rengthens." He did not fail to remind his hearers that the war is yet
far from ended, but he added that the Government, from the first, had
soberly looked the danger in the face and frankly warned the country of
the forthcoming sacrifices for the common cause and also for the
strengthening of the mutual gravitation of the Slavonic races. He
briefly referred to the Turkish defeat in the Caucasus as opening before
the Russians a bright historical future on the shores of the Black Sea.

The Premier alluded to the tremendous change wrought in the national
life by the abolition of the liquor traffic, which he designated a
second serfdom vanishing at the behest of the Czar. After a few years of
sober, persistent labor, we would no longer recognize Russia. The war
had further raised the question of the creation in the world's markets
of favorable conditions to the export of our agricultural products, and
a general revision of conditions calculated hereafter to guarantee to
Russia a healthy development on the principle of entire independence of
Germany in all branches of the national life. In this direction the
Government had already drafted and was preparing a series of elaborate
measures. He concluded with the expression of his conviction that, if
all fulfilled their duty in the spirit of profound devotion to the
Emperor and of deep faith in the triumph of the country, the near future
would open before us perhaps the best pages in Russian history.

The speeches of a peasant Deputy and a Polish representative were
particularly impressive and well received. The Socialist leader's demand
for peace called forth a smart rejoinder from a member of his own party.

M. SAZANOF'S SPEECH.

This afternoon the session of the Duma was opened in the presence of the
whole Cabinet, the members of the Council of the Empire, the Diplomatic
Corps, and the Senators. The public galleries were filled.

M. Sazanof began his speech by recalling that six months ago in that
place he had explained why Russia, in face of the brutal attempt by
Germany and Austria upon the independence of Serbia and Belgium, had
been able to adopt no other course than to take up arms in defense of
the rights of nations. Russia, standing closely united and admirably
unanimous in her enthusiasm against an enemy which had offered
provocation, did not remain isolated, because she was immediately
supported by France and Great Britain and, soon afterward, by Japan.

Passi