The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-03-25
THE LATE RUSSIAN ElI-
PEROR.
Causes which led 10 IIIs Assas-
sinatiOn-Vhat a Rus
sian Editor Says.

New York Times: Over 1900 Social
lists assembled last evening in the Ger
mania Assembly Rooms to listen to q
spccch on the recent assassination OF
Of the Russian Emperor, aud the causes
which let t. il, by T.. :. Sheyitch, "a
Russian editor in ilis city. On being
/ Introduced be said be had come to de
/ liver u funeral Grafton, but would pre-
face it with TOlhe startling good news.
lie had received letters from Russia in
forming him HAT Nicholas ChcrEeshcw-
ski, the great Russian Liberal, whom
the world had supposed dead, WAS still
alive, although far away In The east Of
Siberia. This news WIS received with
cheers that lasted fully two minutps.
| When silence was restored the speaker
said the wOuld-bc haugman Of Chcrnc-
! sheWski was dead, aud expressed the
hope that that illustriOus patriot would
get do great service 10 his country. The
speaker, in alluding to previous Rus
sian EmperUrs who had been murdered,
and especially TO the murder of Paul,
said: ''lfan Emperor murders his faith
cr that he may reign, why should not
q nation Kill an Emperor that the peo-
pie should reign Z" Mr.. Sheyilch re-
ferrel 10 the reforms of Alexander IL.
and said lc himself had taken part in
those reforms, and knew what they
amounted to. As to the emancipation
Of the scrfs, he would sla.e that after
the Crimean war Russia was Frustrated.
villages were devastated, the treasury
was empty, the brave soldiers were
half dead owing TO the thieyishncSs and
cruelty Of the commanders: even the
press braycd the Government, aud there
MAS Il general movement Of discomfort
among all classes which threatened an
explosion at amy moment. The adv!s-
crs OF the Gar found it necessary TO
open a satety-yalvc to give vent to the
popular Indignation, and as the move
mcnt in favor Liberalism was already
making progress among the upper
classes, the Government decided that
the only means of preventing Il revolt |
ton was by manumitliug the scrfs,
that they thus might win over the
working classes. This act improved
The state Of the large landowners, but
the condition Of the seris became worse
than before.
The speaker once witnessed a tax
collection In Il village in Southeastern
Russia. Twenty COssaCkS rode into the
village, and the Police officers called
out the peasants and commanded them
to pay the taxes. The poor men had
already been deprived of all their sub
stance, and because they could not ere
ate money each man was stripped, laid
down, and whipped. As to the pres
condition Of the Russian peasantry
ana city people, the speaker read sta
from Russian newspapers which
had passed through the CensOr's hands,
showing the poverty which existed
among the people. 1t was said that
Alexander gave freedom to the press.
The freedom amounted to this: 4 pub
was allowed to print his newspa-
per or pamphlet, but before publishing
it it had to pass through the Cens0r's
hands. lit was Il daily paper the
publisher was kept waiting for six
hours, and il a weekly. then three days.
And if the Censor was not perfectly
satisfied with the paper it was sup
pressed, and the publisher had to bear
the loss. All these alleged reforms
were mere humbugS. The Russian law
that whoever shows any oppOsi-
ion to the administrative, executive,
and Iaw-giying power Of the land shall
death,
in 1870, said the speaker, the Nihilist
movement began in earnest. Arrests
and dOmicillary visits were made daily.
And these arrests and visits were made,
lot because those people were known
o be revolutionary. but because they
lad read extracts from the works Of
jhermcshewski, LasaIle, and Others.
Many women joined the movement, and
heir herOism and self denial We're sub
line. One young girl was torn out Of
)ed by soldiers who then proceeded to
the room, while making the
most obscene remarks. Not finding
lnything, they dragged the girl down
and just as she was, in undress.
pushed her into a wagon, and took her
o the Police station. Such Outrages
we're repeated over and over again.
What do Americans say about such a
government? What opinion would
hey express about Muraviefl, who in !
.SG3 wadGd in the blood OF his victims,
insulting females, ard driving thOus- {
lnds Of men andS women TO Siberia.
such were the brilliant acts of AleXan- :
reign. Some people said that
Alexander was not responsible for .
hcse outrHgCs because they were COM {
nittcd by his servants. But Alexander {
nm absolute monarch, and when ,
.sked to let the people share in the Gov ,
.rnment he positively refused to cede
me i0ta Of