The sun., 1878-12-22
caLLING OUT FOR LIBERTK
The UIsInea Of Russian students Against the
Most Autocrntic Laws.


Most Autocrntic Laws.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Trouble
is once again brewing in Russia between tho
authorities and the medical students. This
time II has arisen in st. Petersburg. whore tho
members OF the Medical schools arc demand
ing tho release Of their fellow students nj Char
koff, arrested and imprisoned for ohlecting.
perhaps n little two cmphatically. to certain
regulations relating to the conduct OF their
classes. Any ono conVersant with the Russian
colleges at Kicw. Moscow, or 81. Petersburg Will
feel deeply for these young mon. who. studying
there pcrforcc are subject to the most auto
cratic laws. regulating not only their academic
cal but their private life. MMoscow thcrc havo
boon two different risings Of the students. dill
iering as to time. but corresponding in their
object.
The Russian students at Kew began these
series Of Gmcutos. arising. in tho first instance
by their demanding in vain the release Of their
comrades imprisoned upward Of eight months
on n suspicion Of being concerned in political
plots and ending in the shooting Of at least one
ofthcir number and the imprisonment. accom-
panied with the knout. Of n number Of others. A
protest addressed TO tho Rector Of the univer
sty led to the arrest OF several students as ring
leaders in n rovolt. Three again were imprs
oncd. and after long interval tried. and con-
demncd to different periods OF imprisonment.
eNpatrialion. and deharred from study in the
Russian colleges. the diplomas OF which alone
entitc a doctor or lawyer to practice IN mat
country. For it must be known To the public
that csniaa OF Any ~ medic9 &C. coeg% & IN rr6 ihe
fesson abroad, can practice IN Russ n unless
he again passes tho cNawigqtions IN that conn-
try and takes out q fresh diploma there. The
Moscow students at once demanded the release
of their comrades Of kiew. and as in the case
of the present disturbance Mt 81. Petersburg.
Nltutst ggfs. tffff4 "a ~ a.
Tho Russian Government find in all these
risings Of students, or at any rate pretend to
find, signs Of sOcialistic or cOmmunistic ideas.
and declare that the students are used as the
means Of propagGting these sectarian theories.
while in reality the students are driven To- acts
Of violent cXpostulation by the mpossibiity Of
ventil0ting their grievances through Tree
press. No paper dare publish the complaints Of
the various colegiates. under pain OF suppress
sion. Appeals to the authorities get no further
tho Chief of the Police. when the complainants
are arrested. as an example 10 all other NAL
contents. irrespective Of tho merits OF their
cause. That many Russian students are mixed
up with the large class in Russia who seek for
greater liberty of thought and action cannot be
denied but IL IL altogether false to suppose that
these academcal squabbles have any real politi-
In Russia. whore education Is conducted un-
| der Government sUperintendence, a press cen-
| sor exists. Foreign papers ana books are only
| allowed to enter the country after passing
| through the ccnsurs hands, ana u is natural
| that any movement for freedom should come
i ".a..
| not from the people who are hcsotted. Mill
| ism exists only among the educated classes.
| The peasant Graves for no greater liberty. II Is
| his son who has worked his way through the
primary schools and reached college, who calls
| out for liberty To express himself and for free
| press in which he can point out the defects. in
| his eyes. OF the systems TO which hc is made q
| slave. and II is the absence Of this safeguard
| that compcls him. 10y public demonstrations. to
| make his cause hrari The rich mobiles Of Rus
| sian-poland send their sons abroad 10 be cdu-
| Gated as their native language is interlcted IN
| the schools Their less fortunate brethren
| who. from want ol means. cannot go abroad
| hoar daily ~ their freedom and ask the same
| for themselves.
| In ST. Petersburg tho students appear 70 have
| addressed a petition TO the CZarwitch. Tho re-
| ply came in the person of the Project Of Police
| In Moscow they appealed to the C1nr. and the
same reply was Vouchsaied. Ii tho Russian
| Government would allow a free press and FIRE,
| discussion of all things in the journals, the bot
| ted-up en'rvrscnce OF student wrongs woulC
| lnd safety valve 20 oXpand itself, and thcs'
| thorties. W. NJ.