New-York tribune., 1906-05-09
REPRESSION TRIUMPHS.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE 4NGRY.
Meetings of Members of Parliament
Dispersed bg Troops.

TeDt and the representatives OF the people has
besn greatly increased. The action OF soldiers
and police in dispensing a meeting of members
of Parliament at the han OF the Economic So
c,ety last night was repeated tonight Several
members who protested against the dispersal
narrowly escaped being bayoneted. The good
Impression produced by the official intimation of
.he new Premier that the Emperor ana the gov
eminent were sincerely desirOus of working in
harmony with Parliament has been disslpated.
The Liberals are amazed. in view OF the semi
oe5eiaI assurances on the subject, by the promul-
cation Of the obnoxious fundamental law in
slightly modified form. It put an end 20 the
report which the new Cabinet tried 90 foster
that the downfall OF the Witte Cabinet was due
10 imperial disapprOval of the original draft Of
che law. Al article in the law not mentioned in
last nights dispatches. exempting crown lands
from taxation and appropriation, and another
yeserving the power OF amnesty for political prs-
oneTs 10 the Emperor run counter TO the already
expressed will of the majority. There Is a pro-
Vision that Imperial orders must be counter
signed by the President of the Council of Min
,stsrs or the member OF the Cabinet whose de-
partment is affected. but since the Cabinet is
not responsible TO Parliament It is easy for his
majesty to replace an unwilling minister by one
who will do his bidding
The indignation caused by the Emperor's at
tempt to reinforce the prerogatives of the Crown
has been intensified by the action OF the police
last night IN dispensing meeting Of some men,
hers Of the lower house Of Parliament and OF
The upper house, or new Council Of the Empire.
at the hall OF the Economical Society. With
out warning the building was surrounded by
the Ismaiovsky Guard regiment and detach-
into the hall where Count Heyden, a marshal
Of the nobility and a member Of Parliament
from ST. Petersburg, was presiding, and ordered
the meeting TO disperse, under instructions from
the Chief of Police. Vigorous protests were
made. but the members were compelled to yield
10 force. and left the hall after drawing up for
nal protest. which was signed by twenty-eight
members OF Parliament.
N. Rodtcheff. a member Of Parliament for
S. Petersburg, hurried after midnight 70 the
hall where the Constitutional Democrats were
holding their convention. and announced to the
members there assembled the action taken by
the police. A furious scene followed after which
Rodtcheff, in impressive speech. which was
cheered to the echo. said that the governments
appeal for confidence had again been false and
that the people must rely upon themselves. II
decided that one of the first things done after
lhe assembling Of Parliament should be a de-
land for the dismissal Of the Chief Of Police.
The members OF the Constitutional Democracy,
when they reassembled here to-day. were great
ly excited. and it required all the influence OF
the leaders to restrain them. There was tre-
nendous uproar when NJ. Milukoff introduced
The subject He said:
We had reason to believe that the mad folly
nf the Witte government in trying TO force the
Emperor 10 sign the odous fundamental law,
after storm of indignation has been aroused
throughout the country by the publication OF
the draft Of the measure, had been definitely
abandoned. We now learn that. like thieves in
The night, the bureaucrats have executed their
damnable conspiracy against the people. The
best parts OF the fundamental law issued are
worse than the worst parts of any European
constitution.
asked the convention TO adopt a moderate
attitude. but now have the right to be rad
teal We must Immediately answer this chal-
lenge
NJ RoditcheF then presented resolution in
substance as follows.
On the eve of the meeting of Parliament the
government has flung a provocatioE to the
people by the issue of the fundamental law and
by depriving their representatives of the right
10 revise IT, The ruling bureaucracy resumes it's
ancient power. and Parliament the centre of the
peoples hopes, is shorn of the rights solemnly
conferred upon II by the manifesto OF October
90 The party of the peoples liberty and the
members Of Parliament see in this act an oner
and hagrant violation of the peoples rights and
announce that no bureaucratic government can
pishing their duty.
When the reading of the resolution was
finished there arose a storm of cries Of "roo
weak" n. Roditcheh appealed to the members
of the convention not to lose their heads as the
soVernTpent had, but 70 show themselves strong
and calm His appeal carried the day, and the
convention adopted the resolution by a stand
ing vote
previously the convention was forced to adopt
more radical declaration on the subject OF the
agTarisn problem. laying down the general prin-
cple that the land belonged to those who titled
H. leaving the details of the scheme to be pre-
senied TO Parliament by the central committee
The convention closed at o'clock this even
ing after H. MiIukoR had delivered a speech
n which he congratulated the party on having
disappointed its enemies. who predicted split.
he believed that the ideas for which the party
5000 were constantly growing in the country,
While. on the contrary. the extreme revolution
aFy organizations were passing through a
crisis While the struggle might be prolonged,
victory was certain in the end
The police tonight published an explanation
OF their action IN closing meetings justifying
y under the strict letter OF the law which per-
hits the presence Of only members at meet
Mgs Of societies. The presence of members of
ue Parliament and other outsiders, the eXpiana-
uon says. made the meeting illegal The ex-
PLANTATION has not allayed the public irritation,
a. The law in this respect has not been enforced
strictly
as II these incidents were not sufficient TO ex-
cite the members OF Parliament, the local au-
lhoiftes inhamed the working classes yester-
'ay Without warning they ordered many OF
the leaders Of the wOrkmen 10 leave the city.
they had not time to remove their families. The
matter was brought 10 the attention Of meet
ing % l22 peasant and wOrlEnen members OF
F1fliament. who denounced il as an attempt