THE RUSSIAN. UPHEAVAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 38

THE RUSSIAN . UPHEAVAL.

THE CZAR'S MANIFESTO.

DECLARED TO BE ILLEGAL.

A GENERAL STRIKE INEVITABLE

ISOLATING ST. PETERSBURG

A SPECIAL RESCRIPT.

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO BE CONVENED.

OPINIONS ON THE RESCRIPT.

INDIGNANT MINISTERS RESIGN.

THE REASON OF THE EESCRIPT.

ST. PETERSBURG, February 28.

An anti-Semitic outbreak in Theodosia originated in an ordinary strike. The strikers " were attacking the Prefecture, when the officials of the latter crkd out : "Down with' the Jews^ " An attack was then made by the mob on the Jews. Forty-seven were battered to deatk in the Ghetto, including 17 women, and 183 were injured. The domestic maid-servants in Kiefi struck. The Cossacks arrested many of them. The bail required from Maxim Gorky, the novelist, who has been released, has been fixed as 10,000 roubles. March 1. Twenty-sis political assassinations have taken place at Warsaw during last week. .-The strikers disclaim that they intend to till an. official for every man the troops killed during the disturbances. Most of the victims were stabbed at night in the streets, and a paper pinned to their , clothes esglaining why they wer.e condemned to^ death. No arrests have been ; made. A secret storer of revolvers, bombs, and dynamite was discovered in a Moscow ; 'suburb. ...... The GoveEnment . closed the Putiloff. ' Works and the ifevsky -Shipyard, because many -men * refuse *to • resume work. ' It is. reported' that M. Euliguine, the new Minister, . asked, the assassin of Duke Sergius "Do- you know me? " and that the assassin replied, " You are No. 7," . meaning the seventh on the list of the con- , demned. Maxim Gorky, the moment he was bailed out and given a signed promise of un- ' conditional release, was rearrested and escorted to v ßiga. Hs is allowed to move about^ there, but not to dispart for or allowed to reside in tEe Crimea, though one of his -lungs is seriously affected. March 2. Two hundred and fifty workman selected to choose on Friday 50 representatives of '.St. Petersburg factories on M. Chidloitski's Commission met and resolved to refuse to elect representatives unless the I-3000 worlanen arrested since January 22 . were released, aedt the inviolability of the -person and domicile guaranteed during the - sitting of the* .commission, with liberty of speech and publicity. The who^-of the Amur territory has been placed .under martial law. The situation in St. Petersburg and ■ Warsaw is worse. Eight thousand workmen, in Warsaw , -. and Lodz hay&- gone into the villages ' spreading their propaganda. The peasaats in the Hadom district : tefuse to pay taxes, and offer armed re- : sistanee to' the-^oldiers. Whea repressing a rising at Kufcais . some drunken officers fired' on the pedes- ? trians, and several schoolboys were shot. There are 60,000 strikers in Moscow, and the strike is spreading There is a strike of the railway men in Krasnovodsk, the Trans-Caspian terminus of the railway. The Irkutsk district is blocked, and the strike ia general in the Trans-Baikal district. The strikers in Irkutsk show a disquieting attitude, and the troeps there are insufficient. ■^.quarter of a million colliers at Donetz (Southern Russia) have struck and seized : the dynamite depot. March 3. Official news advises that the Czar has issued a manifesto in which he expresses his confidence of Russia's ultimate victory in the Far East campaign, involving, as it does, Russian honour and the 03mmand of the waters of the Pacific, which, in the interests of Christianity, must be retained. The manifesto also upholds the autocz^acy, which is said to be sanctioned by the people's devotion, and" denounces the revolutionaries who are seeking to set up an unsuitable administration. The Czar calls upon ihe nation to defend his throne from an internal enemy.

Strikes have been ordered on the Vilna and Moscow railways, thus isolating St. Petersburg.

There are 120,000 strikers out of work in Ht. Petersburg.

The Russian workers* iiltimatum demanding the release of their fellows a> a condition precedent to consultation was rejected.

A* general strike 15 regarded as me-i-ta'jle.

March 4.

