New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-19
AsS1SsyY> IN TW0 CAPITALS


ASSASSIN> IN TWO CAPITALS
The stroke of the headsman's axe in Berlin
was answered by dagger tmusts and pistol
shots IN ST. Petersburg. On the morning
when the Socialist tinSmith was bchcadcd Tor
attempting to kill an Emperor, the chief OF
the Cars police was stabbed to the heart, ana
one of his associates was shot in struggle
with the assassins. The coincidence is 50 re-
markable that we are led to believe that
there is international method in the anar-
chical madness Of the Old World. AS the exc
cutionel's axe is lifted, and the head OF
the assassin falls upon the block, III the dis
lance there is a cleaning OF steel and a pun
of smoke in crowded thOrOughiare. In
one capital, where the penal code has been
revised IN spirit of mawldsh humanity re-
tributive justice singles out a repulsvc form
of punishment, and with one stroke the assas-
sins head is lopDed off; and in the other
caDtal, where Imperialism makes or breaks
its own laws according to It's needs or
capuces, Revolutionary assassins do their
work in the twinkiiug OF an eye and
vanish from sight, The execution AMI
the assassination are companion pictures
conceived in the spirit Of the medieval age.
In one Empire society is highly organized
and popular Intelligence is widely dituscd;
the other Empire is IN n transition stage, with
institutions half-fonned and social tenders
cies ill-defincd, and the lower and middle
classes have not emerged from the dead level
of ignorance; and yet there is This faint OF
barbarism in common. For inasmuch as Ger
man Socialism and Russian NIbiism, what
ever they may be in their genesis, have he
come destroying forces, levcl,ing everything
that lies in their track, they are forms Of bar
barsm.
Germany and Russia are on grades Of civil
izatiOn that are widely removed, and yet the
lower strata Of society have sunk into the
same Ooze of anarchy and atheism. How has
this come aDOutl Ii is q most complex prob
lem, and yet il we reduce it to its simplest
terms we shall find satisfactory solution IN
the fact that each nation is the victim Of its
own Illusions. Each has made tremendous
experiments in political government and each
is overwhelmed with disappointment over the
practical results. Let Us turn first to the Father
land. After centuries of distracting division
the German states were united under the
leadership of Prussia, so ~ TO become the
strongest link of the European system. The
people gave their imaginations full rein.
Their physical and intellectual forces had tri
umphcd in two great wars, and they took IL
for granted that the same mighty agents
would work ont their ends in an era of peace.
New machinery was introduced manufactures
were stimulated; radical changes were wrought
in the economic system; and an era OF COM
mercial supremacy was confidently antici
pated. But national prosperity could not
be hammered ont under the pressure
of imperial legislation. The milliards were
expended and every industrial interest re-
ceved an impetus, but the hardships of the
working classes increased rather than dimin-
ished The army expenses and the depart
ment estimates have rolled up while the rev.
enues of the States and the earnings of tax
payers have steadily dwindled. The bur
dens of the worlds economic laws have fallen
upon this victorious nation, and distrllst and
dissatisfaction are widespread. A chilling
sense of disappointment has followed the flush
of extravaganza expectation.
If we glance now across the Neva, we shall
find another nation that has awakened from
its dreams. An era of free labor, local indie
pendence and administrative reform opened
with the present reign. Twenty millions Of
serfs were emancipatcd radical change was
effected in the conditions of land tenure
judicial tribunals were purified internal i'm
prOvements were begun; and finally great
war was undertaken. No nation ever attempted
to do so much in quarter of century, and
no nation ever expected greater results or was
more bitterly disappointed. FREQ labor has
led to complicated agraran complications;
large proportion of the landed pro-
prietOrs have been ruined and very few
of the enfranchised peasants have made fam
ing profitable; and at the close of war
which has subjected all classes to an enOr-
nous strain, the nation is bankrupt and
impoverished In Russia. as in Germany, the
economic and political results of this period
of change aud development have disappointed
not only the mass of the population, but even
the educated classes. One illusion after an
other has been dispelled. The area Of dis
affection has widened. Fanatical zeal has
been kindled. The pot-house philosophy and
the revolutionary plots Of Socialists and
Nihilists have reached their logical result in
the common policy of assassination. Hoede
cries Bravo!" when his death sentence is
read. insults the chaplain and drinks TO the
leaders Of Socialism and in n few hours the
greeting is returned from ST. Petersburg by q
pair of red-handed Nihilists
"
mn