It is said that about 200 members were present and that 160 signed the
manifesto.
It is noteworthy that the Polish members declined to attend the meeting
or to attach their signatures.
About 300 members are reported to have preferred to return to their homes
at once.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
to the people, from the representatives of
the people.
Citizens of all the
Russias:
By the ukase of July 8 the Douma of the Empire was dissolved. When
you chose us as your representatives you directed us to obtain for
you land and liberty. In the execution of your instructions and of
our duty we created laws to guarantee the liberty of the people; we
demanded the dismissal of irresponsible ministers who, violating the
laws with impunity, have trodden liberty under foot. But, first of
all, we desired to create laws for the granting of land to the
laboring peasants by way of disposing, for this purpose, of lands
belonging to the Crown, the domains, the cabinet, monasteries and
churches and by the expropriation of land in the possession of
private individuals.
The Government found such a law unacceptable, and when the Douma once
more firmly confirmed its decision relative to the necessity of
expropriation the dissolution of the Douma was announced. In the
place of the present Douma the Government promises to convoke a new
one in seven months. For seven whole months Russia must remain
without representatives from the people at a time when the people
find themselves on the verge of destruction, the industrial and
commercial relations broken, when the whole country is seized with
convulsions, and when the ministers have shown themselves absolutely
incompetent to satisfy the needs of the people. For seven months the
Government will act as it likes, will wrestle with the movement of
the people in order to obtain a submissive and desirable Douma, and
if it succeeds in entirely crushing the movement of the people it
will not convoke any Douma at all.
Citizens, stand firmly by the trampled rights of the representatives
of the people. Stand for the Douma of the Empire. Russia must not
remain one day without representatives from the people.
We have the means of obtaining this. The Government has not the right
without our consent to collect, taxes from the people, nor to call
the people to military service, and, therefore, now, when the
Government has dissolved the Douma of the Empire, it is your right
to refuse to supply it with soldiers or money. If the Government, in
order to secure resources, makes loans, such loans, made without
consent of the representatives of the people, will henceforth be
invalid, and the Russian people will not recognize them and will not
pay for them. Consequently, until the representatives of the people
are convoked, do not pay a kopeck into the treasury nor send a man
to the army. Be firm in your refusal, stand for your rights, all as
one man. Against the united and absolute will of the people no power
whatever can resist.
Citizens, in this compulsory but inevitable struggle your
representatives will be with you.
Signed by the members of the Douma of the Empire in
alphabetical order.
