26 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



sanction, I now resign as vice-chairman 

 of the Council of Soldiers and Workmen ; 

 but I stand ready to again assume that 

 title should you find it necessary." (Ap- 

 plause and cries, "You are welcome to 

 it!") 



"Comrades, having entered the cabinet 

 of the Provisional Government, I remain 

 the same man as I was — I remain a re- 

 publican." (Loud applause.) "I made 

 it plain to the Provisional Government 

 that I appear as a representative of de- 

 mocracy, and that the Provisional Gov- 

 ernment must regard me as the spokes- 

 man of democracy's demands. Com- 

 rades, time is not waiting. Every minute 

 is dear. I call you to organization, dis- 

 cipline ; I ask you to extend help to us, 

 your representatives who are ready to die 

 for the people." 



SPEECH TO THE SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS 



"Comrades, soldiers and citizens, I am 

 the member of the Duma, Alexander 

 Kerensky, Minister of Justice." (Loud 

 and enthusiastic cheers.) "I declare in 

 the presence of all of you here that the 

 new Provisional Government has as- 

 sumed its responsibilities and duties in 

 agreement with the Council of Soldiers 

 and Deputies. 



"The agreement made between the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee of the Duma and the 

 Executive Committee of the organization 

 of Soldier Deputies has been approved by 

 the Council of Workmen and Soldier 

 Deputies with a majority of several hun- 

 dred against fifteen." (Great applause 

 and cries "Bravo!") 



"The first step of the new government 

 is the immediate publication of the act of 

 full amnesty. Our comrades of the sec- 

 ond and fourth Duma, who were illegally 

 sent to the wilderness of Siberia, will be 

 immediately liberated and brought here 

 with honors. 



"Comrades, in my power are now all 

 the representatives of the ex-Council of 

 Ministers and all the ministers of the old 

 order. They will answer, comrades, for 

 all crimes committed by them before the 

 people in accordance with the law." 

 ( Cries "Without mercy!" I 



"Comrades, free Russia will not stoop 

 to those humiliating means of struggle 



which characterized the acts of the old 

 regime. No one will be punished with- 

 out trial; all will be judged in an open 

 peoples' court. 



"Comrades, soldiers and citizens, every 

 step taken by the new government will 

 be public. Soldiers, I beg of you to 

 cooperate. Free Russia has become one, 

 and no one will succeed in tearing free- 

 dom from the peoples' grasp. Do not 

 mind the exhortations coming from the 

 agents of the old order. Pay attention 

 to your officers. Long live free Russia !" 

 (Thunderous applause and cries "Hur- 

 rah!") 



THE FIRST PROCLAMATION OE THE MIN- 

 ISTER OE JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE 



"Citizens ! So far every order coming 

 from the Provisional Government, and 

 having in view the complete defeat of the 

 old regime and the establishment of the 

 new order, has been executed by the peo- 

 ple without bloodshed. The honor of the 

 nation demands that the first radiant days 

 of liberty be not befogged by thoughtless 

 and intolerable acts of violence ; such acts 

 must be avoided in spite of the natural 

 unrest of citizens. 



"Conscious of the greatness of the 

 moment, all citizens must voluntarily 

 take all the necessary steps tending to 

 preserve the liberty of every individual 

 without the slightest exception. Be it 

 known to all that the guilty will be put to 

 just trial, which will result in punishing 

 all according to their deserts. 

 "Citizen A. Kerensky, 



"Member of the Duma, 



"Minister of Justice." 



KERENSKY AT MOSCOW 



A few days following the organization 

 of the Provisional Government, Keren- 

 sky, at the instance of the government, 

 visited Moscow. His arrival there was 

 the occasion of many demonstrations and 

 festivities given in the honor of the new 

 order and the Provisional Government. 

 In reply to the greetings and addresses 

 made at his reception, Kerensky spoke as 

 follows : 



"I can scarcely find words in reply to 

 your greetings, addressed through me to 



