Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-18
CROWN OR PEOPLE
THINGS ARE GETTING SERIOUS
 AT ST. PETERSBURG.
Lower House of Parliament Makes Reply to Speech from Throne
 Emperor's Reply is Awaited.

Reply to Speech from Throne
 Emperor's Reply is Awaited.
 St Petersburg, May 18.--The criti- cal moment which will decide wheth- CT there will be peace of war between the crown and the people apparently arrived with the adoption by the low CT house of parliament last night of it's reply to the speech from tue throne at the opening of parliament President Mouromtseff has gone to Peterhof to present the reply to the emperor and his majesty's response is awaited with great anxiety .Popu- lar opinion considers that the govern ments has no option between sufrend- CT or war. Nevertheless while events during the past week followed each other with extreme rapidity the issue now raised is not likely to be decided quickly. The Russians generally believe that the emperor, court and govern ment have undoubtedly been dazed by the blunt, direct fashion with which parliament has spoken ont and their policy naturally will be to gain time. The emperor personally is in a benefcent frame of mind and for the present will not listen to the coun- sells of those who advise him to dis solve parliament and fight. Neverth> less his majesty Is resolved Hot 10 yield anything like all that the par liament demands. 1t can safely be predicted therefore that lie will pur- sue tcmporizing policy with partial amnesty as the first sop thrown to the country The constitutional demo- cratic leaders who's, program would be upset by the dissolution of parlia- ment are quite as anxious as the em- peror to avoid the precipitation of conflict They would regard the fail ure of the government to declare war as big preliminary victory, of which they would take advantage by fore ing through their agrarian project. upon whicn they count 10 strengthen themselgcs in the country before tile final battle opens.
 That the court reacti0nists headed by General Trepoff are seeking in ev- cry way possible to inilence his ma jesty to fight is apparent by the dis coyery made by the Recil of secret circular sent to the governors in- structipg them to have the Black Hundred" organization immediately despatch to the cmpcro. protests against amnesty ana the abolition of the death penalty. These have becn flowing into PeterhOf from all lrec- tions over fifty being printed in tie Official Messenger this morning.
 Desratches from the interior report dcm6nstratjops in front of the prls. ons ih aIl pnrts of Russia in favor of the -elfasc of the political prisoners.
 At EiinferopOl troops surround the prison where the political prisoners were making a demonstration and fred at them through the windows.
 In St Petersburg Inc political prs- onnrs awaiting transportation at the deporting prison hung out red flags fr,m the windows and sang inc "Mar. seiilaisc" throughout the night willie crowds outside joined in the reyolu- tonary song.
 The Upper House Draft.
 The committee of the council of the empire or upper house of parlia- ment to-day concluded Its draft of the reply of that house to the speech from the throne. It declares that while carrying out the suggestions of the emperor in the speech from the throne the upper house will aim to assure the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the country. and expresses the hope of the upper house that the union of It's efforts with those of the lower house will prove successful in enlightening the people through the medium of gem eral education with regard to safe guarding the rights and freedom ac- corded to them.
 Hope is also expressed by the upper house for success in develop ing the resources of the country and for the prosperity of all classes.
 The upper house is convinced that the diffusion of the principles of local autonomy in districts where they heretofore have been lacking will If due regard is paid to the idio- syncrasies of the various nationalis ties succeed in creating a solid. en- frightened state. to the glory of the emperor and the happiness of the free Russian. citizens.
 The paragraph dealing with ann nesty says that all great Russian his torical events have been graven on the peoples memory by the em- peror's acts of clemency towards prisoners and criminals. and eonse- quently the upper house. although possessed of a feeling of profound indignation at the continual crimes committed in the heat of the Politi- cal struggle. has decided to submit for the gracious consideration of the emperor the lot of those who while giving way to their irresistible de- sire for e speedy consummation of their aspirations. have not commit ted outrages on fife or property or -~-..uoA hn orfah-