The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13
Emperor Must Choose Between
 War and Peace
ARE BRIGHTER
Parliament Will Ask for Full Amnesty, Political and Agrarlan, and Aban- donment of Death Penalty
 for All offenses.

St. Petersburg May 12.-Wlth the new parliament nearly under way there is distinct relief from the tremendous strain of the past few months. Both sides anticipated a great struggle between the crown and the people. They realize that The real issue will not be joined until the answer of the lower house to the speech from the throne at the opening of parlia- ment is presented. Then the Emperor must choose between war or peace. The constitutional democrats effected a tenn porary combination with the peasants and feel that they have behind them four hfths majority. Their tactics are to avoid a conflict at the outset in order to get through their agraran bill as practical measure to win and hold the support of the peasants. Then, if the government is not ready to yield, they will draw the sword and there are many possible com pllcations and dead falls ahead.
 The prospects of pacific solution, how ever are certainly brighter. The Emperor appears to be well disposed. The words of his speech at the winter palace which are now known to have been by his own hand, after rejecting all the drafts submitted by his advisers, indicate that he Is sln- cerely desirous of a rapproachment with parliament and what he said to Professor Mouromtseff. president of the house yes- terday is distinctly on line with a wish 10 meet the expressed will of the peo- ple. Nevertheless words no longer suf- flee.
 Want Parliamentary Rights.
 al lo.ta orats, while they have displayed consum- mate ability in restraining the hotspurs' are obdurate and resolute in their deter imitation to secure full parliamentary rights with a responsible ministry chosen from the majority, under a constitutional monarchy.
 With the exception of forty members the entire peasant contingent joined the constitutional democrats, and test vote l this afternoon for vice presidents boiled 36I out of i2s votes. The radical tendency | of the peasants constitutes the greatest l surprise of the week. One hundred and tWenty-two of them voted not to attend the banquet given by the City Council to- night in honor of the parliament because thely could not countenance the expendi- ture of $3500 while the people of the ma ton are on the verge of starvation, and because they would not attend function to which members of the council of the empire who are under boycott partlci- l pated.
 General Trepoff, commandant of the i palace is now generally recognized as l secret and dangerous influence at court
 and the liberal newspapers have opened systematic campaign against him.
 Should the Emperor eventually elect to | 1 f.t.. flaaf.
 the proletariat organizations will again come to the front as they constitute the l only military force capable of fighting 1 the government by means of strike as a weapon Until the final decision of the
 Emperor comes, the social democrats l have declared a truce with the ma- l iority.
 Secret Congress Meets. 1 A meeting of the secret congress Of | the party met here today and decided to
 temporarily suspend the boycott of the l Parliament, and give no further encour- agement to tactics of terrorism. 1 Without dissenting voice and with evidence of the deepest feeling, the Par 1 liament at the evening session adopted | a resolution instructi~g the committee
 which will draft the reply to the speech 1 from the throne to include in 1t re- quest for full amnesty. political and | agrarian and military crimes, and a recommendation for the immediate aban- | donment of the death penalty for all 1 offenses, criminal as well as political. 1 The committee which is composed of
 eleven members, constitutional democrats.
 peasants. nationalists Poles) Let's, Tar | tars etc. was not hampered with fur 1 ther instructions but was asked if pos l sible to submit report at the opening 1 of the session at o'clock tomorrow