The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-09

sian Society regard myself ~ a sworn enemy
OF the Russian dsspotical Government, and be-
gin to act against 1t by every means can COM
mand
HOW THEY MULTIPLY.
When circle reaches the number of
sixty it is subdivided into ten circles of
six each, SO that if discovered by the
police only six persons will suffer ar
rest. Into these circles, which meet
ostensibly only for social purposes,
gathering about the Somaiwar as in the
enjoyment of friendly hospitality, it is
sought to draw in members from every
class of military officers of
every rank, common soldiers, the mid
die classes and peasantry. Very few
priests find favor enough to be admit
ted. The system is similar to that
which existed among the Italians be-
fore they gained their freedom. 1t is
the passion of the day, and the dread
full mystery which envelopes the order
adds to the fascination. Every member,
according to his means, make weekly or
monthly payments to the treasurer.
Money is used for the purchase of arms,
the propagation of free ideas among
the peasantry-each circle sending an
armed agent on this errand. Many
women belong to these circles. In
every town and village of Russia there
are so many circles that had the
Government true conception of their
number it would be even more serious
ly alarmed than it is.
THEIR ALLIES.
Besides this there are 100000 of
the so called old faith men (Starovier).
They are divided into various sects,
among whom exist most dangerous
elements. They employ agents who
go from village to village spreading
their faith and declaring that the Gar
and his family are agents of the devil.
They endure every form of persecution,
and in event of general uprising of the
people could be counted on as firm
friends of the Nihilists. They are scat
tered from Astrakhan to the White
sea, but are more numerous about the
Volga river. The Starovier are all able
to read and write, and are liberal in
their ideas, having much sympathy
with peasants. There are multitudes
of Poles among these circles waiting
for the promised uprising to recognize
their opportunity for freedom. No
oppression, no knouts, no chains in 81
IBERIA can stay the progress of events
which hastens the fierce death-struggle
which will be made for freedom of press
and opinion in Russia.
THE LAST ASSASSINATION.
The recent assassination of Prince
Krapotkine, Governor of Kharkoff, by
the Nihilists, is too well remembered to
require extended notice. Prince Krapot-
kline attended "the ball of the daugh-
tiers of the nobility" in Kharkoff. He
was returning from the festivity at
about IL o'clock, and had almost reached
the Government House in his carriage,
when, on rounding street corner, he
was shot with revolver by some per-
son, who, apparently, had stepped light
~ up on the step of the carriage in or
der to take deliberate aim. The Prince
died from the wound in few hours.
The remarkable feature about the
murder was the proclamation posted
throughout the empire few days after.
It read as follows:
The Russian Socialist revolutionary party has
disposed of one of its deadliest enemies-one
Of the most inhuman jailers of its condemned
and imprisoned brethren On the 9th Of Feb
ruary Prince Krapotkine, the Governor of
Kharkoff, was killed with a revolver. This
execution was carried out by the Russian So
cialist revolutionary organization, which is
also responsible for all the executions in 1878
AS on the last occasion, that organization begs
to lay before the public, frankly and sincerely,
the reasons that have compelled it to have fur
Their recourse to the revolver. Krapotkine had
committed the following crimes:
l. At the end of last year he sanctioned and
ordered the barbarous treatment to which po-
litical prisoners were subjected in the prison
of KharkofY.
g He falsely reported to the Minister Of the
Interior on the subject Of the last disturbances
at the University of Kharkoff, that the police
had been attacked by the students, whereas in
reality IL was the latter who, by his own orders,
had first been logged with Cossack whips
3. He is directly responsible for the ferocious
and barbarous treatment of political prisoners
at Borisoglebsk, and his name is intimately
connected with the history of the Central prison
in that town, whore he was guilty of the follow
ing acts: [The barbarous treatment of the
Russian prisoners 10 then specified at great
length Such are the crimes committed by
Krapotkine.
Such are the causes and considerations that
have compelled the Russian Socialist party to
sentence one of its enemies to death. Death
for death, execution for execution, terror for
terror. This il our answer to the threats, the
persecutions and the oppression of the Govern
ment Should the latter persevere in its old
course, the bodies of Heyking and Messentzoff
will not have turned into dust before the Gov
eminent will hear from us again.