The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-10

''S
unquestionably their secret societies are
pervading the whole of continental
Europe, and every head that wears
crown is confessedly unsafe. Every
monarch has been threatened; and the
attempts at assassination already made
signify that those threats mean danger.
Even Queen Victoria has been included
among the denounced. The failure of
each of those several attempts is certain
ly something remarkable, and might go
far to confirm the common idea that "a
divinity doth hedge king" Never
theless, should Nihilism, as practiced in
Russia, prevail, then assuredly the occa-
sion will come when it will be truly said
that
''Within the hollow crown,
That rounds the mortal temples Of king,
Keeps Death his court
And the narrow escapes of the King
of Italy, the Emperor Of Germany and
the Gar of Russia afford ample warning
that monarcbs are but mortal men.
1t is in Russia that Nihilism has as
sumed its distinctive name and mani
Tested its more distinctive features. 1t
has spread terror and dismay throughout
the Court circles. Formerly the Gar
rode about in his little drohsky with no
attendants beyond his groom and
mounted orderly as freely as any private
gentleman; but now he never goes abroad
without strong military escort. He
has found that Nihilism pervades his
army; that it is rife in all the public uni
versities, and prevails in the towns, and
even i'll the most remote villages and out
posts Of his Empire. And still the Sc
crecy Of the organization remains intact.
This is the most perplexing feature of
this singular and widespread conspiracy,
and therefore all the more alarming.
Though apparently "soIid" as to all the
features Of Czarism, still popular dis
quictude and commotion are not new
things to the Russian Empire. There
has been no reign since Peter the Great
that has not had to contend with street
conspiracies among the people. When
Nicholas came to the throne in 1925 the
whole Empire was a vast network of
plots. His first act as the Gar was the
suppression of military revolt at his
capital, in which 500 persons were killed
At that time there was large class de,
manding constitution for limiting the
autocratic powers Of the Gar, providing
for two legislative assemblies, and con.
Ecrring the right of provincial legislation
Their ideas on these points We're neverthe.
less crude and confused, and the common
people knew not even the word constitu
ton. For when, at grand parade, some
of the officers shouted the Cry of "IIour
rah! Constitutzia!" the soldiers all mos
heartily joined, thinking they were cheer
ing the Emperor's wife.
And again, when the distinguished
chief Mourayief raised the standard O
revolt against the Gar, and addrcssin!
his troops said: "Let us cry, long live
the Republicr" the soldiers not knowiny
the meaning of the word, remained silent
An old grenadier stepping forward said
"We will cry long live the Republic,
since it pleases your eXcellency, but who
is to be Czar?" To this his General re
piled: "There will be no moe Cars
ooh, in that case, said the soldier, "youI
Excellency, it can't be in Russial"
This was fifty years ago; but it is alto
gether probable that the great majority
of the present Nihillsts in Russia know
no more about Constitution and Re
public now than the followers of Moura
vief did then. Then, as now, they sup
posed that the new order of things was tt
be gained by the assassination of tn,
Gar, which was attempted as agains
Nicholas as now against Alexander.
Secret plots and conspiracies are neces
sary incidents attending every dcspotism
The people can have no other mode o.
resenting wrongs and resisting oppression
under such government.
They can not call conventions anc
adopt resolutions Of remonstrance. Such
an overt act would be held high treason
and be punished accordingly. Secret so
cieties, therefore, must be the machinery
by which such resistance can be organ.
lied. Russia is consequently full Of
them. Doubtless their plans are desper
ate and ill advised. 1t is equally certain
that their procedure of tempering des
potism by assassination is the worst
course they could possibly pursue. For
such course, if at all successful, coulc
only end in anarchy, which is worse
than despotism itself; as any govern
ment is infinitely better than no govern
ment, so far as the safety of society i.
concerned.
Nevertheless, this secret organization
under the name of Nihjlism indicates the
existence in Russia of revolutionary