New-York tribune., 1906-05-13
RUSSIA'S FUTURE TEST
THE POPULAR DEM4NDs.
Peasants SsceU Majority in House
Drafting Reply to Csar.

S. Petersburg. May 12.-with the new mar
u,ment in session there is distinct relief from
sbe tremendous strain OF the last few months
hut both sides expect a great struggle be-
.veen the crown and the people. They realize
that the real issue viii not be Joined until the
answer OF the lower house TO the speech from
sbe throne IS presented. Then the Emperor
must decide for war or peace. The Consti-
sutionaI Democrats have effected a temporary
rombination with the peasants. and feel that
es,v have behind them a four -ffths majority.
Their tactics are TO avoid conflict at the out
tst IN order to get through their agrarian bill
as q practical measure to win and hold the
support Of the peasants. Then. il the government
q not ready 10 yield, they viii draw the sword
The prospects OF a pacific solution however,
are brighter. The Emperor appears to be well
disposed. The words Of his speech at the
winter Palace, which are nov known to have
bssn his own all the drafts submitted by his
advisers having been rejected. indicate that he
e sincerely desirOus Of a good understanding
with parliament, and what he said yesterday to
Professor Mouromtseff. president of the House,
Is distinctly in line with a wish to meet the
,xpressed viii Of the people.
The leaders Of the Constitutional Democrats,
while they have displayed consummate ability
a restraining the hotspurs, are strong in their
determination win full parliamentary rights
with q responsible ministry chosen from the
majority under a constitutional monarchy. With
7he exception of forty members the entire peas
ant contingent Joined the Constitutional Demo-
rrnts, and in a test vote this afternoon for vice.
rpesidents poIled S61 out of 42s votes. The rad
ical tendency of the peasants constitutes the
greatest surprise Of the week. One hundred and
tWenty-two of them voted not to attend the
dinner given by the City Council tonight in
honor Of the parliament. because they could not
ooun+enance the expenditure OF $500 while the
moor Of the nation were on the verge OF starva-
,ion. and also because they would not attend
a, entertainment to which members Of the
Council Of the Empire were invited.
General Trepoff, commandant Of the palace,
,s now generally recognized a secret and
DANGEROUS influence at court, and the Liberal
Dewsnapers have begun systematic campaign
against him.
snould the Emperor eventually elect to wage
mar bv declining 10 make further concessions
she ,,roletsriat organizations will again come to
,be front as they constitute the only militant
force capable Of hghting the government by
means OF strike Until the decision OF the
Fnreror has been made known the Social DEM
ocrats have declared a truce with the majority
A secret congress of the party was held here to-
6ay and decided 10 suspend temporarily the boy
agernent 70 tactics OF terrorism.
The feature Of the second session of the lower
house Of Parliament to-day was frantic dem
onstrstion IN favor of amnesty. When among
A mass Of congratulatory messages from all
varts of the empire several from political pris-
cDers IN jail or IN exile were read the members
eEcsp. little group on the extreme right rose
and cheered the galleries joining in the ap-
pisuse motion was presented to send replies
70 tae messages. but this was ruled out. Neither
Premier C5oremykin nor any other member Of
the Cabinet was seated on the Ministerial
benches. which were occupied by their assist
ants. There was considerable confusion about
The procedure. Parliamentary rules arg being
drawn up
The baIIoting for vice presidents to-day re-
suited in the choice of the combination ticket
Prince Peter DoIgoroukof and Professor Gro
deskul Of Kharoff.
The draft Of the reply of the House TO the
speech from the throne at the opening of Par
lament has not yet been completed for submits
sion 10 the House. The Constitutional Demo-
Gratis invited two representatives Of the peas
ants. Pole and a Jew, to share in drawing up
the reply. The reply viii declare for constitu-
uOnal monarchy, with full parliamentary rights
a responsible ministry, chosen from the ma
jOrity full amnesty for political prisoners, gen
era suffrage equality before the law and the
abolition Of the death penalty.
Without dissenting voice parliament at the
evening session adopted a resolution instruct
ing the committee which Will draft the reply 10
include in il a request for full amnesty for po-
hteal agrarian and military crimes, and
recommendation for the immediate abolition Of
;le death penalty for all offences. The COM
iaiItee which IS composed of eleven members
was rot hampered with further instructions but
was asked 10 submit d report at the opening Of
the session at . O'Clock Tomorrow.
The tenor Of the whole debate on the resou-
ton was expressed in NJ. Rodcheff's words, that
the opportunity for reconciliation with the peo-
PIE by acceding 10 their prayer for amnesty was
now knocking al the EmperoTs door, but that
what ne failed to give the people with elemental
force would take.
At the moment when the parliament was
adopting the resolution COssacks were breaking
up a student demonstration in the Nevsky Pros
pecr. They charged a crowd Of a thousand men
and women carrying red flags and singing the
"-darseillaise." arresting scores.