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

the power of the military courts and sen.
fenced according TO military order No. .279,
issued in 1875. This order appertains TO
all cases which are not left to the ordinary
courts"
SECRETS OF THE NIIIIIsT ORDER.
The great Russian secret society is ad-
ministered under the following rules: Six
members can form separate body. or
circle, with full power to act and receive
new members, but only with the greatest
precautions. A candidate for admission
must be recommended as u Trustworthy
man, upon whom reliance can be placed
under any circumstances. After sutisfac-
tory investigation the circle, in full meet
ing, votes on the new member. Two votes
against him are sufficient TO cause rejection
One may be, if the opposing member can
support his opposition by undoubted evi.
dences of disqualification. A newly cho-
sen member is invited to meeting of the
circle, where he must take the following
solemn obligation OF oath:
"l, n. b., do solemnlv, before the altar
of my mother country promise and swear
that | will never disclose, under penalty of
death, any of the secrets of the Russian |
national secret society before any agent of
the tyrannlcal Russian government hav-
ing the ear at its head, or any one whom
do not actually know to be Il member of
this society," that | will sacrifice my life |
and all that is sacred to me in the strug-
gle against the boodthrety tyrants and
oppressors of the Russian people; that |
will obey and execute every unanimous de- |
cision of the circle without hesitation, be- |
ing ready to sacrifice my life and regard |
less of any personal danger may encoun
ter in so doing. | know lhat | must be
ready to fight in the name of the liberty of
the Russian people when the moment of
rising shall arrive and the grand sign be
given calling all to arms. | do solemnly
swear that | will resist, in case of IN ut.
tempt to arrest me or any other member of
the society by the government agents, with
whatever weapon is at my disposal ut the
moment, without fear or regard for per-
sonal consequences, that | will not recon.
mend any new member without the knowl-
edge that he is n true friend of the op-
pressed Russian people; that from the
moment | become Il member of this Sc
cret Russian Society | regard myself as
government and begin to act against it by
every means can command"
HOW THEY MULTIPLY.
When 4 circle reaches the number of
60 it is subdivded into ten circles of six
each, so that if discovered by the police
only six persons will suffer arrest. Into
these circles, which meet ostensibly only
for social purposes, gathering about the
somaiwor as in the enjoyment of friendly
hospitality, it is sought to draw members
from every class of society-military Of
licers of every rank, common soldiers, the
middle classes and peasantry. Very few
priests find favor enough to be admitted.
The system is similar to that which existed
among the Italians before they gained
their freedom. 1t is the passion of the day
and the dreadful mystery which envelops
the order adds to the fascination. Every
member according to his means, makes
weekly or monthly payments to the treas
urer. Money is used for the purchase of
arms, the propagation of free ideas among
the peasants-each circle sending an
armed agent on this crrand. Many wo-
men belong to these circles In every
: town and large village of Russia there are
so many circles, that had the government
: Il true conception of the extent of their
uuua Lor it would DO ovon nAoro coriouslv
7 alarmed than it is.