Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-08
WHAT rs NlHILESM 2
Return OF 81iaister 6tOught0n - His
Impressions OF the NfhIIist Move
raent-The whole Thing Exss-
Serated-The Russian lisa
Nest Paternal Gov
eminent.

New York Herald: Mr. e. W. StouGhtop,
American minister to st. Petersburg, accom-
pauied By his family, arrived at this port last
evening In the Cunard steamer Scythia. He
left st. Petersburg for this country on a leave
of absence, to attend to business and profess
sional matters, on the second OF March. The
Scythia reached her wharf soon after five
O'Clock. The minister was met by several
friends, and vas at once driven to the Fifth
Avenue hotel, where he will stop temporarily
till his house at Fifth avenue and Seventeenth
street can be put in order for the reception
of the family. a reporter of the Herald
called upon Mr.. Stoughton, at the Fifth Az
enue hotel, last evening. The latter was
found in his parlor surrounded by number
of personal friends, who were congratulating
him upon his return home. The minister ac-
corded the reporter a short interview. Mr..
StouQhton is enjoying excellent health, and
seems to have gained physically by his resie
dence abroad. The reporter asked Mr..
Stcughton to give his impressions of the nj
hilst movement IN Russia.
"You can say" Mr.. Stoughton replied,
"cenerally, that the difficulties in Russia
have been greatly exaggerated by correspond
ents of newspapers protesting to date their
letters from st. Petersburg. A few miscre-
ants who think they can gain something by
assassination are banded together, but their
numbers are insignificant and their purposes
u.
servation, is that the mass of the people are
fond of their government and of their en-
peror, and that the army Is loyal"
"Was your soiourn there pleasant to youP"
cit was extremely interesting. 1t IS one
of the most brilliant courts In the world, if
not the most brilliant. 1t is distinguished for
its society and the accomplishment of its
members. Our relations with Russia have
always been friendly and cordial. The peo-
pl9 with whom | had intercourse have great
respect for our country and its Institutions.
You may assume that most of the substan-
tial statements lately contained, especially In
the English papers, respecting the insubordl-
nate or reasonable c5nduct OF the cthcers OF
Russian regiments are entirely without foun-
datisn. My opinion is that the emperor and
his advisers are anxious at the earliest prac-
ticabe period TO have partial representa-
ton of the people to aid In the government
of the empire. AS soon as solid measures
can be adopted for that purpose they will be
put in operation. Efforts are being made
within the empire to give =
this respect a considerable improvement has
been made In the last few years. The gov
eminent is also making efforts to encourage
manufactures throughout the empire. The
extraordinary beauty of the workmanship in
materials of gold and silver, some of which
were exhibited at the Philadelphia Centen-
MAI, ILLUSTRATE UH0 Capacity OF dttlSGQS lUOIt
to manufacture articles requiring great skill
and taste. The government have established
q tariff, which they propose to maintain, for
the purpose OF being finally able to furnish
their own people with articles not merely OF
ornament, but of general use.
Were there many Of your countrymen IN
st. Petersburg?"
mo, the American colony was quite linn
tied. The society there, however, is very
agreeable to Americans. Life there is eX-
tremely gay, and, so far as my experience
has extended, marked by great taste and elc-
gance. | reached st. Petersburg on the sixth
of January, 1873. The trip home has been
pleasant the whole distance, especially on
| the Atlantic, which was quite smooth nearly
| the entire voyage. Returning to this subject
| of nihIllsm, let me remark that there Is a
much greater number In proportion TO the
inhabitants of the several nations OF Europe
| who are dissatisfied with their government
| than exists in Russia. The people OF the
| latter are religious and devotional, kindly 10
| their nature and exceedingly humane IN al
| the relations of life. NihIlism exists only
| among the few, and rarely, if ever, SO
| far as my information extends, among
| those who have substantial interests IL pro-
perty or a genuine desire for good govern
| ment. The emperor, who at great risk and
| sacrifice manumitted some forty-t two million
serfs, in 1861, is distinguished TOR great kind
| ness of heart, and is much beloved by hls sub
jects. The stories which have appeared indr
eating great differences between himself anc
the Cz irewItch, are utterly destitute offounda
ton. l have never known a family more at
tached to each other than the imperial family
of Russia" Asking his visitors to call a
some future time, when he would be more
free to give his impressions on the subject a
greater length, MIR. Stoughton babe the re
porter good night and returned to group o
friends who were waiting in an Adjoining
apartment to congratulate him on MS satt
return,