Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-01-19
IDENTIFIED PEACE
CONFERENCE
Russia Will ProIong the
Fight Against
Japan.
RUSSIA IS MUCH CONFUSED
Her Interior Affairs Are In Very Bad
Condition = General State of Dis
trust Responsible fer Shaken Con-
fidence in Governments Affairs.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 13.-The gov
eminent seemingly is about to make
the irrevocable decision that the
situation at home necessitates the con-
tinuation Of the war till peace with
dignity is possible. Beyond this
pont. however, confusion exists. es-
pecialiy regarding the immediate de-
veiopment Of the interior situation.
emperor Nicholas is still apparently
Vaclliating as to whether he shall al.
low M. White full sway, In the mean
time declining to permit Prince Svia-
topolk-Mirsky to retire. The latter
persists In the view that the conf
dence Of the people in the manner in
which the reform manifesto is to be
worked out is vital. and that this Ia
impossible II the work is to be left
completely In the hands Of the bu-
reaucrats. Direct consultation with
the representative classes interested
he considers essential.
1t has now been definitely estab-
lished that the third section OF the
manifesto as 1t was originally drafted
by Minister Sviatopolk-Mirasky pro-
vides for representation Of the zem-
stvos in the councils of the empire,
and that II was stricken out against
his earnest protest.
Prince Sviatopolk. Mirsky's retire.
ment from the ministry of the interior
RN ~
matter Of short time, although there
is seeming evidence that the emperor
hopes by temporiEing to avoid the ne
cessity Of concentrating the reins Of
power In the hands OF M. Witte.
Should real storm break, however,
no one doubts that M. WHITE is the
one strong man in sight who can be
called to the bridge.
The lack Of cohesion and alignment
Of the forces opposed to the existing
state Of things and mutual distrust Of
each others programme seems to
make anything approaching actual
revolution at the present time I'M
worthy Of serious consideration. So
cialists, revolutionists and other ex-
treme elements, es well as the sub
ject of races on the borders of Rus
STA, all have different obJectives, with
which the conservative liberals whom
the government really hopes to ap-
pease have little In common; and
above all Russia's unnumbered mil.
lions Of peasants, although they have
manifested an adherence Of war.
principally for economic reasons and
because 1t takes their loved ones
away, have given almost no evidence
of having been stirred by the prevail
ing political agitation. Demonstra-
tions are regarded by the authorities
as possible, accompanied by a recur-
renee Of terrorism by those who be-
lieve the tomb is the only weapon
with which they can fight abso-
lutism.
This last is really considered the
hkeliest and most deplorable posi-.
bility in the near future. For the
moment, however, all Is quiet in the
interior, the people seemingly being
absorbed with the Christmas holidays.
No further disorders have occurred in
connection with mobilization, the only
active movement Of any sort noted
being demonstrations at Mimi Nov
gorod and Moscow. both confined to
meetings Of school professors, who
took advantage Of the occasion to pro.
test against the difficulties under
which, they declared, the STATS Of the
universities labored, and adopted
resolutions in favor of reforms on the
line of the recent zemstvo memorial
but going further than the emperor's
manifesto. The meeting at Mini Nov.
gorod was dispersed by the police and
several persons outside the hall were
injured, but none seriously