Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-20
The Alarm In Russia,

Tho attempted assassination Of the
Gar has been followed By meas.
urea sE3E 3sF1$S&4-@ynS MdUs.1Ua500l
alarm On The part Of The Russian Gov
eminent. The famous General 0ourkO
has. been. appointed Governor Of st.
Petersburg, and one Of his first orders
directed every Eunsnnith in the capital
10 send . list Of his stock to the city
commandment at once, and to sell arms
hereafter only to persons officially "a.
thorized to purchase them. Owners Of
arms were also required to report the
fact Immediately, being allowed to re.
tain them only by express permission.
Other orders of similar stringent
character indicate q knowledge. or 81
all events strong suspicion. Of serious
danger ahead, against which the Gov
eminent feels itself obliged to take the
most stringent precautions. !. .t,-
It is asserted, in fact, on high au'
thority, that triple conspiracy has
been formed in Europe, on the part Of
the Nihilists, Communists and Social
lists of Russia, Germany and France,
to overthrow the existing governments,
and establish that lawless liberty which
ages Of oppression have made the
dream of the oppressed undercrust OF
European society. The Russian au-
thorities at least would seem to be fully
convinced of the reality of the threat
ening uprising. and to be determined
to meet it at the outset with vigorous
measures. ...l ..s.- .,..
The grand difficulty in Russia is that
the "paternal" Gar does not know
whom to trust. The Nihilist conspiracy
is believed to include men and women
of all ranks-peasants, priests, Der-
chants. soldiers, mobiles being Joined in
the strange, fanatical union, and all
working together for the destruction OF
the government and the existing order
of society. In this condition of affairs
the government is open to constant sur.
prises. The trusted servant of to-day
may be the conspirator of tomorrow
or may even be at once trusted servant
and conspirator, awaiting only the fa
vorable moment to develop the latter
character and strike sudden blow. II
is said, indeed, that in Russia every
third man you meet is government
spy; but it would seem likely to be-
come ere long a serious question how
TO watch the spies. ,...
In Germany and France the case
while serious enough, is not so thor
oughly desperate. Socialism has gained
wide foothold among the lower classes
and they have some able leaders. But
in neither country is society so utterly
rotten as in Russia. The governmental
rest on . substantial basis of intelli
gent public regard. 1t may be thai
wild times are near at baud even in
these two States but there can be nc
question of the ability of the govern
ments, sustained by the strong uppe,
classes, to cope successfully with any
movement from below.
Not SO with unhappy Russia. The
result of Socialist rising there no one
can predict. If it comes, twill be ter
rible. in its destructive sweep. But
whether the government or the revolu
tionists triumph, the cause OF human
freedom will gain little from the strug'
gle for the people of Russia, crushed
and bleeding from the heavy yoke o.
ages OF misrule, must themselves be
como better before the government car
be- Theoretically. Y Eramiaer. h