The news & observer., 1905-01-25
DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE.
Stop the War. Give Us Voice i'm the
Government?
(By the Associated Press.)

ST Petersburg Jan. 24.-The corre-
spondent of the Associated Press today
noticed several men distributing proc
lamations The people formerly were
shy OF accepting such documents now
they are eagerly accepting them and
have nicknamed them "lastotichkes'
("swallows'), an allusion to the spring
which has become a synonym OF revo-
luton. The correspondent secured {.
number of copies. They are all signed
by "the Russian Social Democratic
Labor Party" One proclamation dated
January % reads:
Comrades: So long as autocracy
exists no Improvement in our condition
is possible Therefore we continue to
inscribe on our banners the following
demands:
'Nhe immediate cessation of the
war.
.sThe summoning of a constituent
assembly of representatives of the peo-
pie elected by universal and equal suff-
rage and direct secret ballot.
THE removal of class and race
privileges and restrictions.
The inviolability of the person and
domicile.
Freedom of conscience. speech, the
press meetings, strikes and political
associations.
An InGammatory Proclamation.
a second proclamation dated jan
uary % says:
'"rhe proletariat Of all countries are
united.
"Citizens. you yesterday witnessed
the bestial cruelty of the autocratlc
government You saw blood flowing
i'm the streets. You saw hundreds
slaughtered, defenders of the cause OF
labor. You saw the death ana hearu
the groans of the wounded women and
IL c1N blood
brains of working Len were spattered
around where their heads had been
laid
''Who directed the soldiers to aim
their rifles and fire bullets at the
breasts of the laborers?
1T was the Emperor. the grand
dukes. the ministers. the generals, the
mobiles of the court. They are the
murderers. Slay them.
'.Toarms, comrades. Seize the arse
nails and the arms at the depots ana
at the gunsmiths. Lay low the prison
walls. Liberate the defenders of free
dom. Dcmolish the police and gen
darmerie stations and all the govern
ment and State buildings.
1--WE must throw down the Emperor
and the government and must have
our owIr~syovernment
Long live the revolution
Long live the constituent assem-
bly, of representatives of the people!
There is no confirmation of the re-
port that the Emperor, the Empress
and their children are going 10 COP
cnhagen or on the other hand that the
Emperor has decided to appoint a
mixed commission of officials. employ |
crS and Workingmen to consider the |
strikers demands notably the question
of eight hours work per day, and to /
make an investigation of the shooting |
of STR ).
All soris of rumors are circulating /
in both official circles and among the t
working men. A curious report spread |
among the men last night that the |
Emperor had given IN and that three I
white flags had been displayed over
the Winter Palace signifying that he
had consented to reduce the maximum
legal hours of work from IL to 8.
According to this legend the Emperor
would have displayed q red flag if he
had decided TO rerusc the strikers
request. Many working men deceived
by this rumor shouted "Hurrah" in to-
zen of the victory and this possibly !
was the reason that the strikers, be-
liCving they had already won the day,
refrained from committing excesses.
Gopon Urges Patience.
Father Gopon's popularity is unim-
paired but Il is already evident that
the Social Democrats are getting the
,.ppcr hand and that they are urging
the people to violence. From trust
worthy source il is learned ti.at Father
Gopon sent Ii letter to the Social DEM
ucrats in the following terms:
They have fired upon and masSa-
cred us, but We are not vanquiSied I
ai4d the day of our triumph is nigh |
Don't spoil olli triumph by taking up |
arms and resolting to violence. Con-