A REVOLUTIONARY MANIFESTO.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3078, 28 December 1878, Page 2

A REVOLUTIONARY MANIFESTO.

The secret Bussian organisation called the "GoTernment of National. Protection" has disseminated throughout the country the following Banifestq:—■' ' " Brethren,—At the verymoment when , our Government* undw the pretext; of ameliorating: the' lot. of Eastern Christians, be&an the. diplomatic and military action against Turkey, we forewarned the nation against, the indubitable , cons& quences of the war. Nobody Was thett willing to pay attention to our impartial and honest opinion, because one part of the nation believed in the reality of intent tions to put an end to the .sufferings of the populations inhabiting the Balkati Peninsula; and the other part expected, through the unification of the Slavonian i races, to obtain civic liberties so anxiously expected. The former were--soon eon*vinced that the social and material position of Bulgarians was only, too enviable in,comparison with the burdens and oppression the .Russian people hare to suffer under, their own Government, and the latter clearly perceived that the, Russian Government, instead of ameliorating^;!^ position of the Turkish rajah, has subjected them to an administration far .more oppressive than the Turkish./ The remits of, the war are already felt throughout the country. Want and poverty permeate the nation. Thousands of men lately "mutilated, thousands of widows,and orphans, are eagerly begging for food in village! and on the roads, and getting .with diffl- l culfcy only a morsel of black bread* while the Government is burdening the country afresh with.new .taxes as a direct consequence of newly*oontracted loans, which frightfully oppress the agricultural population. Instead of gaining by the late war we are fearful; losers ourselves, and have besides brought misfortune to others, and nil this only to satisfy an insatiable ambition, to feed the towering passion of a despotism without any restraint or conscience, and to enrich the servile entourage of the, Qzar, ; .to the loss and detriment of the most vital interests of the nation. We have consequently no other choice but to take caref of ourselves, and this is precisely our highest crime in the opinion of our Govern- . ment, which by all means in its power is calumniating' our efforts to diminish and alleviate our common misery that day by day is growing: more oppres* sive and insupportable. The assertion of . the Government' that we wish to overthrow^ and destroy all principles and ties of the social fabric is simply a lie, and the' imputation, of .ungodliness, a calumny* On the contrary, being really true Christians, we desire freedom for everybody. We ask the abrogation of all privileges ; we ask to stop all ideas of conquest and all kinds of oppression; we ask for a general disarmament; we ask the abolition of those Draconian laws oppressing the 1 Dissenters ; we ask for a public audit and strict control of State expenses; we aik for gratuitous and obligatory instruction; we ask for State provision for the orphans; we ask for the uprooting of embezzlements, cupidity, corruption in the Administration, . until' now, tolerated; in. one word, we wish to be free, and in freedom to belong to ourselves. Strong in our right and conviction we call; upon all possessing heart- and conscience, of whatever faith^v^. or nationality, to join, as quickly as potm^ sible, their endeavours to ours to dilse^ minate this manifesto throughout theland by all means in their power, so that they may be prepared to support this popular movement, which shall lay to rest the misery of the Bussian nation, and at the same time the oppression .of all other nationalities which, through misfortune, fell under the yoke of Czardom." ','"

Why is a theatre drop*ourtain ,io called? Because the gentlemen.'go.out i to take a drop whenever it comes down. - A Highland bagpiper, on hit travels opened his wallet by a wood-side, and tat down to dinner. No sooner had he said grace than three wolves came about him. To one he threw bre.ad, to another { meat» till his provendor was all gone; at lebgth • he took, up his bagpipes and began to play, at which the wolves ran *w'aj. " The deil tak' me," said the now dinnerless piper, " an I had kenn'd you lo'ed music sac weel, you should hVhteh it before dinner." , \ „.-.»! Mb.Wk. iiaOvxxjavais. having bsen »p» pointed agent on the Thames for the Imperial ' Fire Insurance Company, is prepared to take risks, at the lowest rates. The Imperial Com* pany was established in 1803, and has a capital of; £1,600,000, with its head ofltee at No. 1, Old Broad street, London. The Mel* bourne directory has upon it some of the most influential men in that city, and the came the Company has gained for itself by its, prount and liberal settlement of claims, whXe fthargaing moderate rates, has secured a larg* amount; of business'not only in Australian Qbtalev but in all parts ot the world in whioivagenoie* have been established.—Abta* ' '■"'