Evening journal., 1904-11-26
He Receives Prominent
Members of zemstvo
Congress Was I IN
pressed by Views
General Nogi is Ordered
toRenew the Attacks on
Port Arthur and Cap
ture 1t.

st. petersburg, Nov. 26.-The unex-
pected may happen after all The meet
inc Of the Zemstvoists' FIRST Russian
congress-" as it is now called. may in-
deed work the Inauguration OF a new
era for Russia. Emperor Nicholas, the
initiator Of the plan for universal dis
armament. may turn back upon the
reactlonaries and crown his reign by
granting TO his subjects the consttu-
tion which his grandfather had al
ready prepared when he fell by tho
hand of an assassin.
The basis OF such possibility is the
significant fact that the emperor re-
ceiyed in the palace at Tsarkoe-Selo
NJ. Shipon, of Moscow: NJ Petrunkei-
witch. OF Teyer; M. Rodzianko, of Eka-
terinosiav, and Count Heddon. four
prominent members Of the Zemstvo
congress, and listened at length TO
their views. II develops that when
Minister Of the Interior Sviatopolk-
Mirsky presented the zemstvo memo
rial and resolution on November "a
the emperor was so deeply impressed
as well by the contents Of the docu-
ments as by the character of the sign
ers that he Immediately EXPRESSED the
desire to personally receive a deputa-
tion Of four.
The zemstvoists therefore went to
Tsarkoe-selo by imperial command.
At their audience It is understood,
they explained fully their position and
reiterated the views expressed by the
memorial that the salvation of tho
empire from ruin by revolution lay in
the adoption OF the general ideas ex-
pressed in tho memorial. The emperor
was greatly impressed by what he
heard and asked many questions.
While It is understood that he gave no
indication OF HIS purposes except the
sympathy he displayed the deputation
when they returned TO St. Petersburg
were in high spirits. Naturally they
declined to say anything for publica-
tion regarding the visit.
The news that the delegation had
been given an audience by the empe-
TOR spread like wlldhre through the
city and created a tremendous sensa-
ton rejoicing among liberals and
amazement among the uneompromis-
ing supporters of the old regime
Earlier in the day the report was cur.
rent that an inmeulute -pffect of th'
zemstvo meeting would likely be thl
realization- -of-fna Fthn~for-s giving tw,
elected Zemstvo representatives seat
in the council of the empire.
One Of the prominent liberals whC
participated in the congress declinoC
tonight to share in the jubiiation o.
some Of his colleagues. and expressed
the opinion that victory was yet {
long way of, although he said he be-
lieved Il was sure 10 come in the end
He pointed out that the declaration
in the memorial IN faror Of the abro
cation Of special privileges and for The
equality Of the classes before the Law
when Il became known Throughout
Russia was bound to appeal strongly
70 the peasantry "An the members
of the congress- said he, "are larg'
landed proprietors. A leveling pro
cess which would put the Mujik on al
equality with them must be preiudi
cial to their personal interests. In M
other country In the . world. oxcep
Russia, would you find men anxious
10 make sacrifices for an altruisti'
ideal. The same thing, however, hap
pened with the emancipation Of th'
serfs in the time Of Alexander II. wheI
many mobiles advocated the measure
though it meant practically ruin fol
them personally"