Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-02-22

the Workmen's social democratic party
{ and that in killing the grand duke he s
! carried out the order of the executive Of
) ficerS of the party.
pecially the Nevsky prospect and the
neighborhood Of the Kazan cathedral
which is always a point for student
demonstrations.
1t was the first joint meeting Of stu
dents and professors ever authorized, but
in view of the gravity Of the situation it
was hoped the presence of the professors,
most Of whom are in complete sympathy
with the liberal movement, would eXer
else restraining influence.
Gathering of Students.
The meeting was held in the audito-
rum Of the university, a sprawling pile
Of yellow buildings on Basil island, Neva
hall being comparatively small and in
capable Of holding one-ffth Of the 1000
students assembled.
The auditorium was packed to suffoca-
ton with earnest looking young men and
women and the doorways and window
embrasures were packed with students
who held others on their shoulders.
1t was a strange gathering. Most of
the students were poorly clad and all
were in state of intense excitement,
their very eyes burning with zeal.
Point to French Revolution.
A small rostrum in a corner was oc-
cupied by the speakers A bell with
which the student who presided tried to
stop the thunders of applause with which
the orators were greeted, was completely
unayailing.
From the outset student orators set the
Imagination Of their auditors afiame with
the spirit of liberty, unsparingly denounc-
ing the course OF the government, declar-
ing that promises could no longer avail
and that the only satisfaction would be
freedom of speech, conscience and the
press and the convocation of a national
assembly The majority coupled with a
demand for ending the war.
Almost every orator went back to the
French revolution for parallels. Again
and again was Russia declared to be on
the eve Of a revolution.
Spread Hope for Liberty.
With burning words one of the stu
dents described the affair of January %,
which he said had at last solidified the
interests of the liberals and those of the
wOrkingman. Amid a storm of cheers
he announced that a continuation of
study was impossible while such a strug-
gle was in progress and said it was the
duty of the young men there assembled
and others like them to return to their
homes in the provinces and spread the
agitation.
Some of the professors tried to stem
the tide with moderate counses advising
the students to go back to their studies,
but their advice was howled down.
Deride Gen. Trepoff.
When Prof. Speranzi, one Of the speak
erS, revealed the fact that Governor Gen
eral Trepoff had threatened not to per-
NIT any student who left his studies to
re-enter any Of the big universities the
statement was received with a veritable
howl Of rage.
Glory in Sergius' Death.
The speeches in the auditorium were
mild and temperate compared with those
delivered at the overflow meeting in the
classrooms. where even the murder Of
Grand Duke Sergius was glorified An
attempt Of a few revolutionary students
to hold an opposition meeting ended in a
dismal failure. Less than fifty students
responded to the call and the meeting
was abandoned.
The few foreign newspaper CORE
spondents who We're admitted to the uni
verSity were amazed at the incendiary
character Of the meeting and the abso-
lutte freedom with which the students,
knowing that auditorium was filled with
government spies, boldly made them
In the minds eye one could almost pick
out the MirabeauS and DeSmOulinS and
possibly Dantons and Robespierres of
the future.
Police Couldn't Interfere.
1t seemed strange with the soldiers out
side ready to crush anything in the ma
ture of stree. demonstration that such
q meeting was allowed. 1t is necessary
to explain, however, that under the law
once meeting is authorized the police
cannot stop it unless the university di-
rectoTs call them in.
The speeches grew more and more ex-
cited. An address from Italian students
was read denOuncing the tragedy Of JAN
uary %, and the general tyranny of the
bureaucracy, and expressing sympathy
with the Russians aspirations for liberty.
Sing Russian Marseillaise.
When shortly after 3 o'clock a recess
was taken, the whole student body began
singing the Russian ''Marseillaise." which
begins: "You fell, victims of love of your
country"
A wild scene followed The students
unfurled red flag on which was writ
ten: Hail to the Constituent Assem-
bly,"
With this flag the students began pa
rading the auditorium and adjoining cor
ridors.
Show Respect to Car.
A portrait of Emperor Nicholas was
also taken down from the wall and car
ried in the procession.
The portrait was torn in a slight skirm-
ish, but this called forth a protest from
the vast majority, of those present who
were careful to avoid even the appear
ance of disrespect to the Emperor. Many
proclamations were distributed
When the meeting reconvened, it was
decided to divide on the question of join
ing in the general strike and vote first
on the resolutions explaining the motives
of the action Of the students and after
wards vote on question of strike.
Vote to Close University.
At the conclusion of the meeting after
the adoption of a set of strong reSolu-