Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-28

sia" (AIolodaia Rossia), % Land and Free
dom" and others, all having common
sympathy and purpose with Ilertzen.
Leaving in the background many of his
opinions, these societies advanced and
adopted new ideas more in accordance with
the new era which they believed they saw
the dawn. These ideas were first expressed
through two popular journals, Soverm-
tennik and Ruskoie Slowo, which were
suppressed about 10 years ago by the Rus
sian government, and some of their writers
sentenced to hard labor for life in the
mines of Siberia. Among these were
Czernyshevski, who wrote the celebrated
Russian romance, "What to do" Mikhail-
off "a poeO and others. The principal
leaders of nihilism at that time were
Czernyshevski. Mikhailofl', Antonovitch,
| DobroubofT, Pissureff and Nietchaieff.
Switzerland gave up the last named per-
son in 1870, ON the demand of the Russian
government, under accusation of being
one Of the assasSins of lvanhoif, Il men,
ber Of the nihilists, who attempted to be-
tray their secrets. They had had oppor-
tunity to spread their nihilistic ideas
through these journals under most favor
able circumstance as during the interval
between 1858 and 1872 comparative free
dom Of the press existed, which had never
been the case previous to that time. On
June I, 1872, IN order was issued from the
ear giving power to the minister of the
interior to punish any undue freedom of
the press. Since then there has been
nothing hut persecution. The above men
Except Nietchaiefl) were well known and
distinguished writers, exercising power
ful influence in the conversion of the opin-
ion of the Russian youth.
REVOLT OF TIE WOMEN.
The sympathes of the women were so
fur engaged that they became willing to
make great sacrifices to show their total
disregard ofthe existing customs of society
They cut off their long hair, and many en-
tered professions. Many studied success
fully, and became doctors of medicine
As such stand prominent the names of
Sousleva, Tagantzova and Pavlova. Fol-
lowing recklessly the examples of men,
they affected contempt for the mere cere-
mony of marriage, and entered into the re-
lation Of wife without the performance of
the legal formalites, declaring their nten-
tion of renouncing every timeworn custom
as Il trammel upon the freedom of thought
and action. They ridculed the old notions
Of their parents, pronouncing them
" OtSLal0j." They declared that they were
no longer satisfied to be only well dressed
dolls, with painted faces, but demanded
rights which men enjoyed, and the same
opportunities of knowledge; to have posi-
tion everywhere, e,and to be useful members
of society. We shall resist our oppress-
ors as enemies to the improvement and
progress of women" Tourganietf, in his
novel of" Fathers and Sons attempted a
contrast Of the old and new generations,
struggling for the defence of their rcspec-
tive opinions. But this story does not by
any means afford comprehension of the
subject. 1t required Il more powerful hand
to represent faithfully the shadows and
lights of the past and the present of the
social and political life Of the Russian
people.
NIIIIL1SM NAMED.
Following this work appeared u series ol
, letters by Oknerouzam, (Antovitch), pub
lished in the Journal OlScheeki (1SGDundel
the title " Confessions of n New Genera
tion in Russia" seemingly prepared fol
the purpose of showing how little Tour
Sttllltll ICull1 UuNClStOUu anu uOW IIOOll ~
he had portrayed the true picture of the
direction and progress among the liberia
men of this country, He applied to thesC
representatives of new ideas the namt
nihilists (from the Latin word nUU, moth
, ing) conveying the idea that they believ,
in nothing, and from that time the nam,
has been retained and applied. There ex
listed, and still exists, even in private life
, terrible struggle between the old ant
new representatives. Children adopting
the new IDEAS go TO the eXtrene,and disre
} gard all respect or regard for the old orde
| of things. They hold in contempt thei
parents, who retain cherished beliefs, an,
:, consequently the most bitter onmity oftel
exists among those of the closest ties of re
lationshp. Czeneyshovski, in "What t
Do presents with great cleverness hi
opinion of the young generation of Russia
From 1870 the nihilists began to take dc
cided and important action. The youn
men spread themselves through the differ
ent provinces, propagating the new idea
= among the peasantry, presenting ther
: with books and instigating them to revolt
r tiop. Young ladies, even of the highes
1 ranks of society, dressed themselves II
peasants anu SOuSnb luCHlttl iliGul
that they might instruct others in their pc
{ cuiar views. Tomhovskole, n wealth
= princess, and moving in court circles, wa
e discovered among peasant washer-womei
n with II like object. In the schools II
o young girls nearly all became convert
= and no restrictions, 10 prosecutions hay
\ been able to arrest the rapid growth
5 nihilism.
- - STRENGTH OF TIE MOVEMENT.
o The result must finally be terrb
n bloodshcd, such as has never been su
IS passed in the history of mankind. Such
" sacrifice of the educated portion of Il
n Russian youth will have its effect for a
s. future time on the history and progress
l. the nation. Already there is organized
), secret government by the society for gel
l. eral freedom. The present strength of IL
h movement may be judged from the follow
Al ing facts: From st. Petersburg, it WI
j, announced, under date of September
Il, that, in consequence of an attempt to a
u sassinate Gems. Mazcntzoff and Markao
in the local police are in search of the seer
rs government, which calls itself The
Is ciety for the Freedom of Russians" al
s. has branches in every province of the Ell
ID pire. The funds of the Geneva commits
II for the aid of political criminals are alrea(
in wholly transferred 20 Moscow. In Il
IT, city of Rostev, recently. a spy named \
er konoG was assassinated for revealing fe
d. of the nihiists or socialists to the polio
ty The " society" issued a proclamation
ed which it openly avowed its armed orga
or ization, and that the sentence of death h
st, been passed on all spies. These declar
r. tions caused panic in st. Petersbu
er among the agents Of the police. The fl
y. lowing order of the czar was issued und
he date of August q, 1873:
IS. In the frequency of late of polite
lc. crimes, having the character of clear d
ful obedience TO the powers of the governmel
I'd, his imperial majesty recognizes a ring
ne secret criminals, who under the intluen
in of social revolutionar and other theorit
lc- would destroy the whole constitution
ct the state. These criminals, refusing