The San Francisco call., 1904-11-14
RUSSIA AWAKENING.
Broad and liberal Movement Gains
Momentum Daily.

Broad and liberal Movement Gains
Momentum Daily.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 13.-Russia
is facing a great internal crisis. which
in the minds of intelligent Russians
overshadows in Importance all ques-
tions relating to foreign politics. A new
broad and liberal movement seems not
only under way, but is gaining mo-
mentum daily, and the best feature of
it is that ii is entirely divorced from
any radical revolutionary propaganda
Prince Sviatopolk Mirsky, the Minister
of the Interior, has given the movement
impetus, but has done so against the
most powerful influences, and behind
the scenes a bitter struggle is waging
for imperial support. During the COM
ing week the first test of strength is
likely to occur, the result of which may
mean much for the history of Russia
The policy Of reaction, which had
grown steadily since the accession of
Alexander III, seemed suddenly to lose
its main bulwark when Minister
Plehwe fell With the advent of Prince
Sviatopolk AIirsky and his frank appeal
for a policy of mutual confidence be-
tween Government and people a tre-
mendous liberal rebound occurred, rails
ing, perhaps unjustifiably, high hopes
and aspirations.
An American enjoying absolute polit-
icaI freedom can hardly appreciate the
full significance of the changes that
have occurred since Prince Sviatopolk
Mirsky's Inauguration in a land Of alb
sOlutism. The Russian policy as re-
CARDS Finland, if not reversed, has been
greatly ameliorated, and the Finnish
national Diet will meet next month
Only yesterday prominent F'inlanders
who were exiled under the Plehwe
regime received permission to return to
their own country or to go abroad If
they desired to do so.
The oppressive activity of the police
throughout the empire has been
largely relaxed; Punishment by ad-
ministrative order has been abolished;
hundreds Of political prisoners exiled
to Siberia have been recalled: the
Jews have received assurances of the
dawning Of a brighter day; the doors
have been thrown open at two of the
biggest trials proceeding in Russia
(the Schaumann treason trial and the
Jewish trial at GobeD and the
method of treating student demonstra-
tions has been radically changed. Per-
suasion is being substituted for Cos
sack charges.
But nowhere are the changes so
marked as in the matter of the press.
After years or the stricteSt censorship
Russian papers suddenly found their
voices within the last fortnight and
were remarkably plain spoken in the
discussion Of internal affairs, and es-
pecially now the forthcoming meeting
of Zemstvo presidents. All accounts
Of the Schaumann and Gobel trials
have been printed and even partico-
lars of student demonstrations, with
resolutions offered at the polytechnic
institute declaring that what was
wanted was not confidence, but an
end of the war and the immediate
convocation of a national assem- bly,
Such an unprecedented publication
made the Russian public rub its eyes
in amazement.
Prince Ouktomsky, editor of the
Viodomosti, said to-day that never
within his memory had Russian news
papers been allowed such liberties;
yet these things had been done quiet
ly and without public proclamation.
AS rule, he said, the laws had not
been modified.