Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-20
SPIRIT OF REVOLT
AN|NAIES RUSSIA
Great Meeting of Students and
!. Professors Of University ofSt.
Petersburg Held Today
AMAZING SPEECHES ARE MADE
Russia Declared to Be On the Eve Of
a Revolution and Students Are
Urued to Go to Provinces and Spread
Tho Observation-Disclosures of sersius
Approved.

st. Petersburg, Feb. 20.-The spirit
of revolution had complete possession
of the great meeting of professors, stu
dents and directors of the st. Peters
burg University which assembled to-
day to discuss the question of joining
in the general strike inaugurated by
similar institutions in Russia and de-
cided to close the university till fall
In anticipation of possible trouble
when the meeting broke up squadrons
of Cossacks again paraded the streets.
1t was t1te first joint meeting of stu
dents and professors ever authorized,
but In view of the gravity of the situa-
ton it was hoped the presence of the
professors, most of whom are in COM
plete sympathy with the liberal move
ment, would exercise a restraining in
fuence. The meeting was held in the
auditorium of the University, which
was packed to suffocation with earn
est looking young men and women. and
the d0orways and window embrasures
were banked with students, who held
Others, on their shoulders. 1t was a
strange gathering.
Most Of the students were poorly
clad and all were in a state of intense
excitement. From the outside student
orators set the Imagination of their
auditors aflame with the spirit of lib
erty, unsparingly denouncing the
course of the government and declar-
ing promises could no longer avail:
that the only satisfaction waald be
freedom of speech, conscience, press
and convocation of a national assem-
bly,. The majority coupled this with
a demand for ending the war. Again
and again was Russia declared to be
on the eve Of a revolution.
With burning words one of the stu
dents described the affair of January
%, which he said had at last solidified
of the workingman. Amid storm of
cheers he announced a continuation of
study was impossible while such a
struggle was in progress and 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
counsels, advising the students to go
back to their studies, but their advice
was howled down. When Professor
Spearanzi revealed the fact that Gov
ernor General Trepoff had threatened
not to permit any student who left his
studies to re-enter any of the big uni
with veritable howl of rage, but the
speeches in the auditorium We're mild
and temperate compared with those
delivered at the overflow meetings in
the class rooms, where even the MUIR
der of Sergius was glorified. The at
tempt Of a few reactionary students to
hold an opposition meeting ended in a
dismal failure. Less than fifty stu
dents responded to the call.
The foreign newspaper correspond
erits who were admitted to the univer-
sity were amazed at the incendiary
character of the meeting and the alb
sol,lte freedom with which the stud
ents, knowing the auditorium was filled
with government spies, boldly made
themselves liable to the charge Of
treason.
Shortly after 8 o'clock recess was
taken and the whole student body be-
gan singing the Russian "Marseillaise'
which begins:
''You fell victims of love of your
country"
"A wild scene followed. Students
unfurled red flag on which was writ
ten: Hail to the constituent assem-
bly," With this flag the students be-
gan parading the auditorium and ad-
joining corridors. A portrait of En-
peror Nicholas was also taken down
from the wall and carried in the pro-
cession. The portrait was torn in Il
slight skirmish, but this called forth Z
protest from the vast majority of those
present, who were careful to avoid even
the appearance of disrespect to the
emperor.
Many proclamations were distributed.
When the meeting reconvenei it was
decided to divide on the question of
joining in the general strike and vote
first on the resolutions explaining the
motives of the action of the students.
At the conclusion of the meeting.
after adoption of set of strong reso-
lutions the student body, almost by
unanimous vote, decided to suspend
all University work until September.
The meeting dispersed without Incl
dent.