Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 9, 1905

—A serious insurrection against Turkish rule is in progress in Arabia, which has in view the establishment of an autonomous Arab state. The insurgents have gained several victories over the Turkish troops.

—The Tageblatt, a Vienna journal, reports an anti-Jewish riot at Theodosia, on the southeast coast of the Crimea, resembling in many respects the Jewish massacre at Kishineff. Forty-seven Jews were killed, and many were injured.

—Judge Charles Swayne, the Florida jurist who was tried before the United States Senate on impeachment charges, was acquitted by that body on every count in the indictment against him, the vote in each instance being almost wholly a party vote. It is a serious symptom if justice in such cases has come to be measured upon party lines.

—Another great general battle is in progress between the Russian and Japanese armies near Mukden, the advantage in which appears to be mainly with the Japanese. Heavy losses on both sides are reported. The Russian commander has been forced to abandon several positions, and is believed to be in a very critical position. A general exodus from Mukden is in progress. The armies occupy fortified positions extending along a front of many miles, and artillery duels are in constant progress. General Nogi, the Japanese commander at Port Arthur, has joined Field Marshal Oyama, and the Russian fortifications, including Putiloff hill, are subjected to the fire of his eleven-inch guns which wrought such havoc at the Russian fortress lately surrendered. General Kuroki is executing a turning movement around the left wing of the Russian army, which, if successful, will oblige the latter to fall back.

—The widow of Senator Leland Stanford, of California, who, with her husband, founded Stanford University at Palo Alto, in that State, and after her husband's death constituted the main financial support of the institution, met death by poisoning in a Honolulu, H. T., hotel, February 28. Mrs. Stanford is said to have gone to Honolulu from San Francisco because of a former attempt upon her life made in January, last, when strychnin was put into some mineral water which Mrs. Stanford drank. The same poison was used in the successful attempt, the medium of its administration to the victim being a bottle of bicarbonate of soda, which Mrs. Stanford was taking as a medicine. It is stated that strychnin and bicarbonate of soda resemble each other sufficiently to be difficult of identification in the form in which the poison was administered. The identity of the murderer is unknown.

—Francis Kossuth, the leader of the Independence party in the Hungarian Parliament, was received February 12 by Emperor Francis Joseph, and granted an interview on the subject of Hungarian independence. He discussed with the emperor the political situation and cabinet crisis in Hungary arising from the coalition of the various minority parties in Hungary with the Independence party and the sweeping victory at the polls in Hungary on January 26, which has resulted in the united opposition parties' being placed in control of the lower house of the Hungarian Parliament. Herr Kossuth declares that it is impossible to govern Hungary now without the help of this united party, or against its wishes. In substance, the Independence party's program is the complete independence of Hungary from Austria as a nation, but Hungary's continuance under the personal sovereignty of the head of the House of Hapsburg and mutual protective unity between the two nations.

—The internal disturbances in Russia appear to be growing daily more serious, and a condition of affairs bordering on actual revolution now exists. The police and military authorities appear utterly impotent to cope with the Terrorist organization, which posts placards, sends letters, and circulates leaflets with impunity. Notices stating that “the sentence of death passed on Sergius Alexandrovitch was executed February 17” were scattered in public places in St. Petersburg. The notices were neatly printed, showing the use of a printing-press, whereas formerly the Terrorists dared only use copying machines. Since “Red Sunday” the Grand Duke Vladimir has not only been showered with threats and warnings, but has twice received from abroad formal letters signed by different groups, informing him of his sentence to death, and of the assignment of men to execute it. It is reported that Grand Duke Vladimir is now a complete physical wreck, due in great measure to the nerve strain to which he has been subjected. The proscribed members of the royal family are virtual prisoners, not daring to venture beyond the walls of the fortresses in which they have taken refuge. Meanwhile an era of political liberty in Russia seems to be steadily drawing near. Recently the first free meeting of workmen ever held in St. Petersburg assembled in the Russian capital, and formulated demands for the release of imprisoned workingmen, absolute freedom of speech, and the abolition of the censorship. A dispatch from St. Petersburg states also that “the committee of ministers, after discussing the status of religious dissenters and considering measures to remove the grievances of that class, has decided in favor of repealing all regulations of a vexatious character proposed by the minister of the interior within three months, and to order the abolition of all measures interfering with religious belief, except such as may be considered indispensable, which should receive the sanction of the emperor. The committee,” the dispatch says further, “has also decided to direct the minister of the interior to forbid the enforcement of regulations dealing with protection, or state or police surveillance of religious matters. The committee of ministers also calls upon the heads of ministerial departments and the procurator general of the Holy Synod to present reports to the emperor, and requests that all sentences of exile and imprisonment for religious errors should be quashed.” The industrial situation in St. Petersburg and other Russian centers is becoming more serious. It is stated that “the strike at

Moscow has been resumed on a large scale; anarchy reigns in the Caucasus; and at St. Petersburg the measures which the government advanced to quiet discontent and restore good relations between masters and men appear to have failed, with the probability of causing the storm to break anew.” A St. Petersburg dispatch dated March 2 states: “The strike already has assumed large proportions here, about 50,000 men being out. Among those who struck to-day are the employees of the St. Petersburg shops of the Warsaw Railway. The strike has not yet extended to the trainmen, but the leaders may decide to order them out, in order to paralyze one of the most important railroads in Russia.” It was anticipated that a great demonstration would take place on Saturday, March 4. The czar is said to be undecided as to what measures of reform he will grant. Maxim Gorky, the author, has been released from prison on bail, but is banished to Riga. In Poland the peasants are joining the uprising, which hitherto has been confined to the workingmen. The peasants number 7,000,000 out of a total of 10,000,000 population.

AND THE REDEEMER SHALL COME TO ZION, AND TURN AWAY TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, SAITH JEHOVAH.
Isaiah 59:20. Hebrew Translation. — AND THE REDEEMER SHALL COME TO ZION, AND TURN AWAY TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, SAITH JEHOVAH. Isaiah 59:20. Hebrew Translation.

THIS is a facsimile of the first page of a tract written and published by Elder F. C. Gilbert, of the Central New England Conference, designed for use among the Jews. The tract is issued in two forms: in modern Hebrew, or “Yiddish,” and also in that language on each right-hand page, with an English translation on each left-hand page. Its purpose is to show that the prophecy printed on the first page has been fulfilled, that the Redeemer “has really been in person to this earth once; and according to his word, he will come again in a little while.” Any who feel an interest in the work among the Jews, and who desire copies of the tract, or wish to assist in its circulation, should address Elder F. C. Gilbert, South Lancaster, Mass.