The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-06-28
Ne strength Of ths Nihilists.

1 have received a letter from St. Petersburg,
dated q few days ago, to which the attempt on
the Cars life imparts considerable interest. /
cannot vouch for the entire accuracy of the OPT
Mons il contains, but the writer has both good
opportunity and q good faculty Of observation,
and, &C any rate, it embOdies one phase OF the inn
preston created in Russia by recent outrages.
The heads Of the secret police are, 1t is said,
about 10 resign, having discovered three-fOurths
Ofthe5- men are In league with the Nihilists. You
have already learnt, doubtless, that lady belong
ing 20 thesmost confidential court circles had been
arrested On her estate and that she fred a revOl-
ycr on hcr captOrs and ayOwed herself n friend of
the sect. The head OF the Odessa police will IN
dcrtakc the direction Of the secret police, but this
will change nothing. Notwithstanding all this.
the strength OF the Nibilists must nOt-b e cxag-
serated. They are not really. numerous, but
they are very active, procure recruits, OF whom
they make fanatics, spread terror y their auda-
city, and are assisted, 1t not by the completely, at
least by the apathy of tue middle classes. In this,
indeed. lies their chief strength. While they are
aiming at the sa-called regeneration of the Empire
by the most abOminable means, the middle clas-
ses, the savants, fUctioIories, merchants and many
Ulcers are as heart profoundly hostile to the au-
t1cratic system. All these people are liberal,
wish for 4 more or less comprehensive Constitu-
zion. and claim at least for the nation the right
and means Of control. This section of the pOpu-
lation which, especially in the towns, is the most
numerous. influential, and enlightened, feel Z
kind Of humiliation at seeing countries like Mon
tcnegrO and Bulgaria with Legislatures and Con-
situations Of some kind, while Russia, the great
nation, is the only European State without them.
Hence n latent irritation which induces perfect
uncOncern for the Nihilist enterprises. In three
cases out Of four they do nothing when a dis
graceful outrage is committed, and if reprOached
with their apathy they reply, 81 itdoes not con-
Germ u, The Emperor will not lean upon the
nation. and the enemies Of society profit by our
indifference TO caTry.on war Of DETERMINATION
against every obstacle to their schemes" Mean
while the Court clique, who put their hands IN
the EmperOr's cash-bOx, that Is to so IN the peo-
pies treasury those who live or Ie imperial
grandeur, who are above laws, j dispose oil
Russia as they choose, urge the FL sror to make
! no concession, alleging that sovei ms, by giving
4 to LIBERALISM and the inevitable excuses in
trains have everywhere paved the way for the
Hall or the ruin Of their dynasty and their coun-
try. The Emperor listens to them rather than
hegc- Vainly has it been sought to distract ouI
attention by wars and diplomatic skirmishesi
rs long rs Or dignity is not considered, as long
az we are strangers to the management of our
own Affairs and driven like a flock Of sheep, the
evil will increasetIl one day, rather than 90 on
thus, instead OF remaining apathetic, We, too,
shall take part in the coG1ict, and it will not be
on the side OF autocratic power that we shat
muster. Be assured, however, that whenever
the Emperor gives US O mere semblance Of liberty
the weakness Of Nihilism viii be seen, and it IL
I now only a small fraction o. the nation. The
Emperor :an do what he will. With a stroke oil
the pen he can give US the dignity to which We
aspire, and reduce the sect to nothugness, but
there is no sign Of his doing so.-Paris DIspatoi
10 he London Times.