The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-24
RUSS NATION
WILL DECIDE ON
PEACE OR WAR
SMeWd dStrOkeIs Attributed
to the Czar
WILL GALL zEMSKy TABOR
Strengthen Position Of the
Government
METROPOLITAN CAUSES ROW
At Sergius' Funeral He Declares All
Russian Society to Blame for
the Execution
METROPOLITAN CAUSES ROW
Special Cable to The Globe

Special Cable to The Globe
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 23.-The
reputed peace conclaves at Tsarsko
Selo have given rise to reports that
Russia is prepared to make wholesale
concession in the far East. These re-
ports misrepresent the situation The
government realizes the danger or ne
gotiations which might terminate in
fiasco or in a dishonorable peace and
which would in either case aggravate
the internal situation.
AS q matter of fact, the conclaves
have been devoted to the question of
the zemsky tabor, which the emperor
has decided to convoke, leaving to the
representatives Of the nation to settle
the question of war or peace. Which
ever way they decide, the govern
ment's position will be vastly strength
ened and the dynastic interests safe
guarded. If, as is generally antici-
pated, the deputies decide in favor of
peace, the government, being strength
ened by the support of the nation, ex-
poets to obtain favorable terms, while
if they are not conceded, the nation is
likely to insist on war to the death.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. "a. = All
the members of the imperial family
who attended the requiem for Grand
Duke Sergius at Tsarskoe Selo yester-
day remained to a family council in the
evening. The dowager empress, who
has been at Tsarskoe Selo since the
eventful red" Sunday, Jan. %, be-
coming impatient at the restraints
which were advised by the police for
her safety, rebelled against the al
legged necessity of remaining at Tsar-
skoe Selo, declaring that she is not
afraid; that the sands of her life have
almost run out and that if assassins
want her life they may have it. The
imperial family and authorities i'm
plored her not to return to st. Peters
burg and she finally yielded.
General satisfaction is expressed
even among liberals that the funeral
day of Grand Duke Sergius passed off
with no untoward incident. Even the
extreme radicals respected the day of
grief of the imperial family. The pub
lie are reading with astonishment a
sweeping statement of the metropoli-
tan at the funeral services at Moscow
attributing responsibility for the as
gassination to all elements of Russian
society, critics saying that if this be
true. it justifies the claims of reformers
that all Russa is at odds with the pres
ent system. The wisdom of such state
ments at this crisis is very generally
questioned.
Sergius' Body Is Blessed
MOSCOW, Feb. 23.-The solemn Ger
emony of blessing the remains of
Grand Duke Sergius was performed at
10 o'clock this morning in the midst of
the tolling of bells of all the churches
and monasteries of the ancient capi-
tai. After blessing the body it was
conveyed to the adjoining Church of
St Andrew, where it was laid on a
catafalque.
When the time came in the cere-
monies to kiss the dead according to
the custom of the orthodox faith. the
Grand Duchess Elizebeth almost broke
down. Her tall, slight figure shook
and swayed and she was about to fall
when Grand Duke Constantine gave
her support and she kissed the uni
form on the left breast thrice The lid
was placed on the coffin and borne on
the shoulders of the grand dukes and
aides-d camp attached to Grand Duke