Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-01-26
REIGN OF TERROR IN RUS
STA

Late events in Russia are Illustrative
of the saying that Whom the Lord
wishes to destroy he first makes mad.
That government trifed with the
Japanese and brought about war in
which her army and navy have been
continually worsted. and on Sunday it
deliberately provoked revolution and
civil war.
The trouble started in some OF the
great factories Of st Petersburg, owned
in whole or in part by the government.
and under its supervision The work
men were dissatisfied with their wages
ard hours, and ''struck" for a settle
ment. The strike, under the leadership
of priest. named Gopon, who is said
to have accumulated his political ideas
in this country, assumed semi-pollti-
cal character. The strikers announced
that they would assemble in the great
public square fronting the Winter Pal
ace. the official residence of the Car
during the winter months, on Sunday
afternoon, with a written petition
which they hoped the Car would re-
ceive in person from their leader That
afternoon they termed in great squads
in different parts of the city, ,and march
ed towards the square. the squad led
by Father Gopon numbering about ten
thousand. They were not warned to
desist, and their women and children
accompanied them
On coming near the square they
found all the avenues to it blocked by
soldiers, and upon their persisting in
entering it, were fred upon and killed
and wounded by the hundreds All the
professions attempting to enter the
square from different directions were
treated in a like manner. The people
were shot down without regard to sex
or age. The killed and wounded were,
as a rule. carried away by their friends.
Father Gopon was spared by the SOL
diers. and has since disappeared. That
night squads of brutal Cossacks cleared
the streets, and all the public squares
were occupied by fifty regiments of
troops.
The highest estimate Of the killed is
2, 1000, and wounded 5000.
Next day all was quiet in st. Peters
burg, but the "strike" was reported as
spreading in the factories of Moscow
and other large towns.
The first effect of this terrible affair
win be to shatter the belief of the work.
ingmen and peasants in the good in
tentions of the Gar. and this will pro
badly be followed by schemes for ven
geance, though at present the workmen
must submit, as they have neither arms
nor money. 1t will also hurt the credit
of the Russian government in France
and other countries where it has beer
borrowing large sums Of money.
On Tuesday the troops had St Peters
burg well in hand, but proclamations,
said to come from Father Gopon advo
eating violence were being circulated,
and reign of terror was feared.
In Moscow all the large factories
were closed, and big demonstration
was being arranged for next day.
The comment Of the Liberal paper al
Moscow, on the official report of the af.
fair at st. Petersburg, was sensational
for that country:
This official report does not come
from the scene of war, the victims have
not fallen on the battlefelds of Man
churia. nor in a fight with foreign
foe. but in a bloody conflict between
troops and Russian burghers. Arms
and slaughter may avail to put down
a peaceful demonstration. but force is
not powerful enough to quench the as.
pirations of the Russian heart, ward off
the consequences Of Sundays volleys
and prevent the movement for liberty
and justly organized government
coming to full fruition."
Disturbances were reported at Ra-
dorm. and several other manufacturing
towns.