Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-26
RUSSIAN CRISIS
IN PARLIAMENT
GOVERNMENT DRIVEN FROM
REFORM
ReVolutlonists' Guerilla Warfare Can
not Succeed-Premier Witte on
Verge of Physical Collapse.
Peasant Question TickIlsh
By Associated Press.

ST PETERSBURG, March 25.-The
Associated Press is able to give the
results of an important conversation
with high parsonage regarding the
situation in Russia. Neither the name
nor the position of the person can be
indicated, but his competency to speak
on the situation can be vouched for.
The conversation, which covered a
wide range, left the distinct impression
that the assembling of the national
parliament would bring a crisis, but
not the one anticipated abroad. The
government evidently is absolutely con-
Vinced that an armed revolution or a
general uprising which would menace
its life is no longer possible and that
the danger is not that the government
will be overthrown, but that it will be
driven to abandon its path of reform.
The guerrilla warfare which the
revolutionists at present are conduct
ing" said the parsonage referred to,
cannot succeed. Acts of terrorism
doubtless will continue, vengeance may
De Wreaked upon governor-generals and
police masters, Count Witte, the pre-
mier and Minister of the Interior Dur
novo may be assassinated, banks and
buildings may be blown up and there
may even be riots here and there-but
attempts to produce widespread risings
In the cities or a repetition of the rail-
road strike are doomed to failure. The
government has a firm grip and every
measure to prevent excesses will be
taken.
'It is not question of the fall of the
government. but whether a reform or
reaction will prevail-whether the pres
ent struggle 10 supplant the old regime
and secure larger liberties for the peo-
pie will enter the present parliament
chase or counter revolution will
sweep away the entire program on
which the government has entered.
The emperor is sincerely and honesty
desirous of meeting the wishes of his
reople and has given them his word to
this end. But at this time reaction
ary party exists. It is composed of the
aristocracy with powerful backing in
high places, and above all 1t enjoys the
support of the military faction which
in a country like Russia is an immense
factor. The military is naturally re-
dictionary. An officer prefers to receive
Napoleon rather than parliament.
Reactionarieo Weak
Nevertheless, at the present mo-
ment the reactionary party is weak and
powerless. 1t lacks the public feeling
without which it dare not proceed. 1t
is easily conceivable, however, that the
situation might suddenly change,
should an opportunity to strike come.
Should parliament attempt to take
the bull by the horns for the deposition
of the emperor and the destruction of
the whole fabric of government, the
new regime might be overwhelmed with
disaster. A large element of the popu-
lation, especially the masses who had
no share in the revolution and who rev.
erence the emperor as a God-given
ruler, might be aroused to action by
the reactionaries, and the emperor,
seeing the revolutionaries on the one
side attempting to go too far in the face
of what seemed to be popular demand
for the restoration of the old regime,
might will not say he would-yield
to what he considered the wish of his
subjects"
What would especially be deemed
an act on the part of the parliament
threatening such catastrophe-a de-
mand for the convocation Of constitu-
ent assembly," was asked.
Certainly that would be equivalent
to an attempt to refer the reform Of
government to the decision of the peo-
pie. 1t would not be tolerated; 1t prob
ably would result instantly in a sum-
mons to the Preobrajensky or other
guard regiments to dispense the par
lament with bayonets.
However, 1t is not necessary to take
a pessimistic view of the parliament
No one can predict what its attitude
will be.
1.-THE charges that the government is
interfering with the elections are un-
true. The present indications are that
the parliament will be conservative,
and 1t might, instead of raising a
clamor for the overthrow of the gov
ernment, set seriously to work to solve
the great and pressing questions on
which the future depends.
"It is now clear that the element
abstaining from voting Is purely revo-
Iutionary. It is determined to over
throw everything; society as well as
the government, and establish reign
of socialism. 1t was against this ele-
ment that the government unfortu-
nately was forced to proceed energeti-
cally. The alternative was either that
or abdication. Harsh measures were
used, and perhaps there was much in
justice, but the movement had to be
stopped.
"The stories that from 10000 to 100000
persons have been imprisoned are ex-
aggerated, and I believe 1t might safely
be affirmed that the number will not
exceed 100000"
"And the Jews?"
Jews Position Prejudiced
Recent developments have undoubt-
edly prejudiced their position. The en-
peror wanted to see justice done and
the public sympathized with their de-
mand for equality before the law, but
unhappily the attitude of the Jews
since the emperor's manifesto has
alienated much of the sympathy from
them. 1t is undeniable that they have
been guilty of excesses everywhere,
that they were on the firing line in the
revolution and no longer contented
themselves with asking for equality
with the Russians, but insisted on the
complete downfall of the government.
This result provoked a hostile senti-
ment among the Russian people. Had
the Jews concentrated less in the city
Ca condition for which they were not
responsible, it is true) they might not
have been so prominent. AS it is the
Russian masses, who believe that they
want to overthrow the emperor, are
easily melted against them, and re-
ports of attempts to inspire massacres