establishment of a public education system, improved working conditions, the legalization of labor unions, and a minimum wage. It ended with a sadly prophetic final paragraph, 19 . . . We have only two roads open to us: one leading to freedom and happiness, the other to the grave. Let our life be a sacrifice for suffering Russia. We do not regret this sacrifice. We offer it willingly.George Gapon, PriestIvan Vasimov, WorkerPerhaps as many as 50,000 people assembled in various parts of St. Petersburg, before sunrise, on the chilly morning of January 22, 1905. Father Gapon's group, in the lead, bore a large portrait of the Czar and smaller ones of his family, as well as an assortment of religious banners and icons. In large, prominent letters, a banner read, ``Do not fire on the people!'' They sang, as they walked, ``Save us, Oh Lord, Thy People.'' Gapon met no resistance until they arrived at the Narva gates to the palace. Alerted of the rally, officials panicked, fearing a replay of the French Revolution. A bugle sounded. Calvary stormed through the gate, swinging around, dividing the crowd into two halves. Confused, the procession proceeded slowly towards the gates. Without warning, a second bugle sounded, and infantry stationed on an adjacent bridge fired on the crowd. Horrified and unbelieving, a police officer named Zhultrevich shouted, ``What are you doing? How can you fire on a holy pilgrimage and portrait of the Czar?'' A moment later he too was struck down by a bullet. The elderly workers carrying the portraits fell. Gapon himself fell to the street, struck by the body of one killed beside him. The crowd dispersed in a confused panic, some standing firm in defiance, while others fled towards the surrounding streets. 20 Other such groups throughout St. Petersburg met similar action, that morning. Everywhere, the words ``ready. . . aim. . . fire'' were repeated, and unbelieving, horrified crowds broke apart. A slogan from the pr...
