Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-16
GIVE US AMNESTY.
Continued from Page One.)

TO unShakaDly preserve tIic iistilutioHo
whereby the people have been called on
to exercise legislative power in con-
junction with the irregular monarch.
The Parliament regards the MOnarch's
formal promise to the people as a sure
pledge of that consolidation and of the
further development of order and leg
islation in accordance with a strict
| " constitutional basis. The House will
for it's part make every effort to per-
feet the principle of popular represent
ia alton and to submit for Your Males
tvs assent a bill relat ting to such rep
resentation, basing it. in accordance
with the unanimously expressed will of
the people. on universal suffrage.
"Your Majesty's appeal for common
work for the good Of the fatherland
finds a lively echo in the hearts of the
members of Parliament. in the consti-
tuition of which representatives of all
classes and nationalities are united in
an ardent desire to regenerae Russia
and create a state of order on the basis
Of all living in peace with one another
;.r1 on the firm pillars of civic free
dom.
7 j" Parliament holds it to be itl
'iur3 - r"int out that the conditions
'n''iyr i"h the country lives render
realty ftr:tfrf Wn~k fer the renovation
~ t1r i'...f >o'yerS of the notion impoS
~.!l-. rh.> country has perceived that
the Sorest spot on our national life is
the ambitious power of the officials who
serarate the Emperor from his people,
and has declared clearly and unani
mously that the renovation Of public
life is only possible on the principles of
freedom with the spontaneous partici
cotton Of the people in legislative pow
'r and in the control Of legislation
throrsh out the executive authorities.
Your Majesty was pleased in your
'nanifesto of Oct. 80 to announce yoUr
firm resolution to build upon these
i.rin"inles as the basis for the further
development Of Russia. and the whole
Russian people welcomed your message
with an inrassioned cry. But the first
lays of liberty We're darkened by heavy
affections laid on the land by those
who still obstruCt the advance of the
people to their Emperor and traniple
the principles of the manifesto of oct.
80 under foot. by those who cover the
land with suffering, with executions
without judicial sentence. with violent
outbreaks, with shooting and impris-
eminent.
'"The sears of this method of govern
mant on the part Of the administration
If the PAST few months have sunk 50
dep into the souls Of the people that
no pacification is possible so long as
the PEG, le are not clearly satisfied that
in the future acts of violence. which in
Ma jnatv'c
ploycd as cover, and forbidden to the
authorities. so long as the ministers
are not responsible to the representa-
tives Of the people and so long as the
Who'll" system Of administration is not
te-s are made representatives to the
people can the idea of tho absolute ir-
responsibility of the monarch take root
i'll the hearts of his subjects. Only
ministry enjoying the confidence Of
Parliament can strengthen confidence
in the government and the existence of
such confidence can make Tranquil and
regular labors Of parliament possible.
Above all il is. first necessary in
Russia to repeal the exceptional laws
the laws of mere Use protection and the
state OF seigc. under cover of which
the arbitrariness and iFrcsponsibility of
officials appear and develop.
at the same time the principles OF
the responsibility of the administration
to the representatives of the nation |
must be adopted.
Further. for truthful labor on the |
part of Parliament. there must he in |
troGuCed the principle of true popular |
recognition that the union If the mon |
arch and the people are the only source |
Of legislative power"
The reply To the speech from the |
throne concludes as follows:
Your Majesty: On the threshold of |
our labors one question agitates the |
souls of the whole Russian people and |
prevents US as their representatives
from calmly entering upon our legis-
lative work. The word pronounced in
Parliament was amnesty 1t was met |
with cries of sympathy. The coun-
try is thirsting for it. 1t is a demand |
of I've peoples conscience. which it is
in'Ios@ii le to refuse or delay.
sir The Parliament awaits full |
Hr',tic2l amnesty as the pledge Of a
rnnt:,a1 understanding IT the future and
.'su'"r. l';veon the Emperor and the
,.'n"ln
"t.,''ry barrier between the Fmpero~ |
..nf the PEOPLE must be removed. Fur |
th"r there must be no domain Of legis- |
lation which would always be closed to |
free revision by representatives of the |
people in conjunction with the mon
arch. |
PARLIAMENT holds that it is its duty |
to declare to Your Majesty in the name |
of the people that the whole nation will |
carry out the creative work of renew
ing its life with all it's power and ener- |
gy, with firm belief in the imminent |
elevation of the fatherland il between
it and the throne there does not stand |
an imperial council composed of ap-
pointed dignitaries and persons elect
ed by the highest classes Of the popu-
lation and if the legislative powers Of
the peoples representatives are not
limited by special laws
"In the domain of the big work be-
fore it, Parliament regards as an abso-
lutte necessity for the country a precise
law assuring personal liberty of con-
science. speech and the press, associa-
ton, gathering and strikes. Without