Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-21
Russia. Internal Unp,easantne...

The six districts of Russia, in which the re v0-
lutionary spirit is strongest, are put under mar
tial law. Governors are appointed over them.
to whom the civil authority Is subordinate
These officers are given power to arrest, I'M
prison, transport and put 70 death at pleasure.
Every Russian In these districts holds his life
and property only by sufferance. Laws are
suspended, to enable the government to extlr-
pate law-breakers. Fire Is fought with fire.
So important are these despotic governorships
considered that generals of the fame of Todle-
ben, Gourko and Melikon are appointed to
them. They will doubtless find their positions
posts OF danger as well as honor more danger
Gus, perhaps, than the leadership OF Russians
against Turks. These appointments are equiv
alent to the declaration OF a state Of war,
hidden war, In which no contending troops are
paraded but not the less deadly On That ac-
count The English anti Russian papers feeling
~ commisserate with Russia upon her unhappy
plight and, certainly, if there is any European
nation whose immediate future presents a
darker prospect than England. 1t Is her Musco-
wife rival. In view Of the formidable prepira-
lions made by the Car to crush out the nihjl-
lists, the English papers are disposed To queS-
ton his statement that the number OF nthillSts
Is 'ismall,- and argue that The governments
actions and words are contradictory. Perhaps
there Is as little accurate knowledge In regard
to the numbers Of the nihilSts as concerning
their principles and the nature of their or yani-
zatIon. one of the New York papers (the SUM-
has interviewed Russian nihilist In that city,
one who has suffered in the cause, and who is
consequently supposed to speak with authority.
He denies that the principles of the nihflists
are merely destructive They aim at the re5to-
ration OF the peoples government which ex-
listed three centuries ago throughout the whole
of Russia, In which there was a regular repre-
sentative legislative body, and In which the
Gar, too, was an elective ruler. He claims
that the charge Of immortality and ne
glect OF the marriage tie made against
the nih1lists Is wholly false. 1t Is conceded
that nihilists ignore the forms which the auto
cratic government of Russia prescrloas as con-
stituting legal marriage, but 1t is asserted that
nihilist husbands and wives are as firmly at
tached to each other and as faithful to their
mutual pledges as husbands and wives In any
land. The nihilists do not propose to subvert
the family or to enforce novel ideas In regard to
the social relations. Nor are they communists,
as the term Is understood In this country,
though they aim at restoration OF the Old
Russian custom, In accordance with which the
land was held by communities, of which Gus
tom traces still remain. He confirms the state.
ments that n1hilist principles are strongest
among the wealthy and cultivated classes, that
the universities are their strongho,ds, and that
women play an important part In the move
ment In respect to the organization OF the
nihilists, he denies that there is central execu-
tive power. The body exists In societies or
'.groups," affiliated like the links Of lain, one
group having direct communication only
with another group, and not even knowing the
name OF any member OF third group. All i'm
portant facts are transmitted, howe yer, In the
most rapid manner from group to group. Aim
Ing to destroy Capitalization Of government, the
nih1lists do not practice it themselves. 1t is
not believed that the present repressive mea-
sures VIII be any more effective In extirpating
the Dihilists than the exiting, imprisoning aud
putting to death that have been practiced
against them for the last fifty years. The
nihilists look for an opportunity OF successful
revolution.