The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-05-17
FIRST PARLIAMENT
OPENED BY The Gar
New Era Fer Russia Begun IN
Perfect Order.
ST. PEFERsBURG's GALA DAY
Nicholas II. Promises That He Mil
UphoId the Institutions and Tells
the Representatives That They
Must Assist Him.

1 OOI1Dt0 III
the Representatives That FheS
Must Assist Him.
st. Petersburg. Russia.-For the first
time in her history Russia saw her
Car address, ever welcome, a convoca-
ton of representatives elected by her
people to Iegislate for them.
Nothing occurred to mar the day.
which must become historic as the
on which Nicholas II. opened the
Duma.
1t was a h~alf-holiday, the weather
was perfect, the city was gayly deco
rated, flags flew everywhere, church
bells rang.
The array of troops was tremendous
Outside the Winter Palace the people
could not see the Gar through walls of
uniforms.
The Gar came from Peterhof and
with his wife and mother went to the
cathedral of st. Peter and Paul, where
the dust of the Romanoffs lies. Be
fore his ancestors tombs the family
knelt and prayed.
No more brilliant. theatric scene was
ever presented probably than that in
ST. Georges Hall, when the Car
mounted the throne to read his speech
TO the Duma. The hall was roWde
with an assemblage glitteriRg with
gold lace and sparkling with orders.
The workingmen and peasant members
of the House of Representatives
formed the only sombre group.
The Gar, in a firm, steady voice,
read q speech.
He said: The Supreme Providence
moved me to call to my assistance III
legislative work elected representatives
of the people,. In the expectation OF a
brilliant future for Russia, l greet in
your persons the best men from the
Empire, whom my beloved subjects
chose from among themselves. A DIFF
ficult work lies before you. l trust that
love for your Fatherland and your
earnest desire to serve 1t Will inspire
: and unite you. I Shall keep inviolate
= the institutions which L have granted.
= After the speech the silence was
{ broken by q loud cheer, which was
r drowned in the strains of the natlonaI
: anthem, "God Save the Gar"
: Many of the peoples chosen repre-
sentatives were sullen and silent. Fol
S the Car had uttered no word or am
: nesty for political prisoners.
e The Car and his family at once re
n turned to Peterhof.
Members of the House of Represen
q tatiyes boarded a steamer and went Z
il their own chamber in the Tauride Pa
ace. where they reatirmed, Wit
enthusiastic cheers, their determine
h tion. as expressed by Professor MOI
N romtzefT. in returning thanks for Ill
election to the Presidency of the House
ito support their work for the we'll De
IL ing of the people on two bases, name
n ", respect for the prerogative of tn
t. constitution, and the necessity for CON
re pleting the rights of the Duma."
A In this ass1mblage there were noble
men and other men Of high station
&c evening dress sitting beside simpl
8 ~peasants OF w~orkingmen in the co:
fumes of shops OF villages, turDane
n Mussulmans and Buddhists from Boz
hara. idolators from the hlrghl
~. steppes orthodox priests in black ca
n socks. Catholic bishops in purple ca
" socks Circassians, Armenians n Ia
tars from the Caucasus, Jews from IL
se- Pale. Buriants from Central ASH
re- L%ithuanians and Esthonians from IL
Baltic Provinces; most OF them III the
in national dress.
or To this motley assemblage Bare
."1 Frisch read an imperial ukase convo
Ing tie bulud IN ooAAhS NN
tatives to step forward and sign Il
1c- oath.
be Professor Mouromtzef, candidate
40. the Constitutional Democrats. w
~ elected President of the House, by 4.
votes to {. amid tremendous cheering
Ivan Petrunkevitch. whom the CZ
es; told twelve years ago that a nation
the, assembly was an imposs1bIllty
lie aroused the House to frenzy by decl1
+bn ing that the first words pronounced
an assembly of representatives OF I
Russian people should be freedom al
n demand for amnesty for those w
IVY have fought for the cause.
Of, The enthusiasm was renewed WI
the President practically told the mil
Of Government officials 'who lined I
- walls that they had no business the
and ordered them TO leave. The che
nu- ing continued while the crest-faIten
nge truders walked out Of b e hall.
CHIT After a session of an hour and a III
air. the House adjourned.
80 The Dumas opening was ceieDral
all over Russia. But in Warsaw,
[er- men in many factories quit work al
,ro- protest against the limited powers
had the DumR.
hat