The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-31
Hartmann the NihtItst.
He COMES TO AMERICA 10 ENLIST SYMPATHY
IL HIS CAUSE.

He COMES TO AMERICA 10 ENLIST SYMPATHY
IL HIS CAUSE.
Leo Hartmann. the Russian Nihilist. who
planned and carried out the scheme TO blow
up a train Of cars on which the late EN-
perOr Alexander III. was supposed 10 be
taking passage, lcft New York yesterday
for Connecticut TO meet q friend. His ar
rival in that city was personally known to
but a few people. According TO the sketch
of Har,mann'> life, as given hy Mr. She.
witch, staff editor OF the Nelc YOrker YOLts
Zeitanq, his family, although OF German
origin. has for several generations lived in
Russia, and has become completely Rus
sianlZed. iartmann's father was landed
proprietor IN ArchanghllSk. and gave his
son a careful education. He studied first
at the gymnasium at bis native place, and
af'erWard at The universities OF hharkOy
aud OF Ode.ss Eleven years ago, when
Hartmann was nineteen years old, be was
given a situation n The bank at Archang-
hilsk, and while working there be came
across a translation Of L1sallc's works.
FROM the perusal Of these writings he first
imbbed revolutionary ideas, and soon after
Joined the Nihili>ts. lie left his situation
and travelled to the south Of Russia, where
he made Il living by teaching and writing.
Al the same time he was a very active agent
Of the revolutionary party. and did his ut
most TO instl into the minds OF the peas
ants and Of other Russian subjects a desire
10 force a change 10 The system Of the Gov
eminent. He soon was acknowledged as
a leader OF the more radical revOlutiOniSls,
and was selected as delegate to the Rev.
olutionary Congress that met on the banks
OF the VOlgl in 1878. Here a split took
plsce in tie party, one bali holding for
revolution by quiet, peaceful propaganda,
and the other advising the adoption OF viO-
lent measures. Hartmann clune TO the lat
ter faction Of the party, which were thence
forth known as the TerrOriSts, and he be-
came one Of their very active agents. Last
April he received a letter OF recommends
ton from the Executive Committee OF the
Russian Socialist and Revolutionary Com
mittec TO Karl Marx, in which the commit
tee stated that the intelligent and progress
i've classes in Russia were always ready TO
resDond to the progress OF ideas in Europe.
The Nimlisls express a desire to OBJ
tain the sympathy Of the people OF the free
nations. and for this purpose the Executive
Committee sent Hartmann 10 England and
America to acquaint the peODle in those
countries with social life IN Russia. The
Executive Committee also gave Hartmann
an appeal to the American people in which,
after stating that it Is difficult 10 give them
an idea Of the true condition OF Russia with
its unlimited monarchy and its hieh-handed
absOlutiSm, the committee 20 on to mar
rate the numerous faults Of the Russian
Government and the disadvantages and
hardships to which all classes OF people are
subjected. Hartmann claims that the old con-
serVaiive feeling is disappearing among the
farming population Of Russia. The younger
generation does not, as a rule, regard the
Gar with the same reyerential awe that
their fathers and fOrcfqtbeTs did. The men
who said, car Y BOgh' (he Car and
God), giving the CIR the precedence, are
growing old and passing away.
The Socialists of New York intend soon
10 hold several public meetings. at which
Hartmann is expected 10 "eXplain to the
American people the wrongs OF the Russian
people aud the justice OF the revolutionary
cause"