Daily globe., 1879-06-07
NIHILIsM IN RUSSIA.

NIHILISM IN RUSSIA.
The Belief that There Is Such Thing as
Nihtlisn, II, R,sssia. Wholly Unfounded-
SO Says Mr. StoM0lston.
New York Special to Chicago Tribune.
The Hon. Edwin. w. Stoughton, minister
to Russia, arrived in this city on the same
steamer which brought the Duke of Argyle.
He is to stay herea few days and then go to
Washington. A reporter of the Tribune
was favored with deeply interesting state
ment of the condition of Russia at this
time with special regard to the nihilistic
troubles. Mr.. Stoughton said that not only
were the reports of these troubles grossly ex-
aggerated, but that nearly every material
statemant made about them was false. Cor
respondents whose letters were dated from
Russia related stories and spread reports
which he, in some cases, knew were false,
and in others had reliable information to
that effect.
When he left St. Petersburg the city was
as tranquil as New York, and not then diff
ferent from what it usually was. It was
great error to suppose that nihilists were
numerous, or had extensive organization. 1t
was not true that the Russian people were
deeply infected with nihilism; that whole
troops of students has been, arrested by the
police and sent off to Siberia, or tortured in
dungeons; that whole regiments of the army,
with the officers, were tainted; or that any
women of responsibility had been found
among the nihilists. Mr.. Stoughtoa declar-
ed that statements made to this effect were
entirely false. A few miscreants, he said,
had banded together for plunder. and
murder. They had no other programme,
but they were only few as compared with
the body of the people. What they wanted
he had never been able to find out, though
he had taken particular pains to inquire.
There was vague talk about demand
ing reform, but when one tried to discover
what is the reform demanded he was unable
so to do. It seemed that they had no other
object than universal destruction; no other
method than the use of the knife. The
great body of the Russian people, as he had
taken pains to inform himself, were en-
tirely contented with their government, sat
isfei aud loyal, devotedly attached to the
emperor. Mr.. Stoughton did not believe
the recent attempt on the emperor's life
was part of an organized plan of the nihil-
lists. "You saw" he added, 'twhat the en-
porer did after the attempt upon him. He
drove unattended in an open carriage to
church. He drives about all the time unat-
tended, not even footman with him. Do
you think he could do this with safety if
these nihilists had any organization? Mr..
Stoughton added that the emperor was a
man who deserved this affection, for he
was one of the kindest, most unas-
suming and lovable men in the world. The
family life of the imperial household was a
model of domestic happiness. So far from
the emperor wishing to repress any move
ments for progress in the government, his
feelings were all the other way. sis it pos
sible people can believe this noble-hearted
man born tyrant. when. at the risk of his
throne, he, from the deepest religious con-
victions of its rightfulness, emancipated
$4,000, 900 of serfs, without shedding drop
of blood? Furthermore, know the emperor
the government of Russia) is desirous of
governing through representative institu-
tlons. This change must of necessity be
made slowly, but it will be done. A
limited form of representation and suf-
frage will be adopted as soon as
it can be with safety Mr..
Stoughton pointed out that by the treaty of
San Stefano, which the emperor had made
with Turkey, the Bulgarians were to have a
broad system of suffrage, approaching uni
versal suffrage, and suggested it would cer-
tainly be extraordinary for an emperor who
opposed such system for his own people to
set up an example for them in country
right on his own border. As regarded the
severe police measures now being taken
against the nihilists, he said the government
is engaged in an attempt to discover these
conspirators, and the respectable, decent
people of the whole country were heartily
with him in the effort. But the ac-
counts of this were exaggerated ab-
surdly, and sometimes ludicrously. AS to
porters being placed at the doors of all
houses in the city as detectives, he said in
st. Petersburg the houses, being built in
fats, had porters to each, as in Paris, who
had general charge. Gen. Gourkho ordered
the pprters to report to him each day who
passed in and out. The order was general,
but it was laughable to suppose respectable
people felt themselves concerned by it. He
believed the nihilism in Russia was not a
native production nothing suggesting some
coming upheaval of society nothing the
body of the people could have sympathy
with. It was q foreign importation, and fol
one socialist in Russia there were ten in
| Germany.
Official Publication of Resolution and Or.
of the City of st. Paul. juno 3, 1879.
By Aid. Allen
Resolved That the Board of Public Works
cause the following sidewalks to bo built on
south size of Third street in front Of