Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1906-09-19

Giving People Share In Government.
General Dmitri Feodorovich Trepoff,
commandant of the imperial palace,
died in his villa at Peterhof, Russia,
of angina pectoris.
General Trepoff, whose name was
indelibly linked with repression in
Russia, was remarkable man. He
was a natural despot, tyrant by in.
clination, education and conviction.
He was one of those men who have
constantly appeared in Russian his
tory just at the time when conditions
were most promising for putting an
end to despotism to turn Russian rul.
ers from liberalism to reacuon.
1t was he who became the guiding
spirit of the reaction after Nicholas II
had issued his manifesto in the fall
Of 1905, promising the people a share
in the government. Holding the posi-
ton of master of the palace, in league
with the court intriguers who were
determined to restore the old regime,
he constantly had the emperor's ear.
Like his father before him, Trepoff
was a police master, and the story Of
father and son was full of dramatic
incidents. The elder was founding.
Who his parents were was never
known. He was found one morning
on the back doorstep of a German
family, by whom he was playfully
named Trepoff, after the German word
for doorstep. The father distinguish.
ed himself as member of the secret
police. During the height of the nj
hilist conspiracies, in the '70s, it was
to him that Alexander II confided the
task of running down terrorists plot.
ting against his life.
The fight between liberalism and re-
action then, as later under Trepoff's
son. was in full swing, and then, as
later, the energies of the police were
directed against the student agitation.
Virtual Dictator Of Russia.
Dmitri followed his fathers foot
steps. He attracted the attention of
Grand Duke Sergius, then governor
general of Moscow, and by him was
named police master of Moscow. Ire
poff soon became Sergius' right arm
in fighting the revolutionary student
agitation, of which the ancient capital
was the hotbed. When Sergius was
assassinated Trepoff was named gov
ernor general of Moscow. Later he
was summoned to st. Petersburg and
given the command Of the imperial
guard and made governor general of
the city. He took up his residence in
the winter palace and became in fact,
If not in name, dictator of Russia. An.
archy prevailed when he arrived. An
uprising on a large scale was momen-
tarily expected. Thousands had fed
the city. But with Trepoff in COM
mand the aspect of affairs changed.
Troops filled the streets, and dead
walls were placarded with notices
that the street disorders would be sup
pressed without mercy. And under
his iron hand the city became quiet.
During those trying weeks plot aft
er plot was discovered and frustrated.
Two Of his own nieces attempted to
execute the sentence.
But in his dungeonlike room in the
center of the palace, where no bomb
could reach him save by shattering a
dozen walls, with the telephone com.
stantly at his side, he issued orders
and received reports.
His personal courage was beyond
all question. He had almost a con-
tempt for death. II am no fool" he
said to the Associated Press CORE
spondent few days after he assumed
the dictatorship. II am no fool to be
potted in the street l have work to
do, and l propose to do it. l have
given my word to my imperial master
to maintain the tranquility of the city,
and will answer for the preservation
of order with my life."
The strain told upon him, and dur
ing those memorable six weeks the
lines of his face deepened and his hair
and beard became streaked with gray.
He continued at his post throughout
the summer, and although there was
much political excitement, no riot &C.
Cured.
Six actual attempts on the life of
General Trepoff were made within the
last three years, and only last year
General Kazloff of the headquarters
was assassinated at Peterhof by ter
rorist who believed he was firing upon
Trepoff.
General Trepot would have been
81 years Of age in December.
Some Are Glad.
Relief, almost jubilation, is the dom.
inant note not only among the revolu-
tionists, but also among the cadet
group. A dozen leaders styled the
death of General Trepoff as good
nawsn