The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-19
Shadow of Oppression in
 St. Petersburg.
CONTEMPLATING FUTURE
AnticipatiOnS Bring Deadly
 Fear.
Government, Following Assassination of Sergius, May Decide to Conc cEude Pence With its Deter
 mined Foe.

St. Petersburg. Feb. 1s-Although no definite decision has yet been arr rived at, it appears improbable that Grand Duke Sergius's remains will be brought to St. Petersburg. It is ex- plained that the Romanoff tomb in the cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is undergoing alterations. Consequently it is likely that the interment win temporarily be in the church of the Ascension in the Kremlin. where re- pose the bones of the Ruriks. Ac- cordsng to traditions the interment of q member of the imperial family does not take place until nine days after death. The question of the interment taking place at Ilynskoie. the late Grand Dukes summer residence, twen- ty miles on the Moscow Brest -Liti- wski road. Is also under consideration. Three months has been fixed as the period for court mourning.
 A solemn state requium mass for the repose of the soul of Grand Duke Sergius was celebrated here this after noon. at which the metropolitan of St. Petersburg officiated and the repre- sentatives of the foreign powers, the ministers and other dignitaries were present in full uniform, but not singe member of the imperial family attended.
 The great square in which the i'm posing cathedral is situated, presented q remarkable spectacle. The sur rounding sidewalks were packed with people pressed back by solid wall of police drawn up in lines. Inside the square row upon row of gorgeous car riages and sleighs faced the portal At intervals were posted mounted sentries and in each corner of the square was a squadron of Red Cossacks of the Guard.
 St. Petersburg Oppressed.
 Oppression like the shadow of doom seems to be hanging over the Russian capital. Bells are tolling and the people In the strets are awe-struck at yesterdays bloody crime. Everyone seems to shrink before the contempla- tion of what may happen next The tragedy struck deep into the hearts of the perplexed and tried Emperor and many who were unsparing in their criticism yesterday, today have only expressions of sympathy for his un- happy lot. The bitter cup which dur ing the last year has been prassed again and again to his lips is once more filled to the brim and in almost pathetic words this morning he inn pIores his subjects to pray for the re- pose of the soul Of his murdered uncle.
 Death is in the air and no one knows where the next blow may fall, although precautions have been doubled in every direction for the preservation of the lives of the members of the i'm perial family and the ministers and the secret police are seeking out ana arresting those known to be associated with the fighting organization. The authorities realize their impotency to- ward off the swift acts of terrorism, murder in the streets being possible at any instant The only safety seems to lie in seeking refuge behind palace walls and all the imperial family have been warned not to venture out
 Although only the officials papers and the Grashdanin appear with black borders, the editorials of all of them are strongly sober Some papers which in the past have been ready to lay al- most any charge at the door of Grand Duke Sergius are drawing back before the prospect of the inauguration of a reign of terror, fearing that it may destroy the bright prospects of reform and lead to an era of repression. But even in the midst of universal repro- bation of the crime, the majority ex- press the hope that after all the darkest hour comes just before dawn.
 Among the revolutionaries. however there is a sentiment of elation. They openly glory in the dead. proclaiming that 1t removed the most reactionary influence at court and also proclaim the general theory that in the ab- sence of armed resistance only by ter TOT can concessions be wrung from the hands of the autocracy Accord ing to their view any weapon is justi- fable. As a matter of fact 1t is too early yet to say what tNe political ef- feet will be. For the moment every thing is at standstill. Expressions of coincidence have reached the Elm peror direct from practically all gov
 
 Emperor William and King Edward being especially warm and sympathet- ic in tone. It is probable that several governments will send representatives to the funeral of Grand Duke Sergius
 In diplomatic circles the opinion is quite generally expressed that yester- days tragedy may be followed by the decision of the government to conclude peace. For some time despite the off, cial attitude maintained by the goV- ernment' there has been a growing ap- preciation of the difficulties of prose cutting the war in the midst of lncreas- ing complications at home, and as an nounced by the Associated Press the matter was actually the subject of for nal consideration by the Emperor and his ministers February 16.
 strong influences, which 1t is under stood in spite of denials are headed by NJ. Witte. president of the commit-
 
 quietly in this direction, General Gripenburg's revelations, followed bv the murder of Grand Duke SerEius in the opinion of some of the abIest din- lomats are not unlikely to lead the Emperor definitely to decide upon peace.
 War once Alarmed.
 In this connection the war office is considerably alarmed by the nsw danger threatening the Manchurian ar my from the systematic attempts rnaIr. ing by Japanese and Chinese bandits to GU tthe line of communications back oS the army. According to reports ahont 10000 men, split up into bands oS several hundred each, are operating from Mongolia and are striking at the railroad. A Russian detachment foI~ lowing up the Japanese band which cut the road below Hsrbin fell into an am buscade of two regularly organized 5aDanese regiments and was alrnoat