The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-02-21
ASSASSINATION Of !
THE GRAND DUKE
LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN THE
RUSSIAN AUTOCRATIC
PARTY. hf
Concessions Given by the Gear at
This Time Would Be Construed
as Result of Fear.

Berlin, Feb. 20.-It is a significant
fact that, despite the news from st.
Petersburg about the probability of the
revival of the zemsky tabor, as popu-
lar legislative assembly, diplomatic cir
cles in Berlin insist that the assassina-
tion of Grand Duke Sergius will rather
have the effect of strengthening the
autocratic party than to weaken its in
fiuence at court. Statements to this eff
feet have been made here within the
past "a hours by persons who are close
both to the German emperor's advis-
ers and to the Russian representatives
in Berlin, and it would be unwise to
treat their views lightly.
Accordingly those who are wont to
form their opinion after the example
given by German diplomats, discredit
the reports which promise the revival
of the zemsky zaber and the inaugu-
ration of other reforms. They claim,
on the contrary, that the reins will be
drawn tighter and the cause of reform
has been put back at least ten years by
the murder of Sergius.
1t is pointed out in this connection,
that the granting of concessions by the
czar, at this time, would not be con-
strued by the Liberal and Radical ele-
ments as voluntary acts but as the re-
suit of fear that other members of the
imperial family may share Sergius'
fate and as an admission that the ter
rorists must be reekoned with The
czar's advisers, it is stated. have ad-
vised him that the radicals will not be
satisfied with minor concessions un-
der the existing circumstances but
would see in them only q weakening of
autocracy and the arrival of the mo-
ment when they may demand, and by
forceful means gain, the entire aboli-
tion of the system upon which the Rus
sian government is based.
| A dark hint is contained in veiled
statements made by the pessimists in
diplomatic circles who indicate an en-
tirely different reason why the czar,
though perhaps personally inclined to
do SO, will under no circumstances
grant any of the more far-reaching de-
mands beyond those as outlined in his
manifesto of last December. These per-
sons say that the grand ducal coterie
will stop short of nothing to preserve
autocracy in it's full power and that,
If the present czar is not willing to
look out for his own crown, why q
rengency will see to il that the infant
czarevitch is not deprived of 1t unless
II is taken from him by force.
| ha4
who have murdered, by their counsel
and methods. thousands of workmen
and peasants, in the many years Of
their rule, will not shrink from hav-
ing their ruler put out of the way.
whom, it is strongly asserted, they re-
spect only in public while they hold
his lack Of decision, his desire to pla-
cate all factions and his evident lean
ings towards the moderate liberals, in
private contempt.
These arguments do not take into
consideration the possibility of a revo-
luton which may put an end to all
further thought of retaining autocra-
/ cy's sway. 1t must not be forgotten,
however, that such contingency is
believed to be quite out of the question
by the re-actionary element here and
at other European courts. The conf
dence in the strength of the Russian
government is so great among these
men that they feel sure that, no matter
how bitter the insurrectionist move
ment may grow, 1t will never be strong
enough to cost more than few imper-
ial heads, with an army of others
ready to take their places.