The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-20
THE NIHILIsTS.
A vast Army that is Ready for the Work
or Assassination In Russia.

| The attempt on the life of the Gar Monday,
| ia ken i'm connection with the recent assassin
alton of Prince Krapotkine and the attempt
cd killing of General Won Drentelin, attracts
renewed attention to the secret order when
now keeps the people OF Russia In state ot
| terrorism. The order-commonty called Nj
| hilists from its programme, which expresses
| faith IN nothing, and aims at the utter over
| throw Of the existing order of things, with
out specifying any new regime to take It's
pace-is administered under the following
| regulations:
| Six members can form q separate body, or
circle, with full power to act and receive new
| members, but only with the greatest precau-
! tions A candidate for admission must be re-
commended as a trustworthy man. upon whom
| reliance can be placed under any cireuul-
stances. After satisfactory investigation the
circle, In full meeting votes on the new mem
| Der Two votes against him are sufficient
cause of rejection One may be, II the oppos-
| ing member can support his opposition by
| undoubted evidence of disqualification A
newly chosen member is invited to meeting
OF the circle, where he must take the follow
ing solemn obligation or oath.
Il, A. b., do solemnly before the altar OF
my mother country. promise and swear that
/ will never disclose, under penalty of death,
any OF the secrets of the Russian National
Secret Society beforea any agent OF the tyran-
meal Russian government, having the Gar
at its head, or any one whom do not aetu-
ally know to be q member of this society
that will sacrifice my life and all that is sa-
cred to me In the struggle against the blood
thirsty tyrants and oppressors OF the Russian
people; that | will obey and execute every
unanimous decision Of the circle without hesi-
tation, being ready to sacrifice my life, and
regardless OF any personal danger may en-
counter In SO doing. | know that | must be
ready to fight In the name OF the liberty OF
Of the Russian people when the moment of
rising shall arrive and the grand sign be
given calling all to arms. | do soleinnly
swear that / will resist, In case OF an attempt
to arrest me or any other member OF the So
cety by the government agents. with what,
ever weapon Is at my disposal at the moment
without fear or regard for personal conse
qtIences; that will not recommend any new
member without the knowledge that he is a
true friend Of Il co pressed Russian people:
that from the moment become member Of
the Secret National Russian Society, | re-
gard myself as sworn enemy Of the Rus
sian deSpOtiCal government, and begin to act
against 1t by every means can command"
When circle reaches the number of sixty,
it Is subdivided into circles of six EACH SO
thet If discovered by the police only six per-
SONS will suffer arrest Into these circles.
which meets ostensibly only for social ptlr-
poses gathering about the Samai war; as In
the enjoyment of friendly hospitality. it is
sought to draw In members from every class
of society-military officers of every rank.
common soldiers, the middle classes and peas
antry. Very few priests find favor enough to
be admitted. The system Is slmiler to that
which existed among the Italians before they
gained their freedom. 1t is the passion of
the day, and the dreaded mystery which en-
velepes the order adds To the fascination
Every member, according to his means,
makes weekly or monthly payments to the
treasurer. Money is. used for the purchase of
arms and the propagation OF free ideas
among the peasantry- each circle sending an
armed agent on this erTand. Many women
belong to these circles. La every town and
large village OF Russia there are 50 many
circles that, had the Government o true con-
ception of the extent of their number, 1t
would be even more seriously alarmed than
it is.
THEIR ALLIES
Besides this there are 100000 OF the co.
called old faith men (Starovier.) They are
divided into various sects among whom exist
most dangerous elements They employ
agents who 20 from village to village spread
ing their faith and declaring that the Gar
and his family are agents OF the devil. They
endure every form of persecution. and in the
event Of q general uprising OF the people
could be counted on rs fiji friends Of the
Nihilsts. They ere scattered from AstraA
chan to th5 White Sea. but are more numerous
able to read and write and are liberal in their
ants. There are mutitudes of Poles among
these circles waiting for the promised upris-
ing to recognize their opportunity for free
dom. No oppression, no knouts, no chains in
Siberia can stay the progress Of events which
hastens the fierce death struggle which will
be made for freedom OF press and opinion In
RUSSIA