The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05

ties-Peasant Uprising Flanneu-As-
sasslnation OF witte Would Cost the
RevoIutionists Popular FeelIng-The
cars Two Conflicting Manifestocs.
Special Cable Despatch 10 THE sun.
ST PETERSBURG, March 4.-The greatest
armed conflict the world has known which
is now progressing in Manchuria, is COM
retely oyershadowed in public interest
ty the mighty problem of what fate has
In store for Russia in the next few days.
Here at home the Gar has given his
,cope blind riddle to solve. He has
dealt with the greatest crisis in the history
Ct Tie empire by issuing two cryptic utter
lnces which 1t would puzzle Demosthenes
10 reconcile OF interpret.
How shall the e1asperated, rebellious
masses Of Russia understand his real mean
ing? No two con illusions are alike at the
present moment.
Perhaps this confusion OF public senti-
nient is the effect he sought to produce.
If 40 he will surely soon regret this trifing
with a well nigh desperate nation. Russia
demands to know the imperial will in the
face Of the dire perils which threaten the
existence Of the empire.
Ter people receive first what appears
TO lie a childish religious appeal followed
few hours later by the vague announce
ncnt OF an intention 10 summon some sort
e elective popular assembly to give legis-
lative advice to the Throne.
Into the first document there has since
been read an internal suggestion that the
lower classes should rise as Kishineff did
against the Jews and destroy the so-called
intellectuals who are promoting the in
s1rrrctionary movement. This meaning
seems to be a little far fetched. The Gar,
al all events is guiltless Of any such infam-
usidea Ia the instrument which was drafted
by VI Pobiedonostseff. ProcHator Gen
oral OF the Holy Synod. possibly with the
sinister intention which ID now suggested
The general tendency is to ascribe the
more liberal rescnpt which follows to
another Of the Cars panicstricken rrhe
fort on noticing the instant effect OF the
manifesto and receiving the news Of Gen.
kuropatkn's peril
II is difficult to accept this assumption
that the Emperor il such hopeless inn
ieaio that he actually changed bis public
a,i'utc on the same day in the face Of
Isis, II is more charitable, as
vol Pr more reasonable. 10 assume, so far
q h.- intentions 20. that he intended the
ii~t manifesto simply as n religious. patri-
otto appeal to the public and the second
a q concession to the almost universal
Gmand for a representative assembly
Il is quite true, probably, a. reported,
ihlt those who procured the issue Of the
frs, manifesto, perhaps with the most evil
intent, had no knowledge OF the Cars
purpose % supplement il with a second
Il an lndoubtcd fact that IL the first mani
ie-to had stood alone it would have stimu-
lated every revolutionary agency to the in
santadoption Of the most extreme measures
and the country would speedily have been
reduced to a reign OF terror. 1t is an open
question now il this has been averted.
Tomorrow will furnish the first indication.
We have under the above most favorable
Interpretation Of the Cars attitude a situa-
lion which cannot continue. He is at best
slill striving at the impossible task OF a
compromise between the advice Of the re-
dictionaries and the demands OF the bulk
Of the nation The question is bound to be
decided one way or the other. and the de-
osion cannot long be delayed.
Every day makes it more probable that
tho ISSUE cannot be decided peacefully
The position to-day is far moro serious
than II was on Jan. %. That was a work.
hgn'ns demonstration pure and simple
The permanent revolutionary party which
KILLED NJ, Plehve. the Grand Duke sergius
ana Other tyrants had no part in that days
work They are now ready to take the field
IoF mora extensive operations. They have
warned the foreign diplomats TO remain
indoors tomorrow Nobody knows except
ther committee OF eleven how or where
'hey will strike or whether they will strike
al all at the present moment.
lheir resources are ample and their
machinery extensive. They ave worked for
months spreading the insurrectionary propa-
sahda among the troops, 1t is certain that
INC authorities have taken every possible
preeaution 10 maintain military loyalty,
'or me moment this Is lost the end will
cone. There is not the slightest indi-
'-''on A. 70 whether this most deadly peril
no" thNnten' tho autocracy. It is the
'F'"ed programme OF the revolutionary
lIT'y 10 strike blow after blow until the
@ar throws up his hands and seys I'm
h'.pIe'' do as YOU like
~ has been reported for n dsy or two
'Oa' me reNolutionists have marked Gov
--hor General Trepor and NJ wittc me