Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29
A CRUCIAL STAGE
Situation in Russia
Nearing the Crisis
THE CAR IS WATERING
Over PRONUNCIATION Of Grant
ing Four Liberties.
WITTEMAN OF THEHOUR
HOPE OF PEACEFUL SOLUTION
WITH HIM.
Moscow in a State of Frenzied Agita-
tion-Foreign Residents Are Ap-
prehensive of Their Safety.
WITTEMAN OF THEH0UR
HOPE OF PEACEFUL SOLUTION
WITH HIM.
Moscow in a State of Frenzied Agita-
tion-Foreign Residents Are Ap-
prehensive of Their Safety.

ST. PETERSBURG, October 2S.-Day
after day passes without the promulgation
of Russia's new governmental organ-a re-
sponsible ministerial cabinet to bring order
out of the present administrative chaos.
Count Witte. to whom all factions look to
assume the premiership, has spent almost
the entire time of the past two days at
Peterhof wrestling with the emperor, insist
Ing upon conditions In connection with his
appointment which his majesty was unwill-
ing to grant.
Upon his return to st. Petersburg tonight
Count witte announced that the cabinet
project which has been lying signed for
three days on the emperor's table would not
be promulgated tomorrow, intimating there
by that his program, which is known to
include a species OF constitution involving
the granting of -four liberties"-freedom of
speech, freedom of assembly freedom of
the press and freedom of the person"-has
not been accepted.
1t is felt here that the delay cannot be
long protracted and that 1t Is only a ques-
tion of hours when the emperor confdes the
fortunes OF the dynasty and government to
Count Whites hands.
Situation Passing From Bad to Worse.
Meanwhile the situation is passing from
bad to worse with matters at the summit
In a state OF unstable equilibrium.
The chiefs OF state are at loss how to
act and the revolutionists. encouraged by
the inactivity of the government, are grow
ing bolder and more inslstent in the de-
mands made in their speeches.
1t Is true there has been no disorder in
St Petersburg, and that Gen. Trepoff. Rus
slas other strong man. has taken every
measure to put down uprising in its In
cipiency. but he has not felt sure enough of
his position to act boldly with regard to
the revolutionary meetings at the unIver-
sity, and has contented himself with issu-
ing warnings. which. not having been en-
forced. are taken by the agitators as evil
dence of lack OF backbone.
Students Talk Boldly.
AS before Fridays giant meeting at the
university. It was again announced today
that further meetings would not be per-
mitted but the college portals were again
open tonight. and the hospitality of the uni
versity was extended TO a group of law
yers and other professional men, one of
whose orators, referring to the old Russian
folk legend that the world Is supported on
the backs Of the three whales. said that the
autocracy rested on three cetacea-money,
the army and the loyalty of the people, but
that Russia is now bankrupt and the moral
sympathy OF the people alienated. and that
the army alone remains true, and this he
predicted would not be for long
Another speaker openly preached terror
ism. and advocated making an example"
of number of high personages
Whites Stupendous Task.
Count Whites ally in the stupendous task
he Is about to undertake will be Gen. Tre-
poff. who. though all his life has been
spent as an instrument for repression, and
though he twice has escaped attempts to
execute the terrorists' sentence OF death.
has come TO realize that the old order of
things Is changing and giving place to a
new, and is now a genuine convert to the
policy OF giving the people share in the
government Should Witte and Trepoff now
fail the best opinion is that nothing will
save the present government from complete
ruin. Many shrewd Observers believe that
Witte comes too late.
Life in ST. Petersburg is that of a CITY
under siege, with uprising threatened
from within. almost completely isolated and
its scanty store OF provisions being rapidIv
exhausted. The garrison, however, is over
whelmingly large.
10000 Troops In the City.
Gen. Trepoff has 10000 troops under his
command. which are distributed in every
section of the city. There is scarcely a
block without its military patrol Infan-
try and cavalry quartered in courtyards
all over town. the barracks are guarded
and the watch fires OF the soldiers who are
bivouactIng in the streets light up the thor
oughfares where electricity has been extin-
guished.
The Nevsky Prospect the c.ty's main ave-
nue., which last night was In darkness. to-
night presents q weird appearance. A