p. 7 | DARK DAYS IN RUSSIA

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 15, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 46.

DARK DAYS IN RUSSIA.

RED Anarchy seems to be ruling Russia these days. On October 30, Emperor Nicholas yielded to the ever-increasing demands of his subjects, and issued a manifesto which gives to Russia a constitution. There had been a strike on all the railroads of the czar's dominions, which made it impossible for troops to be moved from place to place except on foot. Food supplies were being cut off in all the cities. The granting of a constitution, making Russia a limited monarchy, was greeted by the better class through Russia with demonstrations of joy. But a very large portion of the people, led on by agitators of the Socialistic and Anarchistic class, demanded the suppression of the monarchy entirely. They paraded with red flags. Portions of the student class formed demonstrations of the same kind. They marched to the jails and demanded the liberation of the political prisoners. Many of these were released. Bands of rioters calling themselves loyalists, after marching to the churches and taking part in services there, have marched through the Jewish quarters of the city, pillaging, murdering, and burning. Disguised police have urged them on, and generally the military have refrained from interfering until scores had been slain and hundreds injured. In all the cities of Russia, blood has been flowing freely during the past week. Day after day, the reports have been the same—butchery, pillage, incendiarism, clashes between troops and mobs or between militia and Cossacks. So far as the Jews are concerned, the horrors of Kishineff have been surpassed many times over. What will come of it none can tell. The Socialists are demanding a democratic republic, the “loyalists” are opposed to this, and great mobs of thousands seem to be opposed to everything but destruction and riot and pillage. Finland is threatening to revolt, and in Poland there is heard the demand for independence.