The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-05-01
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The NIHILISTS.
THE VAST ARMY THAT is READY
For the Work OF Assassination In Russia The
I'Old Faith Men" ALLIES Of tho Nlhillsts.

Won Drentelin, attracts renewed atten-
ton to the secret order which now keeps
the people of Russia in state Of terror
ism. The order-commonly called Nj
hilists, from it's program, which express
es faith in nothing, and aims at the ut
ter overthrow of the existing order of
things, without specifying any new reg
ime to take it's place-is administered
under the following regulations
Six members can form separate body
or circle, with full power to act and re-
ceive new members, but only with the
greatest precaution. A candidate must
be recommended as a trustworthy man,
upon whom reliance can be placed under
circumstances. After satisfactory inves-
tlgation, 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 his opposition by undoubted ev-
idenCe of disqualification. A newly
chosen member is invited 10 meeting
of the circle, where he must take the
following obligation or oath:
81, 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,""
before any agent Of the tyrannical Rus
sian Government, having the Gar at its
head, or any one whom do not actually
know to be a member of this society;
that l will sacrifice my life and all that
is sacred 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 hesitation, being
ready to sacrifice my life, and regardless
of any personal danger that | may en-
counter in 80 doing. know that must
be ready to fight in the name of the
liberty of the Russian people when the
moment of rising shall arrive, and the
grand Sign be given calling all to arms,
do solemnly swear that l will resist, in
case of an attempt to arrest me or any
other member of the society, by the
Government agents, with whatever
weapon is at my disposal at the time,
without fear or regard for personal con-
sequences; that l will not recommend
any new member without the knowledge
that he is true friend of the oppressed
Russian people: that from the moment |
become a member of the "Secret Rus.
sian National Society,"" regard myself a
sworn enemy of the Russian despotical
Government, and begin to act against it
by every means can command"
When circle reaches the number of
sixty, it is subdivided into ten circles of
six each, 30 that if discovered by the po-
lice, only six persons will suffer arrest.
Into these circles, which meet ostensi-
bly, for social purposes only, gathering
about the Somai war as in the enjoyment
of friendly hospitality, it is sought to
draw in members from every class of So
Ciety military officers of every rank,
common soldiers, the middle classes and
peasantry. Very few priests find favor
enough to be admitted The system is
similar to that which existed among the
Italians before they gained their free.
dom. 1t is the passion of the day, and
the dreadful mystery which envelopes
the order, adds to the fascination. EV-
cry 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 err
rand. Many women belong to these cir
cles. In every town and large village of
Russia there are so many circles that,
had the Government a true conception
of the extent of their number, it would
be even more seriously alarmed than it
now is.
Besides this there are IA, 100000 of the
so.called old faith men (Starovier). They
are divided into various sects, among
whom exist most dangerous elements.
They employ agents who go from village
to village spreading their faith, and de-
Claring that the Gar and his family are
agents Of the devil. They endure every
form of persecution, and in the event of
general uprising of the people, could
be counted on as firm friends of the Nj
hilists. They are scattered from Astra-
chan to the White Sea, but are more nu
merous about the Volga river. The
Starovier are all able to read and write,
and are liberal in their ideas, having
much sympathy with peasants, There
are multitudes of Poles among these cir
cles waiting for the promised uprising,
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.
The recent assassination of Prince
Krapotkine, Governor of Kharkoff, by
the Nihilsts, is too we'll remembered to
require extended notice. Prince Krap.
otkine attended "the ball of the daugh-
ters of the nobility" at Kharskoff He
was returning from the ball at about II
O'Clock, and had just reached the Gov
ernment House in his carriage, when, in
rounding a street corner, Ee was shot
with a revolver by some person, who,
apparently, had stepped up on the step
Of the carriage in order to take deliber.
ate aim. The Prince died from the
wound in few hours. The notable fea-
ture about the murder was the proclama-
ton posted throughout the town a few
days after. 1t was as if the Socialist club
revolutionary had disposed Of one of its
deadliest foes-one Of the most inhu,
man jsiers of their condemned and i'm.
prisoned brethren. On the 4th of Feb.
K,anntIsHA -
Kharkof, was killed with dagger. This
execution was carried out by Russian
socialist revolutionary order, which ia
responsible for the executions in 1878
As on the last occasion, the oYganiza.
ton begs to lay before the public, frank.
ly and sincerely, the causes that have
compelled it to have further recourse tc
the revolver. Krapotkine had commit
ted the following crimes:
Al tho and of Loot xaor ba eonofioY,