The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-16

Peasants Among the FIRST Tasks 10 Ne
Undertaken Abolish Religious SRd
,Inss distinctions and Gran, InI, ersal
suHrasr-H House tesinS Tho Senate.
,pt.ii Cabs bs,pdich 10 TaH srv.
Sr. PETERSBURG, May ij.-Thc draf.
n tho reply prepared by tho commission
# the Duma in RESPONSE 10 the Cars speech
WIS presented TO the House this afternoon.
II opens by recalling tho Czar's promise
10 preserve the institutions by which the
reople we're called to share Legislative power
with him and declares that the Duml re-
cards this formal promis" a. a sure pledge
Il the consolidation and further develop
ment Of order and Of legislation, which will
accord with strictly constitutional bases.
The Duna will on its part make every
effort to perfect the principles Of popular
representation and will submit for the
cars assent a bill relating to this sub ect
basing il. in accordance with tho unani-
mousIy expressed will Of the people, on
universal suffrage.
Reuiprocating his Ma jesty's appeal TO
work for the common good Of the father
and, the address says the representa-
tives are united by an ardent desire to re-
generate Russia and create an orderly
State on the basis Of all living at peace
with one another and on the firm pillars OF
civic freedom.
Continuing, it says: The Duma holds il
to he it's duty to point out that the oondi-
tons under which the country exists render
really fruitful work for rejuvenating the
best powers of the nation impossible. The
country has perceived that the sorest spot
in our national life is the arbitrary power OF
officials. who separate the Car from his
reople, and has declared clearly and unani-
mously that the renovation OF our pubic
life Is only possible on the principle Of free
dom, with the independent particle alton
~ the people in Legislative power and IN
the control Of legislation through the
executive authority
Recalling that the manifesto OF October
80 avowed the Cars resolution to base
the development Of Russia on these princi-
pies, the address says:
The whole Russian people welcomed
the message with an impassioned cry
but the very first days OF liberty were
darkened by heavy Affections laid upon the
"a ~
land by those who still bar the way OF the
people to the Car, and tr ample all the
nrinciples of the manifesto under loot
hy those who cover the land with sufferinGs
and executions without judicial sentence,
with atrocities, with fusillades and with i'm
prisonments,
The scars OF this method OF govern
ment on the part Of the administration
during the past few months have sunk
so deep into the soul Of the people that
no paciioation is possible 90 long as the
nation is not clearly satisfied that in the
future the acts of violence for which your
Majesty's name is now employed as a cover
nre forbidden to the authorities, 70 long
AS the Minister'S are not responsible to the
representatives Of the people, and - long
as the whole system Of administr-tl ~ Is not
constructed
"Only when the Ministers are made re-
soonsib,e to the people can the idea of the
absolute responsibility Of the monarch
take root in the hearts of his sub jects. Only
a Ministry enjoying the confidence OF the
In,ma can strengthen confidence in tho
Government, and the existence OF such con-
fdepce can alone make tranquil the regular
lahors of the Duma.
ABOVE All tnlHRh,t 10 ihSN
repeal the exceptional laws, the laws OF
increased protection, and the state OF siege
under cover of which especially the arol-
trariness and responsibility OF the ofncias
make their appearance and develop Al tho
same time the principle must be adopted
of the responsibility Of the administrator
TO the representatives OF the nation.
Further, there must be introduced the
principle Of true popular representation
which consists in the recognition That the
union of the monarch and people is the only
source Of legislative power. Every barrier
between the Emperor and the people must
be removed, Further, there must be no
domain of legislation which would always
be closed to free revision by the representa-
tives Of the people in conjunction with the
monarch"
The address declares in the name OF the
people that the whole nation will renew
its life with all it's power and energy II
between it and the throne there be no I'm
perisl Council composed of appointed Dig
nitaries and persons elected by the highest
classes, and II the legislative powers OF the
Duma are unlimited by special laws.
In the domain of legislative work before
it the Duma regards as an absolute neoes-
sity for the country a precise law assuring
the i%nviolability of person, liberty, con-
science, speech, the press, association,
meeting and strikers. Without these funda-
mental principles, which were laid down
hy the manifesto OF October 81, no reform
Of social conditions is imaginable"
THE Duma Is actuated by the ~unshakable
Conviction that neither liberty nor order
can be assured without the equality OF all
citizens being established before the Law.
Therefore the Duma is preparing a bill
establishing the equality Of all citizens
and simultaneously. by removing all class.
national and religious privilege, an
ctort will be made to FREQ the country from
administrative tutelags. While leaving all