The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-04-19
a Grave Crisis in Russia,


al irresponsible 'madman. 1t is rather
part Of Il long continued and ever
deepening conflict between "Old
Russia" or the government, and "Ncw
Russia or the Nihilists. During the
past year tidings have been constantly
received Of the suppression Of col
lcgcs, the banishment or execution Of
students, who seem to be tho most
ayowed enemies Of dcspotism, and the
assassination by unknown parties Of
policemen and cmissarics Of tho gov
ernmcnt. TO such pass has the
irrcprcssible conflict come, that with
in few weeks Prince Krapotkin,
governor of Kharkoff, has been assas-
sinated, and attempts have been made
on General Won Drcutelin, and upon
the Car himself, while number Of
Nihilists have been executed and over
thousand more have been arrested in
the past fortnight. AS Russia may be
on the verge OF fearful revolution it
is well to review the cause and pro-
greSs of this new movement called
"Nihilism," as explained in the New
York Herald.
The birth of free ideas In Russia
dates from q few years previous to the
accession Of the Emperor Nicholas in
1925, at which time n secret society
was formed called "Dccabristy,"
(Dcccmbcrists) from terrible up
rising in st. Petersburg in TINT
month. Dreadful carnage cnsucd and
the streets ran blood. Thousands of
the rebels were killed or sent to
Siberia, but the work continued. The
object Of this society was to dcthronc
Nicholas and form constitutional
monarchy under his elder brother,
Constantine. A journal was cstab-
lishcd in London called, "Kolokap
(rhe Belly with red rcvolutionist,
Hertzcn, us editor. Ehis paper was
secretly disseminated in Russia and
read by thousands who regarded
Hertzcn rs dcmigod. The highest
circles Of Russian society, even the
private chambers Of officials, were
penetrated by apostles Of the move
memt. Hertzen's writings, which ad-
vocatcd representation Of the people,
the sweeping of tho last vcstigc of the
Royal Family, the titled aristocracy
and the priests, and an equal division
Of all lands, were SO spirited and
fascinating as to create the greatest
.f'trore among certain classes. Despite
the great attendant danger, the
"Young Russia" society was organic
cd to carry out his ideas. Compare
tive freedom of the press existed for
some time; but several journals be-
came SO outspokcn as to call down
royal vengeance on their heads, and
to give their editors fifteen years.
exile in Siberia. Since 1872 there has
been nothing but persecution of the
press. About 1864 the namo Nihilism
was applied to the movement to show
that it's followers believed in nothing
Of the old order Of things.
While many zealots and bigots were
found, none were 80 crazed as the
women, especially the young ones.
They cut OF their long hair, entered
the professions, affected supreme con-
tempt for the|ceremony of marriage,
ridiculed the notions Of their parents
and demanded all the rights that men
enjoy, thus inaugurating a bitter and
unrclenting rebellion IN tho worry homo
circle. The Young men, and especially
the students, followed them, md in
1870 Nihilism began to spread like
wildfirc. Men went secretly through
the provinces, distributing pamphlets
among the peasantry. Young ladies
ofthe highest rank disguised them
selves as servants, and sought mental
employment In order to have an op-
portunity ofpropagating their peculiar
tenets. The Princess Tembovskvio,
among others, was discovered among
peasant washerwomen aiding in their
labors. Nearly all tic school girls
bccame converts; and no persecu-
tions, oven though devised by the
most dcspotic and sanguinary govern-
ment in Christendom, were able to
stcm the rapidly advancing tide of
Nihilism. III.
Tho society is now strong enough
to defy the Czar, and dares to. publish
counter proclamations threatening
death to all government sDics. Yet,
so we'll guarded is its secret ) that tha