A PLAUSIBLE APPEAL FOR HELP.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12642, 1 November 1905, Page 5

A PLAUSIBLE APPEAL FOR HELP.

THE CZAR ISSUES A MANIFESTO

A BATHER SUGGESTIVE STATE-

MENT.

" WE MUST EFFACE OURSELF."

Received October 31, 10.17 p.m. ST. PETERSBURG, October 31.

The Czar issued a manifesto late last evening declaring:—" The trouble and agitations in our capitals and numerous other places fills our heart with a great and gainful sorrow. The happiness of the Sovereign is indissoJubly bound ap in the happiness of the people, and the sorrow of the people is the sorrow cf the Sovereign. Th© agitations may cause a great national disorganisation and are a menace to the integrity and unity of the Empire. The supreme duty impceed on us by. our Sovereign mission requires us to efface ourself. with all our reason and all our power, and hasten the cessation cf troubles so dangerous to the: State. Having directed the authorities to prevent open disorder and excesses and to protect peaceable subjects, we have recognised that in order to assure the success of the general measures of pacification it is indispensable to co-ordinate and unify the powers of the oentral Government."

" We therefore direct the Government to abstain from any interference in the election of the Duma. Keeping in view the sincere desire of the realisation of the ukase of December 25th, 1904, the Government must maintain the Duma's ■prestige and exhibit confidence in its labours and not resist its decisions. While not inconsistent with Russia's •historic greatness, one must identify oneself with the ideas of the great majority of society, not the echoes of noisy groups and factions, too often unstable. It is especially important to secure reform of the Council of the Empire on an electoral principle. I believe in the exercise of the executive power the foling principles should be embodied: — First, stiraighitforwardness and. sincerity in confirmation of civil liberty, and providing a guarantee for its maintenance; secondly, a tendency towards the abolition of exclusive laws; thirdly, the coordination of activity of all the organs of the Government; fourthly, tihe avoidance of repressive measures in respect to proceedings which do not openly menace society or the State; fifthly, to acts manifestly threatening society or the Skate 'to be based upon law and on moral unity, with a reasonable majority of society. Confidence lnust be placed in the political tact of society. It is impossible that it will desire anarchy, .which, hesfides the horrors of civil strife would dismember the Empire. We theirefore direct the Government to grant the population the immutable foundations of civic liberty, based on the real inviolability of the person, freedom of conscience, speech, union, and 'association; secondly, without deferring the election of the Duma, to oall to participation in the Duma, as far as possible, with a view to the thcrtness of tthne befoore it assembles, those classes wviidh are now completely deprived of electoral rights, leaving tho ultimate development of the principle of electoral right in general to the established legislative order; thirdly," to

estaiblisli an immutable rule by which no law can come into force without the Duma's approving, and-making it possible for the elected people to exercise a real pairtiopiation in the supervision of t(he legality of the acts authorised.We appeal to ail faithful, sons of Russia to remember their duty to the Fatherland and <aid in ending this un. pi-ecedented tirouble by applying'all their forces in 00-operation in restoring calm and peace to our natal soil."