The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-24
PAIL OF PESS|MISM
Reigned Over Peace Confer
ence at Fridays Session.
HOPE ALMOST DISSIPATED
Hurried Telegraphic Consultation with
Roosevelt is Held by Score.
tary Pierce, But I'M
port Not Divulged.

: Black pessimism reigned at Ports
mouth, N. H., Friday. The prevailing
view is that the fate Of the peace
! conference is already sealedb that
it has ended in failure, and that all
that now remains is for the plenipoten-
tiaries to meet on Tuesday to which
they adjourned Friday afternoon upon
, completing the seriatim consideration
Of the Japanese terms, sign the final
protocol, 60 through the conventions
and bid each other farewell.
! But there is still room for hope OF
compromise. Neither President
Roosevelt nor the powers will see
that chance OF peace shipwrecked
without final effort, and that pres
sure is being exerted, especially ut
Toxic to induce Japan to moderate
her terms, is beyond question.
Just what is being done or is to be
done has not transpired. King Edward
is understood to be now lending 4
helping hand, and the fnanciers Of
the world are known to be eXerting all
their influence. At Toxic and st. Pc
tersburg. the final issue will be d.
cided.
The Japanese have been implacable
throughout the six day sittings. They
have listened and explained, but they
have yielded not an iota of the sub
stance OF their original demands.
And now both sides turn to home
for the last word before the cards are
thrown face upward upon the table
next Tuesday, for the impasse reach
ed Friday by the plenipotentiaries is
recognized to be only a diplomatic f1c-
ton. If, in the interim, fresh instruc.
tons are received by either side, COM
promise is yet possible.
But the chances are recognized to
be slim. So far as the Russian pleni-
potentiaries are concerned, there nev-
or was a chance Of their yielding
both indemnity and Sakhalin. The
cession Of Sakhalin without indem-
nifty was, according to the best inside
information, the extreme limit TO
which Mr.. Witte would ever consent
to go and the emperor has not yet
given the word even to concede that.
And suddenly, a new factor has
been introduced. which, in the opinion
of those most competent to judge, les
sens materially the chances that he
might do so, namely, the issuance OF
his manifesto granting a popular rep
resentative body to his subjects. The
bearings Of this historic document"
as Mr. Wftte described it few days
ago upon the issue, are easily scom-
prehensible. It is bound to amelio-
rate the internal situation in Russia.
It is the entering wedge for the real
fzation of the century old dream OF
the Russian people.
TT will create enthusiasm at
home" said one Of the most promi-
nent members of the Russian mission,
because all thinking men realize that
i. means eventually a great change in
the composition Of the Russian state.
It will be followed by a true parlia-
ment, a responsible ministry, a pre-
mier and Russia will become a con-
stitutional monarchy"
At midnight Friday night, Secretary
Pierce was hurriedly called to the
Hotel Wentworth, where a message
was awaiting him from the president.
He Immediately wrote a lengthy re-
ply. Later he was called to the tei-
esraph instrument, and for half an
hour carried on conversation by
telegraph with the president, who was
at the other end of the wire at Oyster
Bay.
At 1850 a. m, the telegraphic con-
yersation with the president ceased,
and Mr.. Pierce left the hotel in his
automobile. He said he was going
home, but beyond that declined 70
make any statement. Il can tell you
nothing" he said to all the anxious
,,.. - 4bo noucnaner men