The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-02-21
FOR sober
Emperor Nicholas Will Con-
vene Russian Parliament.
Initial LAW At TSARSEOE- SELO.
9pirit of Revolution Stirs 81. Peters,
burg administrators Cars
POrtrait-Wave Red FIag-De-
mand That War End.

LONDON, Feb. 21.-A dispatch from
81. Petersburg says that Emperor Mich
olas has decided to convene the zemsky
sober and that an Imperial manifesto
announcing the convocation probably
will be issued on March t. the ami
vershry OF the liberation of the serfs
by Alexander III.
Martial law has been declared at
Tsarskoe-Selo owing to numerous
threatening letters being received at
the palace.
The chief Of the secret police has or
dered special precautions to prevent
any outrage on the imperial family.
The spirit of revolution had com
plete possession of the great meeting
of professors, students and directors
of the st. Petersburg university, which
assembled at noon to discuss the ques-
ton Of joining in the general strike be-
gun by similar institutions in Russia,
and decided to close the university till
fall.
In anticipation of possible trouble
when the meeting broke up squadrons
of Cossacks again paraded the streets,
especially the Neysky prospect and the
neighborhood of the Kazan cathedral,
which is always point for student
demonstrations.
1t was the first joint meeting of stu
dents and professors ever authorized,
and in view of the gravity of the situa-
ton 1t was hoped the presence OF the
professors, most of whom are in COM
plete sympathy with the liberal move
ment, would exercise a restraining in
fiuence.
The meeting was held in the auditor-
um of the university on Basil island,
Neva hall being comparatively small
and incapable OF holding one-flfth OF
the 1000 students assembled. The au-
ditorium was packed to suffocation,
and the doorways and window en-
brasures were banked with students,
who held others on their shoulders.
1t was strange gathering. Most OF
the students We're poorly clad, and all
were in state of intense excitement.
A small rostrum In a corner was Occu-
pied by the speakers. A bell with
which the student who presided tried
to stop the thunder of applause with
which the orators were greeted was I'M
avaiIing.
From the outset student orators set
the imagina tion Of their auditors afame
with the spirit of liberty. unsparingly
den0uncing the course of the govern
ment. declaring that promises could no
longer avail and that the only salts
faction would be freedom of speech.
conscience and the press and the con-
vocation of Il national assembly.
The majority coupled this with de-
mand for ending the war. Almost
every orator went back to the French
revolution for parallels. Again and
again was Russia declared to be on the
eve of revolution.
The whole student body sang the
Russian "Marselllaise," which begins:
You fell victims of love OF your country.
A wild scene followed. The students
unfurled red flag on which was writ
ten, Hail to the Constituent Assem-
blyw
A large portrait Of the emperor In
the great auditorium of the university
where the meeting was held was torn
into strips. The police did not inter
fere.
The meeting. at which over 1900
students voted with practical unanimi-
ty to suspend studies until Sept. 1,
also adopted set Of political resolu-
tons demanding the formation Of a
constituent assembly and characteriz-
ing the proposed summoning Of the
zemsky sober as inadequate for the
emergency.
with the decision of the student
body OF the great University OF st.
Petersburg to suspend studies for the
remainder of the university year al
most the whole educational system Of
Russia has entered upon period Of
stagnation. the protest Of the youth Of
Russia against the bureaucratic system
and other governmental grievances.
Other universities of Russia, gymna-
STA and even grammer schools We're
already on strike, and the military in
various portions of the empire have
been obliged to resort to force to re-
strain even schoolboys Of tender years,
who are joining the general movement.
Assassin Was Afraid OF Taking Cold.
MOSCOW, Feb. 21.-Although the
identity OF the assassin Of Grand Duke
Sergius has not yet been ascertained,
the police have become convinced that
he is not workman, but d man OF
good birth. His underclothing is Of
good quality and fashionably made,
and his outer workman's garh evident
| ly was assumed as disguise. He
strongly objected to DOMINIC prison at
tire and refused for long time to take
off his warm undershlrt for fear Of
catching cold.