The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-17
Idol Of Liberals.

4. :
Those words. reproduced In all the pa
pers throughout Russia, drew all eyes
to Petrunkevich and made him celcbra:.
ed. He became In a day the Idol of tho
Liberals. Petrunkcvitch's permission to
come to st. Petersburg at the head OK
the deputation had been procured with
great difficulty and lasted only for few
days Immediately upon his return. the
government took special measures OF re-
preston against him. and all the mem.
bers OF the Tver depuation. Neverthc-
less. Petrunkevich and his colleag CUES.
several OF whom, like Rodechen
and DC Robertti later achieved
prominence the celebrity OF the
latter two becoming quite equal to thst
OF Petrunkcvich.
q It was not until 1904. when Prince
BvIatopolk-Nfirsky became Minister Of the
Interior that Petrunkevltch received per-
mission to come to st. Petersburg and his
appearance there was concident with
the meeting OF the first Zemstvo Congress,
November 1922, 1904, OF which he was
unanimously chosen President. 1t was this
Congress which adopted the famous pro
gramme OF twenty-five articles and which
started the great movement which final
" compelled tho Emperor to yield to- the
popular demand for the people to have
u share in the government OF the country
1T was followed at short Intervals after
Bloody Sunday by other congresses, IN al
OF which Petrunkevitch was one OF the
central hgures and over the majority Of
which he presided.
At the largest OF these, held In June,
1866, the Congress decided to send depu-
tation directly TO the Emperor and place
before him the resolutions which the Con-
Kress had adopted showing the reforms
which, in the opinion ofits members. were
necessary to meet the demands and needs
OF the people. This Congress Included
< not only the representatives OF the Zemst-
vos from all the provinces Of European
Russia. but also delegates from and.
Finland. the Baltic Provinces. the 'Cau-
casus and Siberia. Petrunkevich. whose
presence had SO long been prohibited IN
the two capitals. together with RodecheH
Prince Serge Troubetskoy, Prince ~ia-
kowskoy and other prominent Liberals,
most Of whom had suffered some penalty
for their views In the past. made up this
delegation.
Tho Emperor received them at the Pal
ace in Peterhoff, and after Prince Trou-
betskoy had delivered his moving and elo-
ouent snecch to the monarch, and the
latter had renewed the assurance OF ms
5unnltcrable determination to convene. the
representatives of the people, ne went
among the members OF the delegation
speaking q few words 70 eacH oht. FIX
When he came to Petrunkevtch he had
evidently forgotten, or was unaware, OF
the decree which had forced Petrunkevicl1
to leave his native province The En-
neror asked him from what province he
came. and when Petrunkevitch replied that
he was born and reared In Chern'gof
Province but lived there no longer, His
Majesty appeared surprised.
How? Why do you live there no
longer?" he asked
r "For a very simple reason. sire. sold
my estate-I was obliged to sell the
cause the authorities forbade me to live;
there
Brilliant Speaker.
Later, during the rlotous days OF No
venber, 1905, when all was chaos and
the revolution was in full blast. 1t was
Petrunkevch himself who headed the
zemstvo deputatlon to Count Wltte'
80 ,,ho, +I,a eIectora "a mDalpn bc-