The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-03
Student Troubles tn Russia.
Special Correspondence.

disorders occur in Russia university
students are generally responsible, and
the fact has been pointed out as re-
markable that the enlightened should
thus foment trouble, whereas in other
countries the ignorant are almost inva-
riahy the culprits. Russian students
have grievances Of their own, demand
ing reforms which could not be granted
Without shaking the nations constitu-
'tion 10 its depths, and knowing that Tor
This reason they have concessions TO
hope for the students turn revolution
ists. proclaim themselves the friends Of
the people and provoke riots regularly
every year.
.. The people do not. il must be con-
fessed, evln6e much sympathy with
these movements. In Moscow in lSsS.
when the students posted prOclamations
saying that they would help the lower
classes 70 overthrow the Government,
some Of the lower classes came out
with knives against their would-be
champions. saying that they were con-
tented with the existing regime and
would not be interfered with AS for
The riots themselves. they become Sc
riOUs only when the authorities make
In 1902 there were university riots in
St. Petersburg. The Cossacks. ordered
out. rode into the mob in front Of the
kasan Cathedral. lsshing right and left
with their whips Cheeks were cut
open. eyes were torn out. arrests were
made 10y the score. the population was
.terTorized and il was thought a state OF
siege would have TO be proclaimed
IF .ara- a
had manifested themselves at the kieh
University. The Governor Of kien,
General DragCmirof. hero OF the
Russo Turkish war and noted as the
best strategist in Russia, has his own
theories about students riots. which he
considers mere chisd's play and no more
worthy of attention than the pranks OF
Harvard students stealing BARRIERS
poles and shop signs. So when the stu
dents rose I'D Dragomiroff die nothing
lie let them march ia procession
through the town until they were e&-
hausted. lie let them seize car and
ride around crying Down with the
Government" until they were hoarse,
and, finally. disguised by the utter in
difference Of authorities and pOpulace,
The students dispersed and went home.
Meanwhile, however, a jealous subor-
dinate had seen his chance to advise St.
Petersburg Of an uprising which Drago-
lniroff was neglecting. and d telegram
soon demanded Of the Governor why he
had taken no measures TO protect the
city. DragomirOff promptly called out
two full regiments and all the artillery,
charged at double speed through the
town. surrounded the university with
pointed cannon, intrenched his soldiers
round about and teiegraphed as follows
10 the Gar:
Have surrounded the enemy's quar-
tiers with $500 soldiers. Enemy retreat
ed and not reappeared-
The absurdity was so evident that
the Gar laughed heartily and counter
rnanded the censure which was TO have
been administered 10 ORA gOmirOff. But
the lesson has not been applied else
where.
Sometimes the various universities,
notably in 1899, boycott all lectures.
posting pickets TO prevent any indi-
viduals from attending, or the stu
dents take ill-smelling. chemicals into
the lecture rooms. IN 1893 the ex-
aminations throughout Russia were
held under protection OF the troops
and the leaders Of the movement,
which had started in St. Petersburg,
were sent TO Siberia, while 500 stu
dents were expelled This was the
first Of the great riots. since when
they have broken out al the same
period each year
The cause OF the 1893 riot was
trivial. in the extreme. The rector OF
the ST. Petersburg University an
'nounced that any one attempting a
demonstration on February s. the an
niversary OF the foundation, would be
expelled. The students. until this an
nouncement, had no idea Of demon
strating, but they resented the rector's
words and promptly organized some
excitement. The police took them
seriously and charged, throwing al
who resisted over the parapets of q
bridge on the frozen Neva. Five stu
dents were killed and fifty wounded
in this way And yet at other times
when no attention is paid, the little
efervescence passes away so quickly
that the students themselves. finding
nothing heroic, forget their pledge!
10 one another and return TO the calm
Of university life. Almost without ex.
ception. before every examination a.
each university, there is a meeting Of
protest at which the students pledge
themselves not 10 pass the examina.
tons. To render leakage impossible.
they deliver TO one Of their number
the certificates, without which the,
are not admitted before the board, anC
they denounce as towards and traitors
those who object. But the next morn
ing they come one by one TO the Gus
todian Of the certificates and by brides
and threats get their papers back. S,
that out Of each hundred who signed
the pledge on an average not NOR,
than four abide by IT.
Students outbreaks are precipitateC
most frequently by discomfort at som,
professor. No effort of the univer
sites to be granted i.-e selection o
their own faculties has succeeded. an,
50 long as the decision remains in tn,
hands Of the government AT e. Peters