The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20

There are very iow RUSSIAN NlnlllstS III
this city. perhaps not half dozen all told; but |
Russian lady and gentleman who have acted
and suffered In the cause Of Nihilism in their
native country. granted an interview yesterday
90 reporter for THE Sun.
The reporter asked: What arc the prlnci-
pies AMI demands OF tho people called Mill
lists 2 Are these merely dcstructivcT
A-At present the principles OF the Nihilish
ore destructive rs well as constru tive. 30 lar
as the present Government OF Russia Is con-
cerned they are destructive; but Nihilist prin-
ciples arc not limited to dcstructivcncss. They
have in view the restoration OF ths peoples gov
ernment. which existed three centuries ago
throughout tho whole OF Russia. Three centu-
res ago there was regular Legislative body.
composed Of representatives from oil parts OF
Russia and known as tho Zemstvo. and this
Legislature, or Parliament. made rules which
were then approved by the Gar. The mem
bers OF the Russian Parliament were elected by
the people. and the powers OF the Car In re-
gard to lawmaking were confined to the ap-
proYal or disapproval OF the acts OF the Parlla-
mont The Car himself held his oflioe by the
will Of his subjects and was an elective ruler;
and there are instances In Russian history OF
tho deposition Of Cars. The Nihilists propose
that parliamentary rule shall be restored. and
auto,ratic government done away with.
Q.-D)cs not the present movements aim to
establish social and political conditions far
different from those that existed during tho
dominance Of the old Russian Parliament
A-Oi course these times differ from tho
times ol centuries ago. and the aims OF the
Nhiliss are modified in accordance with
human changes and human progress; but the
Nhilisis 10 not propose to subvert the family.
or to enforce novel ideas in regard to the social
relations. Tho charges OF immortality and Of
neglect OF the marriage tie maie against tho
Nhilists are wholly false. Il is true that Nj
hilists Ignore tho forms which the autocratic
tuting iScni marriage. bnt Nihiiis, husbands
nnd wives are rs nrmy attached To each
other and as faithful to to their mutual Yhn9
and many Nihilist wives have given exemplary
proc. O.. their devotion and fidelity by follow;
Ing their eNil.d husbands into the miseres and
privations of life in Siberia Norare the Mill
ISIS Comnuuists in the sense OF the latter term
ain gt a reformation Of tho tenure Of land
which would In effect be a restoration OF the
oil Russian clstom when the laud was pos
sassed hy communities. The peasants held
tic crop not according TO the number Of work
er- but .corlng TO the number o. mouths in
n family. The autocratic Government has tried
70 abolish the old custom. but traces OF II yet
remain. The Nihlists also propose 10 estab-
lsh schools everywhere. aud give MI the people
an opportunity 10 be freely educated at the ex-
Q-what political change do the Nihilis,s aim
e. bring about IN the Russian system Of govern
A-Thcir demand is for q democratic republic
in which each province OF Russia will exercise
autonomy, the whole being joined in one chain
Q.-wAot about those alarming principles at
trbuied by The press OF Western Europe to the
A.-Itthere is any cause for alarm in regard
e the Nihilsts i Is only amonS the rcs Creatures
The principles Of the Nihillsts are few and
their demands very simple and easily under
stood and the welfare ofthe people is their sin
Q.-What is the strength OF the Nihilst move.
ment In Russia2 How deeply has il taken hold
OF the eighty or ninety millions OF people who
A.-The number OF Nihilists is not large. IL
you take into account the millions OF people oi
the various nations in the Russian empire. but
Il includes very large proportion OF the intel
higher classes. The Nihlst movement is per
.Yasive throughout Russia, but It's strongholds
are the universities. where the youth OF the
best families in the land are congregated.
different cities, St: PetersburG Kev,
Charkoy. Odessa Kasan, Warsaw. and
male and female. OF the educated classes. Mill
ism is chiefly confined. But small proportion
OF the peasants are sufficiently educated 70 be
able To comprehend the principles Of Nihiism.
Nevertheless. while the peasantry are. as rule rule:
aud objects Of the Nihilists, yet many Of them.
especially dissenters from the orthodox or state
Snlreh ynpathzs Win our
way to the objects OF Nhilism. For instance
there is a sect in Russia which is consclen;
tously opposed TO the payment OF taxes Anu
whose members only remain a few days IN one
place. The Ninilsts nnd the members OF this
tec very useful in disseminating Nihilist views
and principles. and many OF the sect have be-
come converts TO Nihiism, and travel about In
fusing Nihilistic doctrines whereyer they 60
Tn fundamental principles OF Nhilism pre-
dominate 10 q great extent throughout Russia,
but in an undeilned and unclqssifed form,
The students OF the universities. which nave
already described as strOnghOds OF Nihism
are drawn from all parts Of Russia. and are
some are sons Of well-to-do merchants. The
majority represent some grade OF Russian arls-
Q.-Nihillstic principles have taken firm hold
among the students
which some university has not been closed on
te'ount Of the prevalence OF this movement
Al the universities are closed at present on ac-
count % the demonstrations by the students at
Charkoy and Kiev. The students in the Uni
yersty Of 81, Petersburg displayed sympathy
Jetitioned for the liberation OF those who had
bren Iut, under arrest, The result was q ne 3
GoYernment's object Is TO get rid OF the stu
Dents who are considered dangerous. ana 10 re-
been sufficiently crushed out. Even all the med
lea schools are closed.
,Q-ls Il degrading or disreputa6le 70 be sus'
A-Ngt At al. 1t is rather. something 20 DC
proud Of. and is looked upon as sign OF Intel
Q.-In England 70 be Radical is to be an out
detest Nihstc principles respect the Intel
ieNualliy which the cultivation OF those princi-
pes udicates.
,Q.-What are the methods OF propagatlng
Nlhili-m?
.A--Our methods are personal address. either
% olndiyiduals or to groups. OF course In secret
sul the distribution Of pamphlets and OF songs
EXPRESSING Nihilstic ideas but adapted to
national and popular airs. The pamphlets are
printed in secret printing offioes in Russia.
tld contain usually frem ten to twenty pages.
N those Pamphlets the condition and circum-
sanees - tho Russian people are set
lrth IN form clear and intsgible even 70
tne peasant Sometimes the pamphlets contain
Stories lu'uicaiing Nhilistic principles, or MS
uea. sketches u Russian revolutions IN 1870
tl'p and li11-that year 20 Is dreaded by the
lMperia. Goyernment The proportion oil peas
tnis whl can rea! is probably less than one In
twenty tn' those who read explain TO those
EAo ctuuot. Frequently the pamphlets
AZ, Gsge,srl BY having on the out
sI2 lle tile and appearance OF an or,
ti1l9X religious work. The personn method
o. pr'ingalng Nhilism is as effective as II s
t"llar. Nlhilist men and women, many OF
N.gh ~ gentle blood ani luxurious home asso,
SaI'uS. dtrss themselves hs wOTkingmen ana
t"t7bh' assume fictitious names and go iorth
y lap1r ~ the factory and in tho field. Some of
-. 70 ..Rk na