The sun., 1917-08-27
REMARKABLE SPEECH
Head of New Republic Wild
ly Acclaimed in Opening
Great Council.
NATION IN GRAVE PERIL
"Supreme Power Now Rests ON
Liberty Instead Of Bayo-
nets" He Declares.

Moscow, Aug 2s.--Drastic mea sures
will be employed. II necessary. to save
Russia In the period of mortal danger
through which she is now passing. Pre-.
mier kerensky declared in most reso-
Lutte speech to-day opening the great
state Council here. which is expected to
have results OF the highest Importance
on the national life Of the new republic.
Wild applause greeted the Premier
when he declared. "All attempts with
armed force against the peoples power
will be crushed with blood and IRON
and when he added limiting at a counter
revolution, Let them be warned who
think the time has come when, relying
on the bayPnet, they can overthrow our
revolution" the audience rose In the
greatest enthusiasm and cheered this
statement for five minutes,
Premier kerensky and the other Min
listers of the provisional Government oc.
cupied the stage Of the Municipal Opera
Huuse. and we're faced by Gems AlexieY
and Brusilon, formerly commanders In
chief Of the Russian armies and other
high military officers. In the deposed
Emrerors box. There was much COM
ment because OF the absence Of Gen.
Korniloff. the present commander in
chief, but II is expected that he will at
tend the council tomorrow.
Finlanders Are Rebuked.
NJ. Kerensky rebuked the Finlanders
and other seeding nationalities. his
words evoking enthusiasm. and there was
menacing note In his voice when he
declared that their pretensions threat
ened the success Of the revolution.
The Premier's speech indicated that
Wa
tomorrow by the Military Duma and
the Moscow Deputies. which he de-
nounced in advance His address. which
lasted an hour and half. was delivered
In nervous, impressive voice. which
aroused tremendous applause. mainly
from that part OF the theatre occupied BY
the democratic organizations and men,
bers OF the Cabinet. but the Duma men-
bers and the Moscow Industrial Deputies
also at times participated. Speaking
resolutely and emphasizing the role he
had played IL. recent events and his de-
termination to guide events in the future.
the Premier continued:
''The Provisional Government Is con-
vinced that all of you who have come
here will forget everything except your
duty toward your country and the revo-
luton. The Government believes 1t can
tell the truth. not only to our friends.
but also to our enemies-those who are
destroying our troops, and those among
us who are waiting for the moment
when they may be able to raise their
heads and pounce upon the free Russian
people.
Premier speaks Frankly.
Il say again that will hide nothing
from you. for we have come together
Oh, inv. tn
to tell YOU Of the unbearable, the inl-
mcnse responsibility which we are bear
ing despite all the blows we are re-
ceivinC.
"Citzens. the state is passing through
a period of mortal danger ] do not
say more for YOU all understand. You
see it. for each OF YOU experiences Il,
in different way.
"yo., an know the task incumbent
upon YOU, for the struggle against a
powerful. inplacahle and ORGANIZED en-
emv demands great sacrifices, self
denial. deep love of our country and the
forgetting of domestic quarrels I'm
fortunately, not ALI who are able are
willing to offer all this on the altar o.
their country. ruined by war, and they
thus render the critical situation Of our
country more serious every day.
In our political life this process Of
disOrganiZatiOn lS worse even causing
certain nationalites living in Russia TO
seek thcr salvation, not in close union
with the mother country, but in sep
aratist aspira lions,
"On ton of all this came the shame
ful events al, the front when Russia y
,roops forgetting their duty TO their
country, gave way without resistance
to pressure OF the enemy and thus forged
Tor their people fresh chains of des-
potem,
I'VE fell 50 low because we could not
free ourselves from the fatal inheritance
Of the old regime which we hated, hut
oheyed because We feared it. Therefore
now. when power rests on liberty, not
on hayoncts. We are transported with
delisht althoueh there Is some heredi-
tary distrust 81 this new power.
.Pnticnce Has Its Limits"
"Those who once trembled before tho
government of autocrats now boldly
march against the Government with arms
i'm hand But LET them remember that
our patience has its limits and that
those who go be"ond them will have 10
settle with n Government which will
make them remember the time of Car
ism. We shall be implacable. because
we are convinced that supreme power
alone can assure the salvation of the
country. That Is why | shall oppose
energetically all attempts to take adj
vantage of Russia's national misfortunes.
and whatever ultimatum is presented
! shall, subject 1t to the supreme power and
. to myself, its head
The Premier declared that the destruc-
: tive period of the revolution had passed
and that the time had come to CONSOLE
| date its conquests,
/ For this reason," he continued, I'VE
ask YOU citizens whether YOU feel within
your hearts the Indispensable sacred IRE
+ for the attainment OF this object
Whether YOU represent here In Moscow.
the national strength which Is necessary
! to assure the prosperity OF the country
Or will you give the world and us an
other picture of decadence?
| "A little time ago We indignantly re-