Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-31
Great Public Demonstration
in st. Petersburg
PRAISE OF MANIFESTO
NERVOUSNESS OF THE PEOPLE
HAS DISAPPEARED.
Despotism Supplanted by License-Red
Flags in Evidence Everywhere
Students Harangue Crowds.
PETERSBURG, October 81, II 20
Tho Russian capital blossomed out

The Russian capital blossomed ont
i nags and bunting today. All the
'ops were withdrawn from the streets
nd the city presented almost it's normal
appearance. The nervousness of the peo-
pie has suddenly disappeared Workmen
by the thousands fiocked back to the shops
and factories without awaiting the per
mission of the strike committee. The au-
thorities did all in their power to encour-
age the spirit of rejoicing over the newly
granted lberties. 1t by order of Gen.
Trepoff that the regulation decorations
were hung out and the troops were in
structed to permit the people to vent their
feelings.
Before noon the celebrations began and
the city soon appeared to have gone mad.
Such scenes had never before been wit
messed in Russia. Unrestrained by word
or deed the crowds did and said what they
liked. DespOtism seemed suddenly to have
been replaced by license. Red flags were
everywhere in evidence.
In the churches devout men and women
on bended knees before the image of ST.
Nicholas the Miracle Worker rendered
thanks for the blessings of liberty. while
at the corners of the thronged streets ora
tors harangued the populace.
The people assembled principally on the
Nevsky Prospect From the Kazan Cathe-
dral to the town hall opposite the Hotel
De L'Europe traffic was blocked.
Thousands Listened to Students.
Fully thirty thousand workmen were
massed there listening to student orators,
who delivered impa ssioned speeches from
the steps of the town hall and cathedral
Red flags showed above the dense black
mass of cheering humanity.
The police kept in the background, not
even trying to keep the street open. Pass
ing patrols on their way to their barracks
would have been mobbed had it not been
for the appeals of the cool headed who de-
clared to the accompaniment OF CHEERS
that the troops were henceforth with the
people.
The biggest demonstration was organized
by students and workmen. A great pro
cession formed Starting from the
university 10,000 strong, ii increased in
numbers as the demonstrators marched
across the river and up the Nevsky Pros
pect as lar as the Kazan Cathedral sing
Ing the 'Marseillaise dozen red pan,
ners inscribed with the word "Svoboda
Qiberty) were carried at the head of the
parade. which stopped at the places where
the troops fired on the people January -.
and the paraders, with barred heads, chant
ed funeral dirges. The crowds in the
streets uncovered their heads as the pro-
Cession passed.
Students Harangued Multitude.
At the Kazan Cathedral the procession
countermarched to the university where
from the balconies students harangued
the crowds with fiery speeches, urging the
people not TO cease the struggle until every
right of man had been attained. In the
midst of the oratory intense enthusiasm
was created by a student who scaled the
roof of the university and attached a red
flag to the cross over the entrance.
The following is a sample of the inflam-
matory speeches:
You must go to the prisons and liberate
your comrades. Go armed with revovers
dynamite and bombs. Trepoff is still in
power Our watchword must be that all
the troops must be withdrawn from St.
Petersburg and leave the capital In our pos
session. That bloody scoundrel Trepof
must be driven out of Russia. The doors
of the bastile and of the fortresses must be
opened and a national guard must be Gre
Rted for the protection of our liberties. 1t
would be fatal TO stop now. The emperor
has yielded because he is not of the
army, which, brothers, is with us. Their
swords are on our side. Hurrah for liberty
Hurrah for socialism
Counter demonstrations took place on the
palace square, where several thousands of
peo0le bearing white flags knelt on the
coDvlestones and sang God Save the EN-
peror'' and prayed for the emperor.
Free Rein to Exuberance.
Although admitting that there Is some
danger in the uncontrolled exuberance OF
the people, the authorities ave decided to
give 1t the freest rein possible and only to
interfere If public safety is threatened The
old Russians who understand the temper of
the people say that If the manifesto can
arouse suoh NANTES tations in cosmopolitan
Indifferent st. Petersburg the people will go
mad In the provinces. and there may be a
reptition of the scenes at coronations which
occasioued great disasters.
Gen. Trepoff, speaking today to the CORE
Epondent of the Associated Press about the
effect Of the manifesto. said: 1T is neces-
sary TO await the developments of the next
few days, during which undoubtedly there
VII! be great demonstrations all over the
country. l believe these will be followed by
period Of tranquility, as | feel certain the
reyolutionists who would not be content
with anything Will be unable TO continue the
agitation effectively"