The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-06
IrspOR is Nov Practically Dic- tator in Russia and Iron
 Hand Will Rule
UKASE CAME LIKE BOLT
 FROM CLEAR SKY ID NATION
Dangerous to Forecast Results, Popular upheavaI In Russia Maj Shake Empire to It's
 Foundations.

St. Petersburg. June 6, 3.03 a. m-Em peror Nicholas ukase virtually creating Governor General Trepoff dictator has given rise to a mighty sensation. It is the imperial recognition of the crisis in the in- ternal affairs of Russia and instinctively recalls the step taken by the Emperor's grandfather, Alexander IT., immediately after the attempt to blow up the winter palace in 1880, when he appointed a com mission of public safety headed by Gen eial Loris- Mekoff, except that the posi- .ion of General Trepoff will be more analogous to that occupied by Loris- Me lkoff, when later in the same year he was appointed minister of the interior with full control of the police.
 Means Reaction and Repression.
 Rea, ton and repression doubtless will ee tine quick interpretation put upon the Emreror's act soon as It becomes known to the liberals. Buried in the col uians of the Official Messenger and com lug almost without warning the ukase Is lot as yet generally known, but to the initiated the future of Constantine l'"t- ovitch Pobiedonostzeff, chief procura- ter of the holy synod, looms large. Be- hl1G the scenes the old man remains as sttfn and as uncompromlsing as evei.
 1e left what many believed to be his dsms bed last Thursday and went to TsarslNoe-seo, where he spent almost the .lilre day with his majesty. The decision to .,. ce in the hands of the sF F:aGgest executive in Russia, which Trepoff Is uni- VeisaIy recognized as being, the power to crush with an iron hand the present agi- tatf,ll. wlit1 h hns brought Russia almos. t'' the pr4ak of revolution, according to public belnf, Is the fruit of Pobied0nos. zcn viJt.a for so far as can be ascer- taircd, notSa single one of the Emperors nsnisters was in the secret
 Like Bolt From Clear Sky.
 The ukase came like a bolt from a clear sky M Bouligan, minister of the interior, could not face the humiliation and immediately resigned and it is not improbable that other ministers will fol. low suit It is rumored in the city that Count Lamsdorff, the foreign minister has already placed his resignation in the hands of the Emperor, and that he will be succeeded by M Muravieff for mer minister of justice. and now ambas- sador at Rome Admiral Alexieff has also demanded the acceptance of his dis mission. To find a precedent for the resignation of minister as a protest against imperial action 1t is necessary to go back to the resigna tions of Ministers Ioris- -Melikof, Miliyutin and 1gnalieff, when after the assassination of Alexan- der II, Alexander III repudiated the lib- eral policy of his father by issuing his famous manifesto affirming the mainten- ance of the autocracy and of orthodoxy, which stirred the chancellories of Europe to their dephts and marked the begin ming of the reactionary policy that has lasted until the present liberal agitation began.
 Many Rumors Are Heard.
 NJ Strumar, an extreme reactionary who belongs to the Won Plehve school it is commonly reported at this writing, will succeed NJ. Boulgan as minister of the interior, but it matters little as to who may succeed to that portfolio, as its holder will be a subordinate to General Trepoff in all matters affecting politics. In spite of the popular interpretations however. that Trepoffs appointment means repression and reaction to the bitter end the latter conclusion by no means follows, as it was under Loris- Melkoff's dictatorship that the reform programme of Alexander II was worked out The same thing may prove true ill this case.
 Indeed among the contrary rumors which are current in the city, one is to the effect that the issue of the ukase will be coupled with the immediate calling of a zemsky sobor, but nothing is definitely known and even the Emperor's most in- fiuential ministers are not aware as to what stand he will take.
 Whatever he may do it is nevertheless apparent that the Emperor has decided that hands of the government shall no longer be forced by political agitation, and that the legislative assembly shall bear the hall mark of imperial fashion, ing. and not that of popular clamor.
 The decision of the Eemporor was un- a ta6 hxr aster in the sea of Japan, and liberals and radicals everywhere were preparng to make the best possible use of it in furthering their wishes.
 Peace Demonstrations Are Prohibited.
 The government also was threatened with peace demonstrations the first of which was to be a big meeting of the zemstvoists and doumaists at Moscow to- day. which General Trepoff, as his first act prohibited.
 On the surface of things. therefore it looks ominously like the placing of Ire poff at the helm to deal with the internal crisis which the determination to pursue the war is apt to cause. Indeed there are rumors that general mobilization has already been decided upon. and that the appointment of Trepoff was made so as to enable the government to carry it out.
 It is dangerous to forecast the result of the change in the situation. As long as there was vent for escaping steam in congresses and assemblies, pressure did not accumulate, but with the extra weight on the safety valves. and with the fires of internal agitation burning plainly there may be an explosion.