THE REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA.

Evening Star, Issue 12418, 3 February 1905, Page 6

THE REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA.

THE CZAR RECEIVES WORKMEN.: EMPTY WORDS AND FEW PROMISES. HIS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE CHANGE. MINISTERS SPEAK IN BLUNT TERMS. TOLD HE MUST GRANT REFORMS AND CONSULT THE PEOPLE ON ALL QUESTIONSDE WITTE GIVEN A FREE HAND. AN ASSEMBLY TO BE CALLED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. DEPUTATION TO THE CZAR. THE WORKERS RECEIVED. A REPRIMAND AND ADMONITION. NO PROMISE OP GENUINE HELP. ST. PETERSBURG, February 2. The Czar summoned to his Summer Palace thirty-four workmen, representing the largest St. Petersburg factories. He directed them to communicate his words to their comrades. He said: “In the lute lamentable incidents, with deplorable hut inevitable consequences, all the disorder occurred because the workmen were deceived by traitors end enemies to the Fatherland. When they urged yon to address a petition to me in regard to your needs they induced you to revolt against me and the Government, forcing you to abandon honest toil for a time. All true Russians ought to labor unceasingly to conquer our obstinate enemy. Strikes and revolutionary demonstrations were always bad. Crowds would commit disorders, which would always oblige the authorities to employ troops, causing much suffering to innocent people, I know that the workman’s life is not easy. Many things require organisation and improvement ; but have patience. Yon must be just to your masters, and consider tho conditions of industries. To come to me as a rebel mob to declare your wants is a crime. I will take measures to see that everything possible is done to improve the workmen's lot, and secure an examination of your demands through legal channels. I am convinced of the honest sentiments of the workmen as to their devotion to myself, and I pardon their transgression. Return to your comrades, and carry out your allotted tasks. May God assist you.” After dining, the workmen’s deputation drank the Czar’s health with cheers. PLAIN WORDS FROM A MINISTER. THE CZAR PROMISES TO GRANT REFORMS.

the POLISH RISING. STRIKES AND BIOTS. __ Sf- PETERSBURG, February 2. Strikes have occurred at Czenstochow, Samara, Pabianiz, and Plocfc. In a conflict at Pultuak between the stokers and the police eighteen were killed and twenty-eight wounded. Tho strikers at Zgierz beat eight policemen to death. The strikers at Lodz, Pabiamce, and Zgiere organised a plot to sack and bum the Czars palace at IMemiewice. Tho troops were warned, and. different columns jnnctwning prevented tho disaster. Hundreds of stokers were wounded in the fighting, b WARSAW WILL FIGHT. RUMORS OF ASSASSINATION. *'H’- PETERSBURG, February 2. (Received February 3, at 7.24 a,m.) The Socialirt Committee of Warsaw declare (heir intention to force the whole population to turn out and fight the troops. LONDON, February 2. rtfa rumored in Berlin that the Governor of Warsaw has been assassinated. FIGHTING AT ODESSA. ar. PETERSBURG, Febmary 2. (Received February 3, at 8.47 a.m.) The workmen fired on and seriously wounded the chief of tho police at OdessaT A STRIKE IN SIBERIA. LONDON, February 2. lae stoke is extending to Irkutsk. It b reported that 400 men employed at the Krasnoyarsk station, on the Siberian Railway, have struck. THE CZAR’S DEGREE. . Th f Mowing Ls the text of tie decree named by the Czar on December 25, mentioned m today’s cables. It was stronriv opposed by the Holy Synod and Grand Dufces, and the provincial Press were not permitted to publish it. It was addressed to the Senate, and entitled ’A Scheme for Improvement of State Administration. ’ After some preliminary generalities, the Ctar says that he regards the foil owing as urgent in the iut<sust of the legal strengthening of dvio and public life; .1. The adoption of effective measures for safeguarding the law in its full force ns the most important pillar of the throne of the autocratic Empire in order that its inviolable fulfilment for all alike shall he regarded as a first duty by all authorities and m all places subject to tie, that its non-fulfilment shall inevitably bring with it legal responsibility for every arbitrary act, and that persons who have suffered wrong by such acts shall be enabled to secure legal redress. 2. That local and municipal institutions rimuid be given as wide a scop© as possible in the administration of various matters affecting the local welfare, and that they ehould have conferred upon them the necessary independence within legal limits, and that representatives of all sections of thepopulation interested in local matters should be called upon equitable conditions to take part in these institutions with a view to the most complete satisfactum possible of their needs. Besides the Governments and Zemstvo district institutions hitherto existing, there should also be established in close connection with them public institutions for the admmisfcratioa of local affaire in localities of smaller extent. 3. That in order to secure the equality of persons of all classes before the W, steps should be taken to bring about necessity unification of judicial procedure throughout the Empire, and to assure the independence of the Courts. 4. That for the further development of the measures introduced by us for the protection of ‘workmen in factories, workshops, and commercial ertabliriunente, attention is to be given to the question of the introduction of the State insurance of workmen. 5. That there should he a revision of the exceptional laws decreed at the time of an unparalleled outbreak of criminal activity on the part of the enemies of pnhho order, the application of which was attended with a grave extension of the discretionary power of the administrative authorities, and that at the same tune steps ehould be taken for oircnmscrihmg their application within the narrowest possible limits, and for assuring that the limitation of the rights of private persons involved in that application ehaU only be permitted in cases where the actual safety of the State is threatened.

