Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-01-11
GLOOMY CHRISTMAS.
Russian Celebration Of the Holiday
Takes Place Next Sunday.
GOVERNMENT SAO1HERED REVOLT,
Count Witte Plans to Retire when
National Assembly Meets--De-
tending Repressive Measures
Recently Adopted.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 6.-The Russians
love nothing SO much as their holidays
but, depressed In spirits and purse In
these revolutionary days the celebra-
ton of Russian Christmas next Sunday
will be a sad one. The streets of the
capital have put on pitiful semblance
Of holiday tide, but none of the heavy
buying characteristic Of the prodigal
Russians in former days is In evidence;
while in the industrial sections the
workmen, exhausted by long series
of strikes, are without money for
Christmas trees. The green trees and
gewgaws were brought into the city
by the country people, but the trees
remain unbought in the streets.
The holidays, however, promise at
least specifically period Of compar-
ative quiet, tho proletariat organiza-
lions having decided to refrain from
activity until they are ended.
The Novoe Vremya is printing Sc
ries of articles in defence of Premier
WHITE, which are attracting much at
tention and are assumed to be inspired
by the premier himself. The most Inn
portant statement made IL that Witte
has taken definite resolution to re-
tire as soon as the national assembly
meets. With the turning over OF
the reins of power 10 the peoples rep
resentatives lie will regard his task as
finished. The whole course of events
since the reform manifesto was Issued
Is attributed by the paper to the re-
fusal of the conservatives to support
the government. 1t Is explained that
many of the reforms which Wltte and
his cabinet have been continually be-
rated for not realizing were not pro-
mulgated, because every BIT OF leeway
given was seized on by the reds" to
advan e the cause Of an armed revolu-
ton, until finally the government be-
ing without The active support OF the
conservative classes, was forced in self
defense to adopt Expressive measures
The policy 1t is now following is sole
" for the purpose Of making posi-
BILE the holding of the elections and
accelerating the convocation OF the
national assembly. The government is
yet uncertain as to what the results
of the election will be. but 1t Is con-
fident that the parties Of law and order
will have a majority.
All the rumo"s that Whites POSI-
ton is shaky are characterized as pure
inventions. The writer oil the article
says:
"Witte Is as Hrm in the saddle as
ever. His health is good and he Is
proceeding on the conviction that al
least three quarters OF the Russian
people approve Of his struggle against
the revolution
The government victory over the
armed revolutionlsts has been quite
decisive, although open revolt still
continues In many places In the
The military is employed
and gradually the move
ment is being stifed. These fires OF
revolt, however. are smothered but
are not extinguished and the main fear
Is that the government encouraged by
success will fall into the very error
II which the revolutlonists were guilty
and attempt to press its advantage
90 far. Already there are signs that
he policy of repression may be car
led to point which is sure to again
rouse the resentment and discomfort
Il the classes which shrank from the
'iolent programme of the Reds"