Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-28
CARS BOLD ACTION
PRECIPITATES WAR
Dissolves Parliament and Raises Curtain on
Last Act in Drama of the Russian
Revolution.
Government and People Now Face to Face,
Both Sides Determined to Fight
to Bitter End.

st. Petersburg, July 24.-An impe-
/ rial ukase has been promulgated dis
solving parliament and fixing the time
| for the convocation of the newly elect
| ed assembly as March 5, 1907.
Under Martial Law.
| A second u1ase places st. Peters
burg in a state of extraordinary Sc
curity by the declaration of minor
( form of martial law.
A large part of the province of Kiev,
where armed uprisings are anticipated
In consequence of the dissolution OF
| parliament, is placed under martial
| law.
1t is now but a step to dictatorship.
Premier Goremykin Fired.
Another imperial ukase relieved NJ.
Goremykin of the premiership and ap-
pointed M. Stolypin premier. He also
retains his present post of minister of
the interior.
While M. Stolypin is undoubtedly a
much stronger man than his predeces-
sor, he probably will be unequal to the
task of plotting the country through
the revolutionary upheaval which is
just ahead, and the general belief is
that a dictatorship must come soon.
Issue Depends on Army.
With the imperial ukase dissolving
parliament the curtain rose upon pos
sibly the last act in the great drama
of the Russian revolution. The peo-
pie and the government now stand
face to face, and upon the army de-
ponds the issue.
Even should the government, how
ever, succeed in restraining an out
break of the people, the victory proba-
bly, will only be temporary and simply
confine the steam for the final exDlo-
sion
No one doubts the severity of the
storm which will rise in the country
in response to the emperor's dispersal
of the men whom he welcomed two
months ago in the winter palace as
the ablest men in Russia: but the die
is cast. The government has elected
to fight, and the capital yesterday bore
eloquent testimony of the preparations
made to repress the masses by force.
The city was packed with soldiers and
resembled an armed camp.
The work Of gathering in revou-
tionary agitators began Immediately
after the ukase placing st. Petersburg
in "state of extraordinary security
was promulgated, and hundreds of ar
rests were made before daylight.
Petty Dictators.
The powers conferred upon M. Won
der Launitz, project of police. and M.
Zinovieff, governor of the province.
are little short of those of petty die
tators. Searches and arrests can be
made without process of law, news
papers forced to suspend publication
and persons deported by administra-
tive order without trial. Public and
private meetings are forbidden. Those
arrested may, if it is desired, be tried
by military court and summarily exc
cuted. The only real difference be-
tween extraordinary security" and
full martial law is that power is exer-
cised by the so-called civil instead OF
military authority.
People Will Rise En- Masse.
The news travelled fast in the coun-
try. and the general expectation is
that the peasantry, accepting the dis
persal of parliament as the final blow
to their hopes, will arise en- masse.
The proletariat organizations have
been preparing for months for just
such a provocation to declare war. it
is impossible to describe the conster-
nation with which the Constitutional
Democrats learned the news. Although
it had been bruited about for the past
three days. the ukase was received by
them in blank amazement.
Members Not Daunted.
The government undoubtedly ca1cu-
lated on catching the opposition off it's
guard. but if it expected to strike ter
ror to the hearts of the members OF.
parliament it has failed signally.
Some time ago, when dissolution
seemed imminent, the various groups
of the opposition virtually agreed to
follow the example of their French
compatriots of the states general
and meet. if driven out of the Tauride
palace, wherever and whenever cir
cumstances dictated until constitu-
ton was firmly established.
viii Meet in Finland.
After a hurried secret conference
it was decided, on account of the pos
sibility of the meeting being broken
up and the members arrested. that
they go Immediately to Finland and