ST. PETERSBURG, February 2, (Received February 3, at 7.24 ajn.)

The ‘Daily Telegraph’s’ St. Petersburg correspondent (Dr Dfikm) states that tire Czar, after impatiently listening’ to the strong advice given him by M. Yemoloff, the Minister of Agriculture, to the effect that a radical change in policy was essential for the pacification of the country, suddenly authorised him to prepare a ukase directing M. De Witte to extend and develop the principles of reform embodied in ; the ukase of December 25, and to restore order by peaceful means, also inviting the cooperation of the people, the methods to be left largely to M. De Witte’s discretion. These concessions may include the early convocation of the Zemstvo Assembly and freedom of the Press. It is expected that Trepoff will shortly bo ordered to Manchuria, and that all recently arrested prisoners will be released. The ‘ Standard’s ’ St. Petersburg correspondent reports that M. Yermoloff advised the Czar to severely punish those responsible for the disaster of the 22nd, and inculcated the wisdom of consulting the people on national affairs.

M. Yermoloff states that M. Do Witte heartily approved of the advice given to the Czar.

A committee of Ministers suhseqnently conferred.

A GRAND DUKE’S STATEMENT. COULDN'T HELP SHOOTING. GORKY’S LIFE SAFE. TEE ANARCHY CRY. ST. PETERSBURG, February 2. The Grand Duke Vladimir assured an American correspondent that if the mob on the 22nd had been allowed to reach 1 the Winter Palace they would have sacked it, and that the city would have been delivered over to anarchy, Woodshed, and flames. The Government only did their duty. It was absurd to assert that Maxim Gorky would be hanged. He declared that the disorders in Warsaw, Kieff, and elsewhere wore industrial, not revolutionary. If a Constitution were granted anarchy would result, followed by the disintegration of the Empire. Autocracy would grant the necessary reforms. The peasantry would be given the means of presenting their needs and grievances direct to the Sovereign. ‘ AFTER THE BLOODSHED. f?T. PETERSBURG, February 2. The Czar, Czarina, and Dowager Empress have given General Trepoff 50, 000 roubles to assist- the families of the killed and wounded in the recent rioting. MASTER AND MAN. AT. PETERSBURG, February 2. St. Petersburg manufacturers are meeting the strikers in a conciliatory spirit, and offering assistance to the needy. They will not punish the leaders. They agree that the men’s demands shall be submitted to the Minister of Finance, with a view to legislation, but also promise practical concessions. PRESS CENSOR DISMISSED. PERMITTED THE MASSACRE TO BE KNOWN. • ST PETERSBURG, February 2. (Received ’ February 3,- at 8.47 a.m.) . M. Severeff, .the Press Censor in St. Petersburg, has been dismissed. This is interpreted to mean that he allowed news of the massacre on the 22nd ulh to be telegraphed abroad. FREEDOM OP THE PRESS. ST. PETERSBURG, February 2. (Received February 3, at 8.47 a.m.) The Husky Ihvubd,’ the military organ in St. Petersburg, published the offensive Moscow placard contrary to Count LamsdotfFs express instructions against its publication. A POUCH ORDER. ST. PETERSBURG, February f 2. An order baa been issued to the entire police force ■to avoid name sabres. M. Saratofi baa- resjaaed, -

