The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-31

ST. Petersburg October 29.-Day at
ter day passes without the promrlga-
ton OF Russias new governmental Or
gan. a responsible ministerial cabinet
to bring order ont of the present ad-
ministrative chaos. Count Witte, to
whom all factions look to assume the
premiership, has spent almost the en-
tire time Of the past two days at Peter
hof, wrestling with the Emperor, in
sisting upon coalitions in connection
with his appointment which his majes-
ty was unwilling to grant. Upon his
return to ST. Petersburg tonight Count
Witte announced that the cabinet prof
ect which has been lying signed fOr
three days On the Emperor's table
would not be promulgated tomorrow
intimating thereby that his pro
gramme, which IS known to include a
species of constitution involving the
granting OF -four Iiberties-freedOm OF
: speech. freedom OF assembly, freedom
.of the press and freedom of the per-
son"-has not been accepted.
1t is felt here that the delay cannot
be protracted, and that it is only a
question Of hours when the Emperor
confides the fortunes of the dynasty
and government to Count Wltte
hands Meanwhile the situation IS
passing from bad to worse, with mat,
ters at the summit in state OF un-
stable equilibrium. The chiefs Of state
are at q loss how to act and the rev
olutionists, encouraged by the inactiv-
ity of the government, are growing
bOlder and more inSistent in the de'
mands made in their speeches.
1t is true there has been no disorder
in St Petersburg, and that General
Trepoff, Russias other strong man.
has taken every measure to put down
an uprising in It's incipiency, but he
has not felt sure enough of his posi-
tion to act boldly with regard to the
revolutionary meetings at the unlVer-
sity, and has cOntented himself with
issuing warning. which not having been
enforced, are taken by the agitators as
evidence of lack Of backbone. AS be
fore Fridays giant meeting at the uEl-
Versity it was again announced today
that further meetings there would not
be permitted but the college portals
were again open last night and the
hospitality Of the university was cx-
tended to a group of lawyers and other
professional men, one of whose ora,
tors referring to the old Russian folk
legend that the world is supported or
the backs of three whales, said that the
autOcraCy rested on three cetacea-
money, the army and the loyalty of the
people, but that Russia is now bank
rupt, and the moral sympathy Of tn
people alienated, and that the army
alone remains true and this he pre-
dicted would not be for long. Anoth
er speaker openly preached terrorism
and advocated making an example O.
a number Of high personages.
Count Whites ally in the stupendou
task ne is about to undertake will b.
General Trepoff, who though all nj
life has been spent as an instrument fol
repression, and though he twice has Cs
capped attempts 90 execute the terror
list sentence of death has come to real
ize that the old order of things i
changing and giving place to a nev
and now is a. genuine convert to III
policy Of giving the people a share ii
the government. Should Witte a2C
Trepoff now fail, the best opinion i
that nothing will save the present gov
ernment from complete ruin.
Many shrewd observers believe tha
Witte comes too late
Life in ST. Petersburg is that OF
city under siege, with an uprisIn;
threatened from within, almost com
pletely isolated and it's scanty stor
of provisions being rapidly exhausted
The garrison, however, is overwheinl
-fnoIv large General Tren0ff has an
900 troops under his command, whicl
are distributed in every section Of tn
city. There is scarcely a block with
out its military patrol. Infantry an
cavalry are quartered in court yard
all over town, the barracks are guard
ed and the watch fires of the soldiers
who are bivouacing in the streets, iign
up the thoroughfares where electrlci
ty has been ext;nguished. The Nov
sky prospect, the city's main avenu