work and have informed our employers that we will not resume until our demands are con- ceded: We have not asked much: we have asked but for means of iiveli- hood. without which life is q burden and labor continual torture.
 Our first request Is that our mas ters should investigate our case. They have refused. We have been denied the right to put forward our claim, 1t being held that such right Is not rec ognized by law"
 After referring to the eight hour day and other points in their case, the petitioners say:
 Kindness a Crime.
 "Any one of our fellow countrymen who has dared raise his voice sn the interests of the people of the working classes has been thrown into prison or transported. Kindness and good feeling have been treated as a crime. The bureaucracy has brought the coun- try to the verge of ruin in a shameful way. It is turing 1t to It's downfall. We have no voice in the heavy bur- dens imposed: we do not know for whom or why this money is wruns from an impoverished people, and we do not know how 1t is expended. This state of things. contrary to divine laws, renders life impossible. It were better that we should af perish-we workers. and ali Russia. Then, good luck to capitalists and exploiters and poor corrupt officials, robbers of tho Russian people.
 Assembled before thy palace, we plead our salvation. Refuse nSt thine aid and raise thy people from their tomb. Give them means of working out their own destiny. Rescue them from the intolerable officedom. Throw down the wall that separates; free thy people; order that they may rule the country with thee. Create for thy people the happiness wrenched from us, leaving nothing but sorrow and humiliation.
 "We pray your majesty graciously to receive our demands, which are iri- spired by a desire for your majesty's and our welfare, Russia is too great and her nteds are too varied and mum erous for officials only to rule. Ma tional representation is indispensable as only the people themselves know the country's real needs
 soIe Balm for Wounds.
 Refuse not they aid. but order convocation of representatives of all classes. including workmen. Let us all be free and equal in the elections and to this end permit the election of a constituent assembly by general se- cret ballot. That is our chief demand, In which all else centers. It is the sole balm for our wounds. which will otherwise speedily bring us death.
 "A single measure. however. will not heal all our wounds. Therefore. we acquaint you frankly and openly on behalf of the whole of the Russian working classes. as to father, with our further demands"
 After making these demands, the pe- tition concludes as follows
 There. Sire. are our principal needs. satisfaction whereof can free Russia from slavery ana misery. make her prosperous and enable workmen to or- ganize in defense of their interests against the capitalist exploitation and official robbery, which are stifling the people. Order and swear they shall be satisfied and you will make Russia happy and glorious. and inscrlbe your names forever in the hearts of our peo- pie and their posterity, while should you repulse and reject our prayer, we will die in this square before your palace.
 we have nowhere else to go. Only two paths are open to us. either tow ards liberty and happiness or to the grave. Should our lives serve as holocaust for suffering Russia. we shall not regret the sacrifice, but shall bear 1t willingly