The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-23


two students Of Russian progress, both
interested in the cause Of reform, who
have had every opportunity, from radi-
cally different standpoints, to observe
the internal workings of the Russian
government. They united in declaring
STA mean that new, era of liberty has
dawned and that the Russian people
must and will have a constitutional
government.
George B. Leonard, educated in Rus
STA, student in Paris for a year, and a
graduate of the University Of Mime
keen student. He was known in Rus
STA as a representative of the reform
movement. -.
M. B. Dillon was an officer in the
One Hundred and Fifteenth, one Of the
regiments now in st. Petersburg.
'"This awful carnage, this slaughter
OF the lnnocents, unquestionably opens
q new page for Russia" said Mr..
until the elementary rights of the in
volatility of the person, freedom Of
speech and assemblage and representa-
tive government are secured. To look
upon this demonstration as ephemeral
IS wrong. Those who have followed
the development of Russian affairs
abroad and at home, realized and knew
that the defeats of Russian arms in
It's conflict with little Japan would lead
TO (? o. bold demands on the part of the
dlferent classes Of the Russian people
for participation in the government.
More than a Strike.
"This is not strike. This is the
beginning Of the Russian revolution,
which, let us hope, will redeem the
bloodshed it entails by the freedom it
will gain for the oppressed peoples who
are EMBODIED in the great empire. Here
tofore such demonstrations were con-
fined largely to the university students,
only occasionally, and more of late,
participated in by the working classes
demonstration, in which women and
children take part. While in, its in
| ception the strike is economic, it has
| turned into a distinct movement for a
| voice in the government, and is bap-
tized by the. blood Of the women and
children in it's first attempt to appeal
| to the one whom the great bulk of. the
look upon as the irreproachable father
of his people.
"It must be remembered that the
| limited power of government which
was given to the people at the close of
the Crimeany war has been gradually
| stripped of it's usefulness by the limita-
lions which have been placed upon
| them. The schools, however, maintained
| by the municipalities and zemstvos are
freed Of the baleful influences Of the
Holy Synod. 49,.
| "The working. classes Of the two cap
itals and the industrial centers and
cities are now able to read. There is
now a common bond between the intel
!ectuals, liberals, revolutionists and the
industrial worker which was lacking
twenty-five years ago. True, under
large industrial capital have been kept
loyal to the throne and bureaucracy
thru the economic advantages that the
high tariff, shifted to suit their whim
and call, affords them. On the other
hand, the other commercial interests
are dissatisfied. They also want to
| have voice in the matter of the bud
| get, taxation and legislation.
''Nobility'' Want Change.
"In this respect the bankrupt class
can be likened to the landed squires of
England, enormously classified in
newspaper dispatches as the nobility
is found to be ready ally. The recent
petitions and resolutions by the doumas
(munieipalities) and zemstvos for q
voice in the government manifest the
sentiment Of these two social strata
Tho these s. different classes may, have
their different economic interests, al
classes of Russia, with the exception
of high finance, high industrialist CAPT
tai, the chinovniks,' i.e., the govern
ment officials scattered thru the coun
try, and the larger portion of the army
} will clamor for constitutional govern
ment; 49,.
surrounds the weak and vacillatins
Nicholas, made it's first mistake in mo-
allowing the emperor to appear before
the people. This refusal will have thu
effect Of breaking the bond supposed tt
exist between him and his people. Thi
faith once shaken, and the disconten7
everywhere, with millions Of wronget
Firms, Jews and brave sons of Poland
and the bulk of the homogeneous Rus
sian people, clamoring for the right t,
think and live, mean that absolutism
czarism and bureaucracy are doomed
The Russian nation will take its plac,
among: the civilized nations Of tn,
earth. ~
Some Regiments Disaffected.
Little can be expected by the PEG
pie; from the guard at the palace sail
That the1 are D not 4Sa eeff
| INV GAoO OHCy HlO IAOt CllO OAIAA'
Russian army. The policy of the Rus
sian government has been to maintain
the Polish soldiers in Russia SO as t,
keep them out Of their own country
The One Hundred and Fifteenth AM
One Hundred and Sixteenth regiments
which are now in st. Petersburg, ar
composed of about 40 per cent Poles
80 per cent Of the officers being Of. tina
nationality. These Poles hate tn
Romanoffs. The officers will never Civ
the word to fire on the people. Jus
!. how far this spirit extends to othe
regiments I do, not know. However
wherever there is an educated officer
there is more than an even chance tina
he is interested in the reform movement
trifing interval.
"Why should fifty dukes and rela
tiyes Of the 81, ear rs stand aan in the way o
not an anarchist, but believe that TIN
Romanoffs should be crushed. What tn,
people need is a leader. With Danto1
or a Mirabeau they would be irresist
4 ible. What I hope is that some general
Il will devote themselves TO the cause
Il Eo{ hoe