6. That, in confirmation of my imderiafjng hearth desire, as expressed in the Imperial Manifesto of March 3, 1905, for the protection by the fundamental Lw? of the Empire of tolerance in matters erf faitti, the laws dealing with the rights of communities and of persons belonging to heterodox and non-Christian oonfessions ehordd be submitted to revision, and that, independently of this, mjeasures shonld be taken for the removal of ell limitations on the exercise of their religions not directly mentioned in the kw. . '• That there should he such a reviseoll of the existing ordinances limiting , the nglits of foreigners and of natives in certain territories of the Empire that m More there shall remain only snch of them M aie required by the presto*, intorests of the Empire and the manifest needs of the Rrapshm people, S. That all unnecessary restrictions should be removed from the existing Frees laws, and that printed speech should bo placed within dearly defined legal limits; so that the native Press, in a*. oMdaoce with the progress of education and the importance thereby accruing to k f b possibility Of W thdly fulfilling its high calling—namely, to be the true interpreter of reasonable strivings for Russia's advantage. Acting upon the above principles, with a new to a series of great internal changes impending m the early future, part of which, hi. accordance with inkruotkms previously given hy ns, are i already under preliminary examination, , we deem it well, in view of the diversify and importance erf these changes, to fix an order of business for the consideration of the means and the possibility of their yearly and complete realisation. The closest co-operation is incumbent oa the vrarlpna sections of the ad ministration throughout the whole series of our State institutions.: With reference to all the ahove-men- ■ tioned subjects, the Council of Ministers ~ haye to examine tim best, row of.asms

effect to our raws, and to eubmifc to os . at the earliest possible date its dedskns as to the furtner shape of the abovementioned' measures in the prescribed order. The Committee have also to report to ns as to the subsequent progress of the elaboration of the matters mentioned. —Nicholas. s ■ ■ “ GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.” The Russian athlete, George Hactenschmidt, can speak feelingly -with regard to tie internal troubles in his native country. Interviewed in Melbourne by tie ‘ Argus,’ the noted athlete said :—i My poor country is indeed plunged in sadness, but 1 do not think that this uprising on the port of the populace can have any immediate effect towards effecting a change of administration. Russian military organisation is so perfect, the discipline of the troops is so rigid, and the soldiers themselves are so utterly devoid of all ideas except to serve God - and the Czar, that no popular aggressive movement against existing administrative systems can hope to succeed, more particularly os.the populace lack cohesion, and possess nothing more powerful than the pathetic appeal for “justice and mercy” with which to oppose powder and steeL Russia is “ God’s own country,” and its people ore the best- But the great masses know nothing. They till the soil, rear large families, pay their taxes, and as long oa they are allowed to live healthy, peaceful lives, without undue oppression, they are satisfied. But the great Russian family is bleeding slowly in order to provide the rmHions of money required by the upper classes for their extravagances at home and abroad. This is assuredly not the doing of the Czar. The people love the Char, and would willingly lay down their lives for him. They are convinced that it is his heartfelt desire to ameliorate the unhappy lot of the people. Never a prayer ascends from the midst of a Russian peanut family that does not invoke a blessing upon the Czar and his family. The people cannot understand why they should not be allowed to bring their grievances directly before the Little Father, and when at last goaded to the unusual action of pressing their way into his presence they are met in this terrible way by the irresistible forces of mechanically moved masses of armed men, they lose faith and are forced to the conclusion that something is dreadfully amiss. It is likely, as if by way of apology for the terrible massacre that took place on Sunday at St. Petersburg, that the reports Which reach Australia are exaggerated. The shooting down of troops of little children cannot nave been done in the way described. Children cannot skate anywhere in proximity to the Winter Palace, and if some children were shot at it must have been in the excitement when the little ones were running backwards and forwards between the troops, and the crowds resolved on going forward in defiance of the orders to keep back. There is one thing, however, that I foci certain never happened, and never conld happen, and that is that the troops threw down their rifles. English people do not appear to understand the peculiar emotional nature of the Russian lower orders. The Russian peasant—that is, the village peasant—is the bravest, the most generous, and yet the most ignorant peasant living, lie loves his home and his family, ana he is steeped in religious faith and fervor. You call at his home and are hungry—he has a loaf; he gives you half. You are cold—he has two coats; he gives you one. His fire is yours, and he bids you Godspeed on your way. The melodies of his race are on his tongue always. When he is in trouble he takes no pains to conceal it; he is at all times natural, in fact, may best be compared with the Irishman of'the peasant classes In utter contradistinction to this simple life, that of the upper classes stands out with repelling difference. No one who has travelled can nave failed to observe the way in wluch Russian aristocrats lavish wealth cm gambling and other wild pleasures. Millions and miHioiis of money are going out cf Russia in this way wholly from the ranks of the aristocrats, the most profligate of whom are the nobles. Also, though these are the people—often relations of the Czar ■ —who are at the head of the army and navy, it is a noticeable fact that none of them are at the front fighting for their country, aud the few who were there had to be recalled, for they were surely disgraces to their order and to their race. The sons of the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrevitch, uncle of the Czar, were at the front, with an entourage so risky in its character that the foreign papers took it up, giving the impression that such a state of things was general, whereas it was in reality confined to those high-bom profligates. I have had a look at all grades of society in Russia, and found that the aristocratic classes were living lives altogether artificial