The New York herald., 1879-07-02
RUSSIAN NIHILISM.
Is Russia Happy and Contented
Under the Gear?
A NIHILIS IT'S VIE w S.
Mr.. Stoughton's Assertions Taken
Under Consideration.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

the Court OF St. Peters burg has denied all the facts
concerning the revolutionary movement in Russia.
He asserts that the reports published about con-
spiracies. disturbances. assassinations and police
terrorism in Russia either inventions exag
serations. and finally comes TO the conclusion that
the Russian people thoroughly coEtented with
their government and devoted to their Emperor.
Mr.. Stoughtons high position as the representative
of the great American Republic in the Russian
Empire has, doubtless afforded him all the facilities
for seeing. hearing reading. studying and thinking
about the true state Of things in the Empire to
which he has been appointed. Therefore the state
ments Of Mr.. Stoughton statesman have par
amount Importance and fully deserve to be atten-
lively investigated. Admitting Mr.. Stoughton's
thorough knowledge of the Russian affairs. we'll
his impartiality. take herewith the liberty of
correcting some OF his statements and aarmations.
THE CONDITION PETERSBURG.
Mr.. Stoughton says when he left ST. Petersburg the
city tranquil New York. and it was not then
different from what it usually Well. this is
tainly true. but how this tranquility brought
ABOUT? The answer to this question can be given in
two words-he state OF siege. The city is governed
according to martial law by Governor General.
thorized to summarily from their respective
districts all persons whose continued residence may
be considered dangerous to order the arrest Of any
persons whatsoever on their own Judgment and
responsibility; to suppress temporarily or perma-
nently any newspapers periodicals. should they
appear to follow subversive tendencies" That the
population Of such city should be as tranquil not
New York. but a sepulchre. is not more than
might have been expected. The fact must be further
taken into consideration that since the attempt on
the Czars life two companies in every regiment are
kept day and night under arms in marching order.
equipped with ball cartridges and all
qusite for active service. Batteries stand ready
mounted and day and night divisions of Cossacks
patrol the streets. 1t is clearly evident that the
statement of Mr. Stoughton about the tranquility in
st. Petersburg is perfectly true under similar cir
cumstances the most turbulent and tumultuous
people certainly ought to be very tranquil.
ARRESTS EXILE TO SIBERIA.
Mr.. Stoughton further says:-"It is not true that
whole troops of students have been arrested by the
police and sent of to Siberia tortured in dun
geons." Unfortunately this is perfectly true. Dur
ing the last fifteen years the prosecutions OF the
students were permanent; our universities and col
leges in different parts of the Empire many
closed by order of the and students
arrested, imprisoned and transferred either to
the distant towns OF the Empire to Siberia These
prosecutions became more acute during the last two
years. Az to tortures in the prisons. think Mr..
Stoughton has but little foundation either
ing contradcting the facts relating to these tor
lures, there being only two ways of learning the
truth in this matter-either to be criminal or
member Of the Third Section. and. Mr.. Stoughton
has been neither, of course he could not know the
truth. There now in New York some Russians
who have been imprisoned for political offences
many years; they can give accurate information
this point. The public trial of Vera sassoulitch.
who shot General TrepoG. gave ample opportunity
to learn all over the world what kind OF tortures
prisoners in Russia are subjected and barely two
months ago the Russian government itself appointed
q committee to investigate the causes OK the death
that had taken place within four months of 200 out
OF the 500 inmates Of the Charkof Central Prison.
THE ST. PETERSBURG STUDENTS.
The reporter who interviewed Mr.. Stoughton men,
toned the case OF the students IN the ST. petersburg
University and the etncue in the streets where the
Cossacks were said to have charged into the crowd
and killed several. "Mr Stoughton laughed heartily
and said the whole affair took place within view of
the windows OF his house. that some twenty were
arrested and if the same sort OF thing had happened
in "a town here the students would probably have
been arrested some time before 1t is obvious that
in this passage Mr.. Stoughton refers to the cold
blooded butchery to which the students of st.
Petersburg have been subjected for presenting col
lective petition to the Czarevitch. an account of
which has been already published. 1t
stated by the unfortunate students parents
yasa Sna library o
Academy, about two hundred and fifty students
crowded and locked up in a manege about three hum
red were imprisoned in the Peter and Paul fortress
and some two hundred and nifty were taken to the
pierced through the shoulder, breast abdomen;
many OF them had their noses and ears cut OFF by
swords &c. This bntchery was done IN broad day
and indirectly acknowledged by the government
itself in an official communication addressed to the
Government Messenger OF December H. 1878, in which
the government admits. frst the fact OF the stu
dents riot having assumed so serious proportions
against them; second the spread in the city
about the atrocities committed by the Cossacks. IL
MIR. Stoughton had read this communication he
might have known that the Russian government did
not "iaugh heartily" at the disturbance
NIHIIIsM.
Mr.. Stoughton further states that it is not true
| that any women of responsibility had been found
among the niliiists, and declared the statements
field. recently sentenced to death by the Military
Court at Kicff for armed resistance against the bru-
tality OF police officials, the daughter of Russian
! and member of the Imperial Council. is surely a
respectable young lady The young Countess
| ite ladies OF honor of the Empress, who was COM
promised in the assassination OF Prince Krapotkin.
tary Procureur General, Mrs. Philosofof, arrested
not long ago. is respectable lady? The wife OF His
Majestys private physician, Botkin. recently ar
rested is a respectable lady? Miss Metallic Aynfed,
daughter of u Prvy Councillor. is respecta bio
Iadyg lshc was sentenced in kier. alter being de.
prved of all rights and privileges. to hard
labor in Siberia for fourteen years and
ter OF u collegiate assessor, Alexandra Potaiziu.
daughter captain Marie kovalik, daughter OF u
! nobeman; Cathariue Nilotchaieff widow of a ply
scian: Vera Vassilien, daughter of an oihcer-all
these ladies surely rcspectabley They have just
now been all sentenced in Kch. after being deprived
all rights aud privileges. to hard labor in siberia
| ior four. five. eight or ten years Many other
ladies. sentenced tor political offences in 1878.
lcit 1910, lo'o io''' 1910 W i"'o' ~ 'sVof"
from twelve years, all respectable per-
sons? The only charge that can be brought against
these ladies' is their love for their people and their
desire to secure Russian freedom.
ruE Ass,ssfSATIoSs
"Do you think reforms are brought about by the
knifeY'' asks Mr. Stoughton, and answering his own
question he says that III these people really had
any aims bcyond those OF murder aud destruction
they would not have attempted the
generation of the country by assassination"
in tho first place, how many ass ssinations
have been committed by the revolutionistsg Ten
! or fifteen. not more those have been done dur
inn the two years; eight ten members ot the
Third Section, including Mezentzon and krapotkin,
and Ave Of its spies: that is all. No civil
or military officer or any private person has been
either killed injured. Why these assassina-
tons carried out? For cruelty and tortures to which
political offenders were subjected. How were these
| assas siuations made? Always after many warnings
In III To- In