A special rescript addressed to trie Bulygiene acknowledges the congratulations of the nobility, Zemstvos, and nation on the birth of an heir to fhe throne, and announces the Czar's resolve, with the help of God, to convene the people's elected representatives to participate in the elaboration and consideration of legislative measures, while preserving the immutability of the fundamental laws.

The Czar's manifesto describes the war and the command of the waters of the Pacific as urgently necessary for the consolidation and peaceful prosperity of Russia and other Christian nations. It Recognises the strain on Russian resources, and contrasts the heroism of the soldiers in the Far East with the blind; pride, insolence, and evil-minded revolutionaries assailing the pillars of the State. The Grand Duke Sergius's death was a shock to every patriot. The manifesto appeals to all authorities to rally round the throne, overcome a stubborn foreign foe, and eradicate revolt at home, hoping in a period of tranquillity to realise the aim of strengthening prosperity and perfecting the administration of the State. March 5.

Eighty-three St. Petersburg factories, employing 51,604 hands, are thrown idle by tb.B strikes.

There were no collisions between the military and workmen on Saturday.

The appointment of General Maksimoff as Governor of Warsaw has been well received.

The gasworks strike has ended on a basis of a nine hours' day and an advance in wages. Four hundred Jews and three prominent journalists have been arrested. The garrison has been strongly reinforcedj. March 6.

The Czar's manifesto is illegal because it was not submitted to the Senate. Ministers are indilgnant, and declined responsibility for the measure as calculated to produce the gravest consequences. They tendered their resignations^ and the Czar finally signed the Rescript which they had. drafted. Affairs at St. Petersburg were thereafter quiet, though the strikers maintain their demands for their comrades release.

LONDON, March 1.

The Daily Te!?graplfs St. Petersburg correspondent enumerates instances where the authorities are inciting class hatred and religious feuds through paid hooligans, with a hope of diverting public attention from the reformers.

Fifty members of the mob were kiilad during tlie suppression of the riots at Theodosia. (

March 2.

The decision of the-North Sea Commission is still practically unknown in Russia, but it is supposed to be a signal triumph for Russia.

March 3.

The committee of Ministers is disposed to greatly mitigate the grievances of the Russian religious di&senters.

Reuter's St. Petersburg correspondent says that well-informed society circles state that the Czar is again opposed to

reform.

Reuter's St. Petersburg correspondent explains that the Czar's latest manifesto implies that the Minister who was elaborating a scheme for convening a National Assembly has fallen into disfavour, while the Grand Ducal party, which maintains the policy of absolutism, has secured the Czar's ear.

The Times says the appearance of the rescript creating a Legislative Assembly after a general strike has been announced has- been received with amazement, incredibility, and enthusiasm.

The Daily Telegraph says the rescript is vague, and little importance is attached to it.

March 5.

M. Pobiedonostzeff, of the Holy Synod", is supposed to be the author of the recent manifest^ which was signed by the Czar without consulting his Ministers.

The Czar's unqualified reassertion of absolutism has caused surprise in Germany, where it is feared there will he a palace revolution, driving the Czar into the arms of the reactionaries.

The police and military alone are satisfied with tlii? manifesto.

PARIS, March 2.

M. Jaure's paper, Humanite, publishes a remarkable letter purporting to be written by Father Gapmi, calling on the Czar to abandon his throne, since innocent blood separates him from his people. Bombs and dynamite await all assassins of the people. Gapon also appeals to all workmen to organise an armed insurrection, and to shoot the chiefs of police, governors, generals, and gendarmes. He urges the destruction of the Government and of civic property, but respect for private interests. The people must rise as one man at the signal of the Committee of Defence.

BERLIN, March 3.

Hecr Voneineni, the Prussian Minister of War. speaking in the Reichstag, stated that Russia had replaced all her troops on Germany's eastex'n frontier.

NEW YORK. March 3.

The New York Herald states that the Czar's yacht Standard is kept ready for use.

A prohibition campaign opened at Wootl■villo on Monday week, Mr Hawkins, membe i - for Pahiatua, being the principal .speaker. Towards the clo^e fif the. meeting M.SUu-3 got very livcliv