Peter Stolypin
was born in Dresden, Saxony, on 14th April, 1862.
The son of a large Russian landowner, Stolypin joined the Ministry
of State Domains in 1885. Four years later he was appointed marshal
of Kovno province. This was followed by the governorships of Grodno
(1902-1903) and Saratov (1903-1906).
Stolypin's
successful suppression of the revolutionaries in Saratov resulted
in him being made Minister of the Interior in April, 1906. Three months
later Nicholas II appointed him his Prime
Minister. Stolypin attempt to provide a balance between the introduction
of much needed land reforms and the suppression of the radicals.
In
October, 1906, Stolypin introduced legislation that enabled peasants
to have more opportunity to acquire land. Stolypin's intention was
to create a stable group of prosperous farmers (kulaks)
who would form a natural conservative political force. People living
in rural areas also got more freedom in the selection of their representatives
to the zemstvo (local government councils).
At
the same time Stolypin instituted a new court system that made it
easier for the arrest and conviction of political revolutionaries.
Over 3,000 suspects were convicted and executed by these special courts
between 1906-09. As a result of this action the hangman's noose in
Russia became known as "Stolypin's necktie".
In
1907 Stolypin introduced a new electoral law, by-passing the 1906
constitution, which assured a right-wing majority in the Duma.
Other reforms proposed by Stolypin concerning education and taxation
were blocked by more reactionary forces in the government. Peter Stolypin
was assassinated by Dmitri Bogrov, a member
of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, at
the Kiev Opera House on 1st September, 1911.
(1)
David Shub was a member of the Social
Democratic Party when Peter Stolypin was in power.
Stolypin
began to look for an excuse to dissolve the Duma and the Bolsheviks
furnished him with one. Lenin insisted that the deputies use their
parliamentary immunity to agitate for an armed uprising.
Years later
it was discovered that these secret Bolshevik cells were infested
with agents of the secret police. By keeping a sharp eye on the Social
Democratic deputies, these stool pigeons were able to frame the deputies
on the charges of inciting rebellion, thus giving Stolypin his excuse.
(2)
Shornikova, was one of the secret agents planted by Stolypin and the
Okhrana in the Social
Democratic Party.
I met every member of the Central Committee then in
St Petersburg, and all the members of the military organization; I
knew all the secret meeting places and passwords of the revolutionary
army cells throughout Russia. I kept the archives of the revolutionary
organization in the Army; I was present at all the district meetings,
propaganda rallies, and party conferences; I was always in the know.
All the information I gathered was conscientiously reported to the
Okhrana.
(3)
Nicholas
II was with Peter Stolypin when he was assassinated at the Kiev
Opera House on 18th September, 1911.
During
the second interval we had just left the box, as it was so hot, when
we heard two sounds as if something had been dropped. I thought an
opera glass might have fallen on somebody's head and ran back into
the box to look. To the right I saw a group of officers and other
people. They seemed to be dragging someone along. Women were shrieking
and, directly in front of me in the stalls, tStolypin was standing.
He slowly turned his face towards me and with his left hand made the
sign of the Cross in the air. Only then did I notice he was very pale
and that his right hand and uniform were bloodstained. He slowly sank
into his chair and began to unbutton his tunic. People were trying
to lynch the assassin. I am sorry to say the police rescued him from
the crowd and took him to as isolated room for his first examination.
(4)
General Polivanov, diary
entry on the death of Peter Stolypin (19th September, 1911)
What a
distressing feeling! Not to speak of the loss for Russia, I feel a
personal bereavement. I was under the charm of this man. I delighted
in him, I was proud to think that he was satisfied with my work. When
I said goodbye to him on 6th September after the Cabinet meeting,
as usual I tried to catch his eye. He stood by his chair, tall and
upright, and his fine face looked healthy and tanned. It was on the
9th September that for the last time I heard his manly voice on the
telephone.
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