The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-29
The Revoiutionists in Russia.

The truth is, that Russia, since the Access
sion OF ALEXANDER IL. has offered n curious
parallel to the state OF things in France to-
ward the close of the AncieR Regime. The
Government OF tho present Car may be
fairly enough described as despotism tenn
pered by epigrams and the rapid develop
ment Of literature has at length brought au-
thority into direct collision with new factor
In the State, the force of public opinion. In
this dilemma the Cars Ministers have be-
fore them the same alternatives which per-
picked the Cabinet Of LOUIS XIV. They may
countenance and further the march OF lib
eral ideas. and thus commit the House Of
RoMANoFF to an ultimate surrender of its
absolute prerogatives Or they may seek TO
stihe the popular aspirations, in which case.
according TO all presidents, they will run
the risk " an explosion.
We can hardly expect the partisans OF alb
soute rule Ia be impressed by the results
which followed the policy OF liberation dur
Ing tho last thirty years of tho old mon
archy in France. They, as well as the Lib
erals, have pruiited by the lessons OF expert
| ence They have observed that one conces-
sion entails another, and that free speech
and free press inevitably end in extorting
free political Institutions. They prefer,
therefore, TO confront the doubtful danger
| OF catastrophe rather than the GER
tain mischief Of dsnteRration. com
| plete change of front has accordingly
taken place; the progressive and generous
| spirit which marked the beginning of the
reign has given place TO the most rigorous
measures Of repression and reaction. The
laws enacted, and the precautions taken,
since the murder of Gen. MEsENTZEF, are
not surpassed in point III severity by any
thing ascribed to NICHOLAS, and are, in
some respects, so cruel as To sug-
gest a kind Of panic on the part OF
the authorities. The prosecutions of the
Nihilists which have gone on 80 long, not
having succeeded in destroying the move
meut, the Government seems 10 think
IL has not sufficiently frightened them
b. the menace OF Imprisonment and
Siberia, and that their growing audacty
can be checked only by the threat OF milf
tary executions for the offence of agitation.
Thus. new edict has been issued accord
ing 10 which all political crimes accom-
panied by proceedings Of violence includ-
ing. OF course, open resistance to civil
functonaries, are 10 be tried before
courts martial Another specimen Of the
new sternness which has become the rule OF
government may be found in the interdc-
ton OF sale TO which the Goi0s, one OF the
leading newspapers OF St. Petersburg,
has more than once had 10 sub
nit When the penalty was inflicted
last August the reason was not apparent,
| but, ON a later occasion. the censorship took
pains to mark out the guilty article. This
had alluded. ii seems, TO the Socialist bill
adopted IN Germany, and expressed itself
uniavorably upon the persecution ot ideas.
The prohibition Of such remarks Is the more
significant when we remember that even in
the time of NICHOLAS the journalists were
permitted to discuss foreign affairs.
So faP the measures Of repression have
totally failed to check the revolutionary
propaganda. The circumstances OF Gen
MEsENrzEF's death are well known. and Wa
need not point out how cleverly that assas-
slnation was organized or the grounds on
which the police have been led TO seek the
assassins in the higher ranks of society
Since the preparation of that crime the
so-called Reds, while refraining from fresh
decide OF blood, have shown themselves in
creasingly active in the issue OF pamphlets
and proclamations. Hitherto it has proved
impossible TO discover the authors of these
publications, or to detect the printing Offices
where they are put in type. This mysterious
press continues 10 work in spite Of prohibi
tiOns, makes use of the penny post, and prop
agates its productions with nearly as much
freedom as Is enjoyed by official documents
Scarcely was Gen. MEsENTzEF dead wher
tho Nihilists issued proclamation en-
titled death for Death" containing what
purported To bo a justification Of the act
At the same time that 1t cOndescends e
offer some explanations, the Red party goes
on inveighing against the Government anC
all society organized on the basis of in
dividual rights. It reiterates IA vow TO ex
terminate every supporter Of the actua
state OF things, but seeing the difficulty o
cutting of all It's foes at once, divides th'
latter into categories to be attacked in turn
TO the most dangerous class are referred
curiously enough those liberal and homes
men who are intelligently devoted to thu
Car, but favor the gradual introduction o
constitutional forms. These are TO be go
rid Of first Of all whereas dishonest officials
whose acts foster discomfort, are not helC
10 be nearly so prejudicial TO the revo
lullOudIN dllllb. lutIo Is no uouDJ WnhleNc
: that these secretly published writing
exercise a certain influence over TIN
public mind, strengthened by the fac
that they circulate in defiance o
, the most vigllant opposition. Nor is /
strange that timorous people, seeing TN
Government utterly powerless against TIN
, authors and printers OF these inccndiar,
l pamphlets should suppose it incapable o
!. protecting them against the predicted dan
gers. Thus rumor was lately current
) which aroused good deal Of apprehension
= to the effect that the revolutionists designe,
. to blow up st. Petersburg byineans of dyna
= mite which pretended chimney sweeper
< were to put into the chimneys.
: 1t is often taken for granted that the Rus
sian revolutiOnists, or Nhilists, as they ar
l. commonly called, owing 10 the system c
Is negations which forms the basis OF their SC
d cial philosophy, have no hold upon the mas
g OF the nation. But in such cases figures ar
l. | a most inadequate and deluslye measure {