THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8287, 15 November 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1906.

The Uiiiou of Russian People, mentioned in our cable news from time to time, is really identical with the famous Blaok Hundred, and is now the ruling organisation in Russia. The Union of Russian Men, as it is generally called, stands for autooraoy in its strictest sense. At the end of last year Russia wag amazed to hear that the Uzar had granted an audience to a deputation from the Union, and chat, the president had handed the Czar a badge of membership for himself and one for bis heir. (( 1 will myself bear the burden of power placed upon me in t&« Mobc6w Kremlin," said the Czar, "and I am convinced that the Russian people will help me, Of my power I will give account to God." At the Duma eleotions <be Union's candidates suffered defeat everywhere, and it wua thought that this gang of massacre manufacturers would sink again into the depths from which they came. But soon after the opening of the Duma the Government "Offioial Messenger" began to publish daily telegrams addressed to the Czar firom various

towns by members of the Union, ii which the Duma whs described as "revolutionary" and "mutinous," and the Czar was Implored to return to the sacred path of outoorajy. Protests In the Duma against these insults had no effect. The Duma was eventually dissolved, and the Union of Russian Men were masters of the situation. The demanded assistance from Provincial Governors, and got it, and officials of the Union were on several occasions received in audience at Peterhof. The ' t Union has now complete freedom of aotion, unlimited credit at the Treasury, and access to the army. It id a common thing to read in the papers suoh statements as this:—"A man shot a passer-by in the street. The murderer was caught by the crowd, and taken to the police station, but there he showed his badge of the Union of Russian Men, and was immediately released with apologies." "Russia is ruled pow by the Black Hundred Union of Russian Men," says a correspondent of the Tribune. "The Cabinet dare not disobey its orders, and in an obsoure little newspaper of the Union, the 'Obyedinenie', the>:. Sovereign is openly threatened with reprisals should he aot'at variance with the views of the Union." This oertainly throws a more lurid light on Russian affairs than anything we have seen for some time.