The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-17
|R0mANOFF DYNASTY
ENDS, RUSS PEOPLE
take RULE IN HAND

was impossible to hold.
So swiftly, unexpectedly and COM
pletely did the great change come
that the people are almost dazed and
seem scarcely able to understand
what has occurred. Injured through
centuries to the grinding oppression
of autocratic rules and regarding free
dom as glorious dream which would
forever remain dream, the people
seem disposed to regard their liberia
ton as at most merely a temporary
respite which must soon give way to
the ancient law of imperial will.
The reception Of the new manifesto
at army headquarters is awaited with
the greatest anxiety, for it is known
that unless it is favorably met by, the
100000 men at the front the new
regime cannot endure. There is no
reason to suppose that the soldiers
on the fighting line will show a diff
feent attitude from the soldiers and
civilians in Petrograd and the other
cities, except in as far as their remote
ness from the scene of the revolution
and, part ignorance of the conditions
that brought it about may affect
them. But since on their acceptance
hinges the fate of the new republic,
their answer is breathlessly awaited.
With them rests the decision as to
whether Russia shall build up a new
government on a prepared founda-
ton or be plunged into further dis
order.
The government, pending a meet
ing Of the Constitutional Assembly, Is
- 4 - ~. IA -
the Duma and the newly chosen Coun-
ell of Ministers. A manifesto to this
effect was issued by the Duma COM
mittee yesterday and it will be tele-
graphed to the general army head
quarters this evening.
It Is reported that pending an cleo
ton and the meeting Of a National
Constitutional Assembly to decide on
form OF government, the control Of
affairs will rest in the hands of a
committee Of q, and that the mon
archy for three months will be abol-
ished.
Declaration Of Policy.
The Provisional Government in
Russia has issued. the following APP
peal to the people:
Citizens: The Executive Commit
tee OF the Duma, with the aid and
support OF the garrison Of the CAPT
tai and it's inhabitants, has succeeded
in triumphing over the obnoxious
forces of the old regime in such a
manner thah we are able to proceed
to more stable organization of the
executive power, with men whose past
political activity assures them the
country's confidence
The names of the members of. the
new government are then given, and
the appeal continues:
1 1.-The new Cabinet will base its pol
icy on the following principles:
/. An immediate general amnesty
for all political and religious offenses,
including terrorist acts and military
and agrarian offenses
q. Liberty of speech and Of the
press; freedom for alliances, unions
and strikes, with the extension of
these liberties to military officials
within the limits admitted by military
requirements.
8. Abolition of all social, religious
and national restrictions.
A.. TO proceed forthwith to the
preparation and convocation Of a Con-
stitutional Assembly, based on uni
versal suffrage, which will establish a
governmental regime.
s. The substitution Of the police
by a national militia with chiefs to be
elected and responsible to the govern
ment.
6. Communal elections to be based
on universal suffrage.
~ The troops which participated
in the revolutionary movement will
not be disarmed but will remain in
Petrograd.
8. While maintaining strict mill
tary discipline for troops on active
service, it is desirable to abrogate for
soldiers all restrictions in the enjoy
ment of social rights accorded other
citizens,
"The Provisional Government de-
sires to add that it has no intention
to profit by the circumstances of the
war; to delay the realizatior Of the
measures Of reform above mention
ed"
Urged Gar to Give In.
1t was reported today that Y the
Grand Duke Nicholas, Viceroy of the
Caucasus, has sent a telegram to
President Rodzianko, informing him
that he (the Grand Duke) and Gen.
Alexieff, the Chief or Staff, had asked
the Emperor, in order to save Russia,