RUSSIA'S INTERNAL STRIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 781, 27 March 1905, Page 3

RUSSIA'S INTERNAL STRIFE.

The Czar's Rescript. MURDERING THE PEASANTS. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE, St. PETERSHIRO. March 25. Pcspilo the cHoris of leading rea< tionurics to bvlill.li: the Czar's Rescript recognising the elective principle, it is believed widely that the Re-script ivpicienls the calm, deliu crate judgment of the <!ovoriimeul as distinguished Horn the Com t IKirly. Peasants in the Kulnn disli i'jt declined to furnish hou;e> for mobiiisation purposes. The crowd disofceyod orders to move, and fio.l, whin the soldiers, firing-, all were wounded in the hack. Ti.cv wore not allowed to be removed to their homes, and were conveyed in carts to Kutno, a six hours' journey, without doctors. The paper Novae Vienna implies that M. Ruliguine's (Mlnistr lor the Interior) Commission is likely to confer the elective .'ranchix: on owners ol 3UO acres for its equivalent in houses and other property) in every parish ;n Russia. JOHN OF KRONSTADT'S IHFLUEHCE. THE CZAR IIOIRL.Y PKAYIXG. (Received March 26, 4.28 p.m.) MEKLIK, March 25 The newspaper Allgeiucinc Zeitung reports that the Oar is wholly under the influence of Father John of lvronstadt. asking on all occasions what prayers h- c.n oiler. The Czar srends several hours each day saying these praxers. FATHER (J A POX, Sir Christian Ilrinton, the Xew v* o .* •? rt T , crili,: ' «*u has spent manv jcars m Kussia a S| .i student and as an observer of social condition. rdves an interesting account of Kntkr Gapon, whom he has fmureiulv sc-en and heard speak. I'rinton «ns - •The early career of lliis prieM is shrouded more or less in mvsterv He was born in Poltava in lki'.i ' U . U | is the son of a jioor peasant famil'v. When he was able to toddle about he was assigned to the c.uv of pi-s and geese. H may lie a coincidence, that Father Gapon and Whitio life herding pigs am | Reose _ Each is an admirer of Uie other, though differing on many material points of view. As a youth, Gapon e.xhihitej such promise that his friends «vierniined to send him into the priesthood. AH the while he was studving socialism, and discussed the sccial conditions of his countrv. While studying for the priesthood at iiie seminary he gave voice to sucli radical .views that he was expelled before he graduated. He finally managed, however, to be admitted lo the priesthood under limitations. These did not permit him to have a general pastorale. Garpon's face is that of a mystic, one of those classic moulds of features that we are led to think a«rc characteristic of the prophets, and great leaders of men. Every feature is a distinct line of force,' and the heavy overhanging, shaggy eyebrows give some ferocity to a countenance that would otherwise sugv.Tst extreme moderation and gentleness. Though he never had n pastorate, lie has always worn the orthodox lie ird of the Russian priest. When i first J saw him he was addressing a meeting of workmen. He began in a low, rumbling voice, vibrant with power and force. Hefore he had completed his first phrase you could feel a magnetic spurk entering your soul that will hold you until the last syllable fell from his lips. His hold over the ■workingincn has long been a saurce of fear and alarm to the nobles, frr his hand strc-tclics over the empire. I have heard him talk in Moscow and in St. Petersburg, and in both places he is followed and worshipped blind-. ly. So great "an influence has he attained over the Russian people that none of those in power dared harm him. And their fcpar of him has increased from ycir to yeir. He has written pamphlets, which have been widely disseminated throughout the empire. They had as powerful an influence on the minds of his followers as his speeches, and the Russian <Jo.vernnicnt has sought in vain lo surpress them. It is hardly possible to estimate the immense popularity of this man, it is so far-reaching. Although he has no direct sympathy •with anarchists or more radical Socialists, even they have the highest respect for him, as have also the students." j