Article March 21, 1903 Issue

The Czar orders Reforms

The late ukase of the Czar has awakened no less interest than his initiation of The Hague tribunal, and despite the Manchuria and Finland episodes, the world will be disposed to attribute these acts of Nicholas to a sincere desire to minister to the welfare of all the people. Those who are familiar with the constitution of the Russian state will understand how great the inertia which opposes the advance of every religious and economic reform, even though it have the unqualified approval of so absolute a monarch.

The text of the Imperial decree upon which comment is made in our editorial columns, is as follows:—

On ascending the throne of our ancestors by the providence of God, we made a solemn vow before the Almighty and our conscience to guard sacredly the centuries-old pillars of Russian power and to dedicate our life to the service of our beloved fatherland in indefatigable solicitude for our subjects. We chose, in order to assure the well being of our people. the way indicated by the memorable deeds of our predecessors, especially our never-to-be-forgotten father. God pleased to interrupt the deeds of our father by his early and thus laid on us the sacred duty of completing the consolidation of order and truth begun by him in conformity with the exigencies of national life. The troubles agitating our country, which to our deep regret have partly been sown by designs hostile to the state and partly engendered by doctrines foreign to Russian life, hinder the general work of ameliorating the well-being of our people. These troubles confuse the public mind, remove the people from productive labor, and often ruin families dear to our heart, and young energies, among high and low, necessary to the internal development of the country.

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