The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-05-17
THE Gar OPENS DONNA
First Legislature of Russia meets
Gear Prays for Moral Revival
of His People.

st. Petersburg-For the first time
In her history Russian today saw her
Graz address, even welcome, a con-
vocation of representatives elected
by her people to legislate for them.
Nothing, save minor incident, oc-
CURED to mar the day which must be-
come historic as the one on which
Nicholas ii. opened the duma.
1t was half-holiday. the weather
was perfect, the city was galy deco
rated, flags flew everywhere, church
bells rang. "Te Deums" were sung
in all the cathedrals.
The array of troops was tremend-
Gus. Outside the Winter Palace the
people could not see the scaz through
walls of uniforms.
The czar and his family came from
PeterhOf this morning on steam
yacht Immediately after landing the
car, his wife and his mother went
to the Cathedral of st. Peter and Paul,
where the dust Of the Romanoffs lies.
Before his ancestors tombs the family
knelt and prayed twenty minutes.
Then they crossed the river to the
winter Fdldce.
No more brilliant, theatric scene
was ever presented probably than
that in ST. Georges Hall, when. at l
o'clock the car mounted the throne
to read his speech to the duma. The
hall was crowded with an assemblage
glittering with gold lace and spark
ling with orders. The WOrkingmen
and peasant members of the house of
representatives formed the only
sombre group.
In the ranks of the old bureaucracy
stood Count White, or his ghost, clad
in the uniform of a secretary of state.
The car wore the simple blue uni
form Of colonel Of the Preobrajensky
regiment of the guards.
The expresses were clad in the an
cient Russian dress. The young en-
press wore diamonds, the dowager
pearls
After TIE Deum was sung the car,
in firm, steady voice, read this
speech:
The supreme Providence gave me
the care of our fatherland moved me
to call to my assistance in legislative
work elected representatives of the
people. In the expectation of bril-
liant future for Russia, / greet in
your persons the best men from the
empire, whom ! ordered my beloved
subjects to choose from among them
selves
"A difficult work lies before You.
] trust that love for your fatherland
and your earnest desire to serve it
will inspire and unite you.
Il shall keep inviolate the institu-
lions which l have granted, with the
firm assurance that you will devote
all your strength to the service of
your country, and especially to the
needs of the peasantry, which are SO
close of heart, and to the education
of the people and their economical
welfare, remembering that to the dig
nifty and prosperity of the state not
only freedom but order, founded upon
justice, are necessary.
II desire from my heart to see my
people happy and hand down to my
son an empire secure, well organized
and enlightened.
May God bless the work that lies
peIOre me IN unity with the council
of the empire and the imperial duma.
May this be the day of the moral re-
vival of Russia, and the day for the
renewal of it's highest forces.
Approach with solemnity the la
bors for which have called you, and
be worthy of the responsibilities put
upon you by the emperor and the peo-
pie.
May God assist u.s.