New Britain herald., 1917-03-20
SMASHING OF CzAR's
 YOKE IS ABSOLUTE
Provisional Government Makes
 Program Known to People {

IlUSlaul Au0hu tO rWpl6 <
 London, March 20.-Thls manifestd has been issued by the Russian provi- sional government to the nation, acss cording to tho Reuter- correspondent in Petrograd: 9
 Citizens: The great work has been accomplished. By & powerful strok1 the Russian people have overthrowug the old regime. A new Russia is born. This coup d'etat hes set the keystonS upon long years Of struggle. E
 Under pressure of awakened na-s tional forces, the act of Oct. 30, 1905. promised Russia constitutional liber. ties. which were never put into exe- cution. The first duma, the mouthpieos or tho national wishes, was dissolved. The second duma met tho same fate ana the government, being powerles6 to crush the national will, decided by the act of June 10, 1917, to deprive tho people of part of the legislative rights promised them.
 During the ensuing ten years tho government successively withdrew from the people all the rights they had won. The country was again thrown into the abyss of absolute ruin and administrative arhitrariness. All at- tempts to make the voice of reason heard were vain, and the g5cat world struggle, into which the country was plunged, found 1t face to face with moral decadence and power not united, with the people-power indifferent to the country's destinies and steeped in vices and infamy. s
 ''The heroic efforts of the army, crushed under the cruel weight of in- ternal Reorganization, the appeals of the national representatives. who were united in view of the national danger. were powerless to lead the emperor and his government into the path of union with the people. Thus when Russia, by the illegal and disastrous acts of her governors, was faced with the greatest disasters. the people had to take the power into their own hand.
 With unanimous revolutionary spirit. the people,, fully realizing the seriousness of the moment and the firm will of the Duma, established . provisional government. which consss siders that it is its sacred duty t0 realize the national desires and lead the country into the bright pathaof free civil organization. The govern ment believes that the lofty spirit of patriotism which the people have shown in the struggle against the old regime will also animate our gallant soldiers on the battlefields.
 Vigorous Prosecution of War. s-
 "On it's side the government VII do it's utmost toe provide the army with everything necessary to bring the war to victorious conclusion. The government will faithfully observe all alliances uniting us to other powers and all agreements made in the past.
 While taking measures indispen- sable for the defense of the country against a foreign enemy, the govern ment will consider 1t it's first duty to grant to the people every facility to express its will concerning the pol litical administration, and will con- yoke as soon as possible constituent assembly on the basis of universal suffrage, at the same time assuring the gallant defenders of the country their share in the par amentary elec- tions. X
 The constituent assembly will is- sue fundamental laws, guaranteeing the country and immutable rights of equality and liberty.
 ! Conscious of the burden of the po- litical oppression weighing on the country and hindering tho free crc- ative forces of the people during years of painful hardships. the provisional government deem 1t necessary. before the constituent assembly, to announce to the country it's principles. assur- ing political liberty and equality to all citizens. making free use of their spiritual forces in creative work for the benefit Of the country. The gov-e ernment will also take care to elab- crate the principles assuring all cit- izens participation in communal elec- bass of universal suffrage.
 "At tho moment of national eman- cipation the whole country recalls with pious gratitude those who. in the struggle for their political and re- ligious ideas fell victims of the ven- geance of the old power. and the pro- visional government will joyfully bring back from, exile and prison all those who thus Suffered for the good of their country.
 "In realizing these problems the provisional government believes 1t is executing the national will and that the whole people will support it in its efforts to insure tho happiness of Russia"
 Snap Shots.