The sun., 1879-05-05
rvR0pE'S NEWEST SPECTRE.
THE PRESENT CONDITION or THINGS
IN TIE EMPIRE or THE CZ1R.

an, Leaders Turaenen-s Bnnishment
The two Russian Nihilist refugees in this !
ouv who wero interviewed by The SuN n
,,rtnirht ago. havc boon again visited by Il re-
r,r,or. They are man and wife. both OF whom
,rero engaged TN tho Nihlist propaganda IN
Russia, and both Of whom, on that account.
bnye suffered tho heavy penalties OF Russian
rorer Both Of them took part in the present
interview, Ms will appear in the course Of It.
Repor,cr-Conccrning the present state OF
bin,,s in Russia are the Cars measures OF re-
rression as sweeping rs they appear to be un-
dor the present so-called reign Of terror?
M-.-Tho newspapers OF this country
oro perfcctly correct in calling this Il
roicn Of terror That is the proper
description Of the state Of affairs in Rus
Gin at this moment; but | must state that
though military dcspotism in its most absolute
form has lust been inaugurated there, 1t does
moi tnrrify the Nihilists. On tho contrary.
eyiIcs are returning TO Russia. to their duty in
their native country. from all parts OF Europe
from switzerland France. England Germany
Doumania-whercver they have been scattered
10 watch and to take part In the events Of tho
present and await those expected in tho near
futurc At the same time the Russian Govern
ment does not rely upon the fidelity of its army;
Il has found by recent events that 1t cannot do
anu we NNNt News NltN huHolh nus bthuu
secret diplomatic negotiations. the purpose OF
which il to obtain help from Germany. in case
OF its own military power breaking down.
Q-what is true as to the present wholesale
arrests In Russia. and as TO the seventies upon
NihiliSts reported by telegraph
At true that multitudes OF people, thou
sands and tens Of thousands. especially OF the
educated classes are being arrested in st. Pc
tersbure. Moscow. and all other parts OF the
Russian empire and imprisoned without even
ashadow Of trial.
An Nihists p
on. no, But also men and women who are
suspected Of sympathy with Nihilism. OF who
are in any way affiliated or associated with
people accused Of Nihilism. or who are sup
posed to be capable OF giving any information.
,r who are otherwise disarected or have ten
ienry to- liberalism in politics. -
" What is the legal procedure in these cases ~
" Even previous to the present display OF
military dcspotism, there was no trial at all, or
rather but mere shau OF n trial. for political
offenders. The verdict Is decided upon against
hem even before they are, brought to cour, 10y
.hcir so-called judges, and they are allowed no
,ounsel for defence The prisoners -Nihilists-
know this. and havo not for years taken any
part in their so-called trials which are but
Nine. They were even averse to ap-
pearing before the judges for trial at all.
VI -.-Prcierrlng to submit without 9
useless struggle to the terrible penalties which
the shameless courts never fail 10 impose
o. BY whose direct order and in what way are
those arrests made"
direct order of Gen. GhourkO and by the other
newy-appointed military Governors In othei
parts Of the empire
How is information obtained OF the parties
whom they determine to arrest 2"
Through the infamous nj miro section o
stationed in all large cities. of gendarmes, whC
gain information MOI only OF suspected Mini
lists, but Of all people; and through them IN
new military despots. obtain the information tha
is that Third Section purely civil or partly
Military altogether. The members OF tina
section are In military ,S = gnmorm' ana Tb, carr
rests are always conducted IN such wise IA Z
be terror 10 the victims and TO other people
They make arrests nj midnight. Requiring IN
landlord, first of all to furnish them the key
OF all doors. they. enter the rooms and at ono
niture, and every corner OF the house. and rusl
you OF TO prison Mt once. Mt midnight"
What is your own experience oil husslal
I'm 81. Petersburg was imprisoned as
Nihllist Tor two years IN the pr.heIpal brlsoh 70
political Offenders, the TORI, ot SIS. Irtcr an
Paul II Is like the old bastile in Paris. and
provided with strong garrison and ARTILLERY
cells in solitary and silent confinement. ,
prisoner has no ch ,nce 10 speak To anybod
cannot even see anybody. cannot get out even
moment for air. His dismal cell is his VINO
world, For the smallest provocation, II ~
should speak awqrd to the soldier T always , al u
cells which are mere stone collins where yo
cannot move about and cannot rest IN any pos
ton and which are specially provided with II
sects that torture you. Peter aud Paul is ju
opposite the Cars winter palace"
We're you yourself subjected 10 anythln
beyond the ordinary prison discipline"
At one time my nelghbor 10 the next Go
was Vera Sdssulltch. who subsequently sh
Gen. Trepoff and had been for many montt
without hearing word or receiving any nov
from outside; OF course there was no poss
bility Of speaking To- her. hut we used 10 con
municate through the wall by knocks upon
whichwe had learned to understand ~ operate
do the telegraphic ticks. The soldier at u
door noticed this. and was put in that speci
How do they nnd prison quarters for SUI
enormous numbers Of men and women as a
reported being arrested p ,-
They turn mil tary barracks into prison
and they constantly transport from ~. Frter
burg to provincial prisons their excess
prisoners. They also hanish TO Slheria.
What can you say OF the recent despatch
about d disaliection in the armyF
The Gar will open his eyes some day. al
see that The army IS not l2r M hin ac5tora a. as'' "
lately arr sted. but many officers n other re-
menis are equally Nih.lists, or touched Wi
Has dsaffrction seized the rank and file 2
Yes. And that last military reform N !
cOnScrption by which even members OF |
privileged classes Of noble birth. are enter
MS common soldiers. is helping to spread MINI
idens among the common soldiers. During I
last war upon Turkey the Sisters OF Mercy We
largely Nihilst-. aud YOU may Imagine II
those Nlhilist women. sprilrnE their oN
not forget their principal uty ot propagatl
their Ideas among the sOd,ers.
To what extent have y lhilist ld"as got do'
among the mechanics and wprklnsn"n OF
cities and the peasHniry oi the country
can am rm positively that there ls not
town or hamlet In al the Russias In which
working people and peasants do not hear
revolutionary ideHs. and rcnd, or nave rrad
them. pamphlets ike this exhibiting s"ve
Nihuist pamphlets in tho Russian lungual
These may be- found in secret circulation IN
most every village. II is impossible Tor
police 10 find out Al the cases wher" su'l pa
uhlcls ara read or the way in which they
circulated. Hero is one which ~ csprclt
popular called. in Russian, Smart Merhi
Ism" and treats Of taxation. from whom
money Is raised, and how it is used. P"Asa
like tnls particularly. because all they are
rustomcd To hear from the Government One
is Pay your taxes" AMI they want to kn
why they pay them and whore all the MOI
GOES and this answers those quest lona. |
sure you would nnd this more widely sproac
Russia than oven any religious hook,
But among tine worklngmcn OF the cities
Yes. sir. Among them As well AS tho ~
ants"
Mime. LAST year many wOrkingn
were tried for spreading Nihllst Ideas. and
common WOrkingmHn mad" "a thrllllng spec
defending himself and his fellow victims
But still those ideas predominate mai
among the intellectual classes r