, 1880-09-08

g eemed TO MIN TO De out SinOKe--hlH
6. life, Russian life. everything human,
:. especially everything Russian" The
peace and silence which have followed ia
the wake of series of savage crimes ; The
shifting Of the wind to an opposite quarter.
the return of affairs to their old beds.
seem to confirm these reflections. To all
appearance Nihilism has for a time at least
vanished like a cloud that has delivered
itself OF the lightning and the floods with
which it was charged. Count Melikoa has
tanned some of the couspirators, add they
do his bidding and go on missions abroad
with that perfect docility which only
broken-down enthusiasts can exhibit.
If we'll considered, the transformation
which is observable is not so surprising.
Nihilism aud Socialism are but natural
phases of the social development of the
countries in which they have appeared.
The peasants son comes straight from his
village beyond the VoIga to the Universe
ty at Moscow; he is taken &C once from
the simplicity, rudeness, and superstitions
Of his home and plunged into a sea of
novel speculation. Buckles works. Buch
ner's :. Kraft und Stoff." the writing of
Carl Vogt, the works OF German Socialists
and of the boldest and most militant ad-
vocates of MateTialism get into his hands,
and he has not the requisite knowledge
to test or qualify what he reads. A aim
ple-mioded enthusiastic girl. who had i'm
bibed nothing but her mothers simple
faith, is taught to peruse pamphlets tull
Of a questionable physiology AID OF vague
defamation about women's rights. She
loses her head, falls under the inAu-
ence of some one as excited and as iQno-
rant as herself, and as IA matter OF course,
talks and does extravagant things. 1t 80
happens that in Germany, and in Russia
especially, many young people who have
been bred to all intentS and purposes
among the surviving Influences of the
sixteenth century are plugged ut once.
and without any preparation, among the
most searching Influences OF the nineteenth
The meeting OF the hostile elements, like
fre and water, produces IN virtue OF no
obscure or occult law, that Steam or
smoke of which Tourguenelf speaks-that
out0urst of crude IDEAS OF reform, those
svarms of raw aud extravagant projects
which shock good SENSE, and which only
escape being ridiculous because they ars
sometimes criminal. How could we ex.
meet that there would be smooth water At
the confluence OF all these dltfereDtstreams9
But the calm which has comet may
not be per:naneut--ls equally natural.
Fits of hysteria do not last lorg the
victims of it are quickly exhausted
and sink into repose. No one can for
months aud months keep up an unlntermit-
tent strain of excitement. The wearied
nerves demand rest, and a relapse must
ensue. The very men who have conspir-
ed to kill Emperors, and who perhaps. think
notmuch sacred, except their duty TO dos,
cannot unintermittingly entertain murder
Gus designs every month in the year. Con-
spring is harder work than it looks no
than can always live in the atmosphere OF
are fifth act of a tragedy; Intervals OF repose
me necessary, at all events for all but o
few enthusiasts, The excitement which
was the lure to the foolish and tho weak
wears off and the really rr%solute. indefati-
gable spirlts find in time thas the passing
circumstances which were their strength
have gone, that common sense and, it they
will, common stupidity have resumed
their sway. and that the multitude can
no longer be reused to feelings OF fury OF
hate against their rulers.