We summoned the representatives of the nation by our will to the work
of productive legislation. Confiding firmly in divine clemency and believing
in the great and brilliant future of our people, we confidently anticipated
benefits for the country from their labors. We proposed great reforms in
all departments of the national life. We have always devoted our greatest
care to the removal of the ignorance of the people by the light of instruction,
and to the removal of their burdens by improving the conditions of agricultural
work.
A cruel disappointment has befallen our expectations. The representatives
of the nation, instead of applying themselves to the work of productive
legislation, have strayed into spheres beyond their competence, and have
been making inquiries into the acts of local authorities established by
ourselves, and have been making comments upon the imperfections of the fundamental
laws, which can only be modified by our imperial will. In short, the representatives
of the nation have undertaken really illegal acts, such as the appeal by
the Duma to the nation.
The peasants, disturbed by such anomalies, and seeing no hope of the
amelioration of their lot, have resorted in a number of districts to open
pillage and the destruction of other people's property, and to disobedience
of the law and of the legal authorities. But our subjects ought to remember
that an improvement in the lot of the people is only possible under conditions
of perfect order and tranquillity. We shall not permit arbitrary or illegal
acts, and we shall impose our imperial will on the disobedient by all the
power of the State.
We appeal to all well-disposed Russians to combine for the maintenance of
legal authority and the restoration of peace in our dear fatherland. May
calm be reestablished once more in Russia, and may God help us to accomplish
the chiefest of our tasks, the improvement of the lot of the peasant. Our
will on this point is unalterable. The Russian husbandman, in case his land
is too small to maintain him, shall be supplied, without prejudice to the
property of others, with legitimate and honest means for enlarging his holdings.
The representatives of the other classes will, at our request, devote all
their efforts to the promotion of this great undertaking which will be given
a definitely legal form by a future Duma.
In dissolving the Duma we confirm our immutable intention of maintaining
this institution, and in conformity with this intention we fix March 5,
1907, as the date of the convocation of a new Duma by a ukase addressed
to the Senate. With unshakable faith in divine clemency and in the good
sense of the Russian people, we shall expect from the new Duma the realization
of our efforts and their promotion of legislation in accordance with the
requirements of a regenerated Russia.
Faithful sons of Russia, your Tsar calls upon you as a father upon his children
to unite with him for the regeneration of our holy fatherland. We believe
that giants in thought and action will appear, and that, thanks to their
assiduous efforts, the glory of Russia will continue to shine.
NICHOLAS