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

Sons" attempted contrast of the old
and new generations struggling for the
defense of their respective opinions.
But his story does not by any means
afford clear comprehension OF the sub.
iect. It required more powerful hand
to represent faithfully the shadows and
lights of the past and present Of the So
cial and political life of the Russian
people.
NIHILIsM NAMED.
Following this work appeared a So
ries of letters by Oknerousam (Anto-
vitch), published in the journal
Otscherki QS64), under the title of
Confessions of New Generation i'll
Russia" seemingly prepared for the
purpose of showing how little Tourga-
nieff really understood, and how poorly
he had portrayed the true picture of
the direction and progress of opinion
among the liberal men of his country.
He applied to these representatives Of
new ideas the name Nihilists (from the
Latin word nihil, nothing), conveying
the idea that they believed in nothing,
and from that time the name has been
retained and applied. There existed,
and still exists, even in private life,
terrible struggle between the old and
new representatives. Children adopt
ing the new ideas 60 to the extreme and
disregard all respect or regard for the
old order of things. They hold in con-
tempt their parents, who retain cher
ished beliefs, consequently the most
bitter enmity often exists among those
of the closest ties of relationship.
Czernyshevski, in what to Do" pre-
sents with great cleverness his opinion
of the young generation of Russia.
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, pre-
senting them with books and instigating
them to revolution. Young ladies even
of the highest ranks of society dressed
themselves as peasants and sought me-
NAL employments, that they might in
struct others in their peculiar views.
Tomboyskoie, a wealthy Princess, and
among peasant washerwomen, with a
like object. In the schools the young
girls nearly all became converts, and no
restrictions, No prosecutions have been
able to arrest the rapid growth of Mill
ism.
STRENGTH OF THE MOVEMENT.
The result must finally be terrible
bloodshed, such as has never been sur
passed in the history of mankind.
Such sacrifice of the educated portion
of the Russian youth will have its eff
feet for all future time on the history
and progress of the nation. Already
there is organized secret Government
by the Society for General Freedom.
The present strength of the movement
may be judged from the following
facts: From st. Petersburg it was an
nounced, under date of Sept. IA, that,
in consequence of an attempt to assas-
sinate Gems. Mezentzoff and Maka-
rolf, the local police are in search of
the secret Government which calls it.
self " The Society for the Freedom of
Russians" and has branches in every
province of the empire. The funds of
the Geneva committee for the aid Of
political criminals are already wholly
transferred to Moscow. In the city Of
Rostov, recently, a spy named Nikonoff
was assassinated for revealing few of
the Nihiists or Socialists to the police.
The society" issued proclamation in
which it openly avowed its armed
organization, and that the sentence of
death had been passed on all spies.
These declarations caused panic in
st. Petersburg among the agents of the
police. The following order of the
Gar was issued under date of Aug. 81,
1878:
In the frequency of late of political crime,
having the character OF clear disobedience and
resistance to the powers of the Government His
Imperial Majesty recognizes q ring OF secret
criminals, who, under the influence Of social,
revolutionary, and other theories, would de-
stroy the whole constitution Of the state.
These criminals, refusing to recognize the ne
cessity of official order, the rights OF property,
the sacredness Of matrimonial ties, or even
faith in God, do not hesitate to employ any
means, however Infamous, Of carrying out
their plots. They boldly attempt the most
heiLous crimes, they destroy the public peace
and endanger the power of the state-the
sacred duty of which is to defend society and
counteract criminal purposes The constant
repetition OF these unheard-of crimes demands
the immediate institution of such measures as
will infict the most severe punishment For
that reason we order that all above mentioned
criminal cases be tried under the jurisdiction of
the military courts, and punishment to be en-
forced according to the criminal code. We
order all such aforementioned persons
charged with armed resistance to the powers of
Government, or charged with attempting to re-
sist military or police agents during the per-
Torrance of their duty, to be brought under
the power Of the military courts, and sentenced
according to Military Order No. 279, issued
1875. This order appertains to all cases which
are not left TO the ordinary courts.
SECRETS OF THE NIHILIsT ORDER.
The great Russian secret society is
administered under the following rules
Six members can form separate body,
or circle, with full power to act and re-
ceive new members, but only with the
greatest precautions. A candidate for
admission must be recommended as a
trustworthy man, upon whom reliance
can be placed under any circumstances.
After satisfactory investigation, the
circle, in full meeting, votes on the new
member. Two votes against him are
sufficient cause of rejection. One may
be, if the opposing member can support
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