The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-17
MAKING HEADWAY
The Revolutionary Movement
in the Cars Empire
Is Distinctly Gaining Ground in
Some Directions.
AN OPEN CONFLICT
With the Government Now
Seems Inevitable.
Administration win Be Forced
to Surrender or Fight.
AN EARLY DOWNFALL
Of the Imperial Administration
Is Looked For.
insurgents Are Still Holding
Several Baltic Towns.
With the Government Now
Seems Inevitable.
win Be Forced
to Surrender or Fight.
AN EARLY DOWNFALL
Of the Imperial Administration
Is Looked For.
Insurgents Are Still Holding
Several Baltic Towns.

st. Petersburg. Saturday night, via
Eydtkuhnen. Dec. 1.-THE week that
is just closing has seen some import
ant changes and developments in the
Russian situation, and they may have
a strong bearing on future events,
tending to throw the state either into
anarchy or draw it back to order and
quiet, under strong government con-
troll, according to which side proves
successful.
This last week has seen the govern
ment pass from passive ignoring of
the revolutionary movement to the
adoption of steps for instituting active
repressive measures, while at the same
time a check has been placed upon
the reactionaries in the court. This
week has also seen the revolutiOnaries
who hitherto have acted by parties
that were as hostile to each other as
they were to the government, brought
into close touch.
The revolutionaries have also start
ed movement that, if it can be car
ried into effect, will certainly precipi-
tate open conflict with the govern
ment or lead to its downfall. Through
it all it may be said that the revoIu-
ton has gained ground and the very
acts of the ruling authorities have
I
The actions Of the government, as
usual in Russia, have given the revo-
lutionaries q chance to make their po-
sition stronger In one way. however,
the government has strengthened
itself. This point in its favor was
given through the action of the car in
/ boldly proclaiming his independence
/ of the TeactiOnary court influences and
| his determination to stand by Pre-
mier Witte. The reactionary party
has shot its bolt and failed te hit the
/ target in this instance. How soon the
wavering car will turn back to his
old-time advisers, however, can not
| be foretold.
Where Witte Failed.
But even in proelaiming his de-
/ termination to uphold Witte the car
has weakened himself to a consider
able extent because of the fact that
/ Witte, whether justly or unjustly. is
! discredited by the great mass of the
1 people. His attempt to steer a middle
/ course between reaction and revolu-
1 ton has only brought him into dis
repute with both sides.
While repudiating the reactionarfes
/ the car has also taken reactionarv
/ stand through his premier, whom he
! has determined to support Count
/ Witte boldly showed the governments
position yesterday when ne said to a
/ delegation representing the zemstvo-
lists who requested the widening of the
| reforms which the government is pre-
pairing to give the people:
I'VE have reached the limit Of re-
! forms We can do nothing more than
we have already promised. If the Deo-
| pie are not satisfied and continue their
| 1neXcusable agitation we shall proclaim
martial law"
The revoIuhonaries are making the
/ best possible use Of the capital thus
given them by Witte and are quoting
his words TO show that the government
| is preparing to begin war on the peo-
pie. The declaration from the premier
has driven off the greater part of the
friends who still uphold WHITE.
The most significant feature Of the
! revolutionary movement during the
week has been the amalgamation Of the
strong factions of the social democrats
and social revolutionists. These parties
and the revolutionary cause was weak
ened because the government was able
to play one partv against the other.
Revolutionary Parties Unite.
The union Of the two great revolu-
t1onary parties who influence many
smaller parties was proclaimed in the
joint signature by both of the latest
proclamatiOns of the working men urg-
ing the people to make certain strong
demands on the government and to re-
fuse to pay taxes until their requests
are all granted. This is the first real
indication given that the revolutionary
parties are all preparing to unite in car
rying on the propaganda and is very
significant for this reason It may mean
that out of the present chaos will come
some order Of the revolutionary sort.
Lack Of head or really a guiding or
ganization handicaps the revolution 50
far.
Out of the aInalgamation of the rev.
dictionary parties may come strong
central party that win be able to guide
the movement. The union may even
produce one great leader who can
force all parties to obey his commands.
If this does come to pass it is almost
certain that it will mean the downfall
of the present government.
The revOlutionaries are now bending
their energies in the directions that
| threaten do the most to undermine
the government, that it may cripple 1t
I financially There is new and i'm
portant clement in the latest mani
festo of the revolutionists and that Is
that the attempt is directly made to
discredit the government financially
abroad as we'll as to cut off its do
nestle income.
) In their manifesto the leaders call
/ on the people to make the government
repudiate the loans that have been
made abroad since the beginning OF
l the revolutionary movement on the
ground that the money was borrowed
for the purpose of fighting the people
and that they viii not repay money
+ loaned for this purpose If such action
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