The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-05-01
The Crisis In Russia.

is an absolute monarchy without
written constitution. The whole leg
islative, judicial, and executive power
Is united in the Gear. The present
autocIat, whose will is in fact law, Is
a man singularly pure in his life. am
liable in disposition. sensitive as to
harsh and cruel measures, disliking
war and contention. loyal to the Rus
sian National idea, and, strangely
enough, one of the best informed and
most progressive men in the empire.
When The freedom of the serfs was
talked about he went in advance of
the agitators and emancipated all.
When the education OF women was
discussed he founded colleges and
seninarics for Russian girls. Seeing
the advantage OF internal improve
ments. he has encouraged the build
ing OF railroads and the Improvement
OF mines, and the development OF all
industrial intrests.
In all this work his situation has
been peculiar. Did he show a pro-
gressive spirit the aristocratic con-
servatives were alarme and hostile.
Did he, after taking bold step, hesi
tate to take another, the educated
and liberal classes, having high ex-
IL nd
discouraged, aud many OF thUm be-
came plotters against the govern
ment.
Recently there has been a struggle
between two great political parties in
Russia. Gortschakoff, representing
the purely Russian, or National party,
and Schouvuoff. the European. or
German party. Incidental to this
party struggle came the agitation in
favor Of constitutional government.
Russia has made war to free the Bull
garians and to give them constitu-
ton. Her Influence had made Ssrvia
and Roumania independent, each with
modern constitution. And, when
the grand army had accomplished its
work aud was returning home, the
I Iibsral classes in Russia began asking,
"Why shouli the CZaI or the ImpeT-
IL! Government do more for Servia,
Rounania, and Bulgaria than for his
own people? II Bulgaria must
have a written constitution, why not
Russians?
The Czarawitz. or h,ir to the
throne, it was said, wa. in sympathy
with this movement, aud at one time
it was reported that the Gear himself
was not averse TO the agitation. Un-
der cloak of this legitimate move
ment for radical change in the form
of government, the extremists or de-
structi Jnlsts, have inaug uratad their
schemes. and, after several assassin.
ations aud an attempt on the lirv oi
the Car, the government has adopt
ed the repressive measures Of des-
potic power.
At all times the power OF a Govern
or General Is almost absolute. Thi:
power Is now placed in the hands o
commanders who are expected TO car.
ry both the army and the great mass
Of the people with them, in measures
that they May adopt.
The Nihilists are not the poor, un-
educated people, crying out sgains
oppression and persection, but the
adventurous. well educated people
who delight Ia theories and who ar,
fascinated by schemes for the over
throw OF tho existing social and po
litical system. The center OF these
conspiracies are old Russian towns
and provinces, not the distrits inhab
tied by people naturally hostile to tn,
Russian system.
Net by menace and assassination
the government turns TO crush tn,
extremists, taking care to say IN pro
clamation that the repressive meas
ures are aimed only at the danger
Gus element.
The administration OF the Russian
} Empire is intrusted to four grea
, councils. First Is tho Council OF the
Empire. consisting OF forty-two mem
bers appointed by the Gar, second
the Directing Senate or High Cour
Of Justice; third. the Holy Synod
composed OF church dignitaries
, fourth, the Council OF Ministers, hav
ing immediate charge Of the govern
ment departments. All these coun
ellis center in the private cabinet o
the Emperor, which is divided int,
four sections. The dispatches indi
cate that the Nihilists demand tn,
abolition of the private cabinet ant
OF the third section OF the Imperia
Chancellory. or that section havin!
t control OF the army and the secre
I police.
g The extreme revolutionists will un
!, doubtedly be suppressed, but the agi
J. tstion OF constitutional questions ma,
1 lead to radical changes in the form
j OF government. As the revolutionist
y are desperate enough to resort to as
y sassination, the struggle is likely t
y be a cruel and bitter one. Unde
d such circumstances q despotlc gov
i ernmsnt |. naturally relentless
h Inter Ocean.
As an illustration OF the meteoro
looioal affaot ~ ooaap cnrrapto Mr