Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04

vented by the number OF arrests which had
tivity of the police. The propaganda went on as
before, and arrangements were made for print
ng journal in LOndOn-the Npered-ini
ITS secret introduction and circulation ia Is
STA. The Nihilists of st. Petersburg, emo,!d
ened by impunity, worked with increased &c
ikity. Two students of the University. youths
Of twenty, both SONS of priests, named Ditkot
and SiIlakof, made themselves acquainted.
under assumed names, with several of the
wUrkmen engaged in factory. and visited
lead and commented upon the story of the
Tour brothers, the adapted translation of the
:, Historic dun Paysan," and the narrative of
Joined in these readings, and assisted the
workmen In circulating the book among their
friends In the same way Diakof and Sfriakof
racks OF the Imperial Guard at Moscow. and
especially among the bandsmen. A peasant
was, employed at the same time circulating
thu books among the inha bitants of the village
in the vicinity Of the Capital. Unfortunately
for the Propagandists some of their hearers
were IN the pay OF the secret police, and while
processing great interest in the readings and
assisting in the circulation Of the forbidden
books. they Communicated to the authorities
what was going on.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHIEF CONSPIRA
Diakof and SiriakOf were thereupon arrest
ed, together with two other students named
\titSOf and ElatcheSlavOf, the two persons
who had assisted in circulating the books
among the workmen at the Tchesher factory
and two privates OF the Moscow regiment, all
charged with circulating sedtious publi.a
tionS and melting the subjects of the Car to
rebellion. AS there was no apparent connec
ton between The Nihilist propaganda in st.
Petersburg and the conspiracy which formed
the subject OF investigation at Moscow il was
determined to make the affair of the students
matter OF separate inquiry. No documents
indicate utilization to the NihilSt Association
but copies of the book which has been men
toned were seized by the police and also the
nj
iiOnary tendency from the Vpered on the dis
tress prevailing in the neighbOrhood of the Sa-
mara: Diakof stated at the preliminary in
wOrkmen for the purpose of explaining to
them social and economical theories, and he
denied having said, as was alleged by agents
source of all the evils that affict society add
ing to the denial the expression of the opinion
that the Car is often restrained by his coun,
sellers from carrying out his desig ns for the
welfare OF the people. He instanced the
reforms which Alexander l. wished to intro
dree and az which We're frustrated by the
desire to become acquainted with the work
men arose from his reflections on the present
structure Of government and society in Russia
ly which the lives of the working classes are
rendered almost uncomfortable. He added that
knowing how sad was the condition of these
classes, he thought it his duty to show them
social revolution. Tney were brought to trial
in August, when DiakOf and Seriakof refused
TO defend themselves, on the ground that il
was impossible to do so with Self-reSpect when
three agents of the police had given evidence
against them, All the accused were convicted
and DlakOf and SiIiakof were condemned to
deprivation of civil rights and hard labor i'm a
Siberian fortress, the former for ten, the latter
for six years.
The two peasants were condemned to the
like penalty for nine years. The third peasant
had cOntrved to elude the vigilance of the
police. The two soldiers, who protested that
they were ignorant of the character of the
books, lost all their advantages of service and
were sentenced to imprisonment for nine and
twelve menthS respectively. The results of the
prosecution OF the 7SO persons indicted upon
the report of the Moscow COmmi SSion are not
yet known entirely; but, whatever they NAV
be. they must be less important than the fact
that the NihiSt movement is still going on
and that the journal OF the movement cOnfin-
ueS TO be issued from London, and that the
Government can suggest no remedy for the
evil apart from the terrOrS of the law, more
efficient and larger amount of religious and
moral teaching, and more careful supervision
OF the young. In October, 1877, evidence was
given and proved against twenty members of
The NlhlllSt Society. The remaining Ell ghty
were liberated on bail The prisoners included
both men and women, and they resided in diff
ferent portions of the Empire. A great many
witnesses were examined, and the leading
counsel OF Moscow and St. Petersburg were
appointed for the defense. The Government,
of course triumphed, but the Nihilst move,
ment is not extinguished, and is as fall and
vigorous to-day as 1T ever was.