The Portland daily press., 1881-03-24
The Nihilists' Creed.
What the Russian Socialists Believe and
Demand.

The Executive Committee of St. Peters
burg" has published in the Narodnaya VIOLA
code of the Nihilists, of which the following is
acopy:
A. We are Socialists and champions of the
people. We hold that Socialism alone can in
sure to humanity the blessings of liberty,
equality and fraternity. We hold that the
will OF the people can alone sanction and
achieve the social reforms we contemplate. No
imposed on the people.
Il. In this paragraph the misery and suffer-
ings of the Russian working class, resulting
from exorbitant taxation and arbitrary adj
ministration, are exposed
@. Il. We hold, therefore, the overthrow of
the present government to be our first and
foremost duty. By this revolution our nation
shall attain-1, the faculty of an independent
development of all its forces according to its
own will and customs; 2, the possibility of a
further growth of the Socialistic institutions,
forming part of our national life such as the
drtct (workmen associations), the obstcihna
Gland commune), etc.
2. We hold that the will of the people may
be clearly expressed in a national assembly,
elected by universal suffrage, which, though
by not any means an ideal form of expression,
is nevertheless the only one possible under the
present circumstances.
8. 1t is, therefore, our intention to take the
state power from the hands of the present gov-
ernment and confer it on a national assembly,
which is to decide as to the future constitution
OF our country.
D.-Therefore we demand
1. A regular representative assembly elect
ed by universal suffrage.
2. A full local self-government of all prov
inces districts and townships.
3. The village commune an independent,
economical and administrative unity.
4. The land to be declared state property.
5. A system of measures aiming at the
transmission of all factories and work shops to
cooperative associations of working men.
6. Full liberty of conscience, of speech, of
the press of associations and meetings.
T.. Universal suffrage, without limitation as
to class or property.
8. Abolition of standing army and insti-
tuition of national militia.
Elm view of the above-stated principles
our action comprehends:
1. Propaganda and agitation Our propa-
ganda proposes to diffuse among all classes of
our people the idea of a democratic political
revolution as the. only means for attaining a
better social condition.
2. Destructive and terroristic action Our
terroristic action consists in the destruction of
the most pernicious agents of the government,
of spies, agents of the third section, etc. The
purpose OF these violent acts is to rob the gov
ernment of the Gar of its prestige in the eyes
of the people, to show the latter the possibility
of struggle with the government, and to TO
ment thus the revolutionary spirit in the ranks
of the people.
8. Organization of secret societies
A. Secret agencies in the ministries, in the
army, in society, and so forth, have been in
stituted in all parts of the empire. New agen-
cies are yet to be opened.
8. Organization and outbreak of the revo-
luton The people being oppressed and the
government yet too strong, the party must take
upon itself the initiative Of the revolutionary
outbreak. When and how can, of course not
be published.