The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-10
DAWN OF LIBERTY
AutOCratic Russia Surrenders to
the People.
First Parliament in History of
Nation Assemblies.
EVENT is A HOLIDAY.
Schools, Banks and Business
Houses Closed.
Metropolis Dressed Like a Bride
Welcomes the DOuma.

CL. EeISISDuIS, May IO.--1U A.
An ideal May day like a happy augury
greeted the uprising of the curtain for
the new act of the great historical dra-
ma, Russia's struggle for liberty Never
did the snowy northern capital of Pc
ter the Great present more brilliant
picture than for the Inauguration OF
the Russian parliament.
Just a suspicion of haze hung over
the gulf. softening the outlines and
giving the scene a touch OF fairyland.
The city. spreading out over the num-
erous green Islands in the river, seem
ed swimming in flood Of light. The
broad, swift flowing Neva with arms
outstretched to the sea and the inter-
Iacing canals were turned to azure by
the rejecting blue of the heavens, while
the golden domes of the churches, the
spires of the admiralty and the St. Pc
ter and St. Paul fortress and the shin
ing minarets of the palaces seemed to
float above the mass of yellow build
fngs.
Besides the metropolis was dressed
bride-like awaiting the coming of her
lord. The yellow imperial standard
with the double loaded eagle few from
the winter palace, flags by order OF the
police were displayed from every house
and streams of multi-colored pennants
huttered from the yachts and shipping
in the harbor. Even the tiny passenger
boats which thread the rivers and can
ais, the street cars and many cabs car
ried the Russian colors.
The banks, stores, schools and some
of the factories we're closed in honor
OF the occasion. but there was no gen
eral holiday, the government specihcal-
ly discouraging suspension of work
in the industrial districts owing to fear
that crowding the worknen into the
center Of the city might provoke col
lisions, disorders and perhaps blood
shet.
There was something distinctly awe
inspiring about the day with visions OF
chains falling from another branch Of
the human race and the Russian peo-I
pie taking up the march of modern
civilization The Representatives of the
Russian millions and the Russian en-
pire were at last face to face and the
result was to determine the fate of the
nation and country stretching from
Germany to the Pacific to the Polar
seas and to the burning sands of cen
traI Asia Notwithstanding the mutual
distrust of the government and people
there was not lacking the hope that
the foundation of a sincere under
stan ding between the emparor and his
subjects would be laid strong and deep
today. It was the attitude Of mutual
suspicion which constituted the great
jarring note on this occasion 1t could
not be concealed. 1t was apparent
been in a state OF siege. SO heavy was
the array of troops. Not only were
detachments of infantry, cavalry and
gen d'armes stationed at strategic
points, but large reserves We're nassed
in the court yards Of the public build
ings.
Resembles Field Camp.
Early in the morning the palace
square resembIed a field camp, two
regiments of guards having bivouacked
Tf-~I74 hot Toll Ifor7,
Of police took possession of all the ap-
proaches to the palace for the distance
Of a third of a mile and all day no one
was allowed to pass tho lines without
tickets The draw of the Nicholas
bridge from Vasili island was opened
and the palace bridge which rests on
pontoOn was allowed to swing down
the current so as to permit the imperial
yachts bearing their majesttes and the
court from Peterhof to pass up the
river to the landing stage in front of
the winter palace. A fiOtilla of police
patrol boats, several low lying torpedo
boats and a number Of Dared galleys
cleared the river as far as the palace
of all moving craft. Like all great
state functions in holy Russia, the
ceremonies began with religious ser
vices.
At 10 o'clock IN the morning the
whole city reverberated with bells and
chimes from st. Petersburg's myriad
OF catbedrals, churches and temples,
moving the people to Thanksgiving.
ONLY those who have heard the boom
ing of the bells of St. Isaac's cathedral
striking bass to the Naturalization
of the other belfries. can appreciate
the savage splendor of the wild
cIangor Not only at st. Petersburg,
but al the Kremlin of Moscow, bells
were rung and Te Deums were ce1e-
brated thus giving the occasion the
solemn religious as well as civic sig
nificance necessary to impress the
Russian masses.
While the bells were still ringing
the imperial yacht Alexander, with the
imperial standard at the fore, nloved
maJestically up the river, dipping her
flag in answer to the salutes and
cheers from the emperor's warships
lying at the Baltic works. Instead OF
proceeding to the winter palace the
yacht stopped at the landing stage OF
the English quay. below the Nicholas
bridge and in front of Leuchtenberg
palace. formerly the American en-
bassv where the emperor the EN-
press and the dowager empress en-
tered a launch and attended by a
launch on each flank, moved on I'D
the river The members of the court
made the remainder of the journey
escorted by a troop Of clattering horse
guards
The emperor's arrival was not her
aided by the customary salute of 80
guns. and for that reason the passage
I of the river hardly attracted the no
tice of the thousands of spectators
who were waiting along the islands in
the river.
Without hating at the winter palace
the launches crossed. the river and
their majesties landed under the grim
/ walls Of St Paul and St. Peters fort
ress. which they entered by the i'm
perial water terrace, driving hurriedIy
to the immense cathedral inside the