Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-09

ana Inc attempted hLI4luS VI oSH' Wv
prentclin, attracts renewed attention tC
the secret order which now keeps the
people of Russia in state OF terrorism
\ brief sketch Of the rise and progress OF
this dreadful society will, therefore, he
read with interest The birth of free ideas
in Russia dates from 4 few years previous
to the accession of Emperor Nicholas l., in
1928. al which time secret society was
formed under the name Of "Decabristy'
Decomberists), called after the month in
which 4 revolution occurred at St. Peters
burg Citizens of St. Petersburg re-
member that terrible day, December 10.
lS2j, aS one of dreadful carnage All the
principal streets Of the capital were red
with the blood OF the victims The principal
leaders of this secret society were Pestel,
Rylietl. BestriZuff. Roumin, Alouravieft
Apostol (all of whom were hanged), Oga-
ref. Bakounin liertzen ISLANDER, Satin
and Toutchkofl. Though many members
of the society were hanged and thousands
sent to Siberia bv Nicholas l., many es-
capped or were unsupported, and continued
their work The object OF the secret or
ganiZation was to dethrone Nicholas |. in
order TO form 4 constitutional govern
mcut, with Constantine Paulovitch (an
elder brother of Nicholas IL at its head.
Followers and members OF the secret So
cicty' established I Journal in London, call
ed the hoi,sR lthc BelD whose prOprie-
tor and editor was the famous reyolu-
ZIONIST, llcrtzcn (lskander), who died in
Switzerland few years ago, an exile and
under the death sentence OF his native
country. lIerizen'S ideas were exalted.
although he sometimes carried them to
extremes. Possessing great power OF
language he acquired much popularity
and a powerful influence over Russian
youth, who received, secretly read and hid |
his Journal a some sacred relic, believing |
in lIcltlrn rs in God. The most remark |
able of lis productions published in the |
hOlO5ol were Letters from This Side"
They contain minute accounts of the most |
secret affairs of the imperial government, |
aS well Is the ear and his family, to- |
gether with the editors views and hopes |
OF the future of Russia. Ills svmpa- |
thizcr> and agents penetrated the Seclu-
sion of the households OF the highest cir
cleS OF Russian society As well rs the pri-
vate chambers OF officials. IIertzen's |
chief objects were 10 bring about a repre-
sentation of the people. 10 sweep from the
face OF the earth every member OF tine
czar's family. the titled ari>tocracv and
the priest, and 10 make an equal division
OF all lands. These letters contain much
valuable historical material, from the
TACT that these statements are true to the
smallest details. His influence continued
strong in Russia until 1888.
HEGTZTN'S FOLLOW EEs.
The boldness and fascination OF his
,,v,p,u1frasaI aynry-tK bara |
though secretly in Russia, had the tend
encv 10 encourage the formation OF new
societies under various names, such as
Young Russia" (Molodaia Rossia),
Land and Freedom" and others, all
having a common sympathy and purpose
with Hertzen. Leaving in the ackground
many of his opinions, these societies ad-
vanced and adopted new ideas more in
accordance with new era which they be-
licved they saw the dawn. These ideas
were first expressed through two popu-
lar Journals. .S0rrcpfi,qHR and RuSiOis |
.Sl5,c5. which were suppressed about 10
wears ago Lv the Russian government,
and some OF their writers sentenced to
hard labor tor life in the mines of !
Siberia. Among these were Czerny
;hevski. who wrote the celebrated Rus
/ ,
Ia poet and others. The principal lead
Frs OF nihili,m At that time were Czerny-
shevski. Mikhailoii. Au:onovitch. DObro- .
ubofl, Pi-sureff and Nietchaiefr Swift
,erland gave up the last named person
n 1870. on the demand OF the Russian
government. under accusation of being
lne ofthe assassins of Ivanhoff, 4 mem
Der of the nihiliSls. who attempted TO be
Il. l,,,.I
unity to spread their nihilistic ideas
through these journals under most favor a.,
lble circumstances rs during the interval .
between le5S and 1872 comparative tree
lom Of the press existed, which had
never been the case previous to that time. |
IN June :. 1872, an order was issued from :
he czar giving power to the minister OF
he interior to punish any undue freedom
)t the press. Since then there has been
nothing but persecution The above men
except NietchaiefD were well known =
nd distinguishedI writer's, exercising 4 {
powerful influence in the conversion OF I
he opinion OF the Russian youth.
REVOLT or THE WOMEN.
The svmpathies Of the women were 50
ar engaged that they became willing TO :
make great sacrifices to show their total q,
of the existing customs OF So ;
iety. They cut of their long hair, and 4
many entered professions. Many studied ;
and became doctors of med
cine. As such stand prominent the
lamcs of Sousleva, Tagantzova and Paw
ova. Following rccklessly the examples
If men. they affected contempt for the ,
mere ceremony OF marriage, and entered ,
nto the relation of wife without the per
Iormance OF the legal iormalities, declar-
ne their intention oi rcnouncing every
mewom custom a L trammcl upon the
reedum of thought and action. They
'idiculed the old notions of their parents, ,
DrouOuncing them "Ot,trl0i.' They de-
.lared that they were no longer satisfied ;
% be only wei dressed dolls, with paint
I'd faces. but demanded rights which men
enjoyed, and tie same opportunities OF
10 have position every
where. and 10 hc useful members ot so
:ietv We shall resist our oppressors q
IS enemies to the Improvement and pro- \
sress OF women" Tourganieil, in his
novel Of Fathers and Sons, attempted I
| contrast OF the old and new generations, {
for the defence OF their respec-
i've opinions. But this story does not by +
any means afford a comprehension Of the :
subject, 1t required 4 more powerful ,
land 10 represent faithfully the shadows
and lights Of the past and the present of
he social and political lite OF the Rus I
sian people. ;
NIIIIIsM NAMED.
Following this work appeared series
0i letters by OkncrOuZam, (Antovitch),
published in the Journal pt>ch,ekt, GsG4),
under the title Confessions Of New
Generation in Russia seemingly pre-
pared Tor the purpose OF showing how lit
tie Tourganicn really understood and
how poorly he had portrayed the true
picture OF the direction and progress
among the liberal men OF this country.
lie applied to these representatives OF
new ideas the name nihilists 0rom the
Latin word mint, nolhing), conveying |
the idea that they believe IN nothing, and
from that time the name has been re-
tanned and applied. There existed and |
still exists. even in private life, terrible
struggle between the old and newrepre-
sentaiiycs. Children adopting the new
ideas 20 10 the extreme and disregard |
all respect or regard for the Old order Of
thincs They hold in contempt their pa
rents. who retain cherished beliefs. and
the most bitter cnmity oil
ten exists among those OF the closest ties
of relationship. Czenysheyski, in what
to DO" presents with great cleverness his
opinion of the young generation OF Rus
sia. From 1870 the nihilists began to
take decided and important action. The
Young men spread Themselves through
the different provinces, propagatIng the
new ideas among the peasantry, present
mgthem with books ndins,igaling them
to revolution. Young ladies, even oi the
highest ranks OF society, dressed them
selves as peasants and sought mcnial en-
ploymcnts that they might instruct others
in their peculiar views. Tomh0vskole, a
wealthy princess and moylngin courtc cir-
cles, was discovered among peasant
washer-womcu, with a like object. In the
schools the young girls nearly all became
converts. and no restrictions, no persecu-
tiDpe havp lppu gt,le ia arrest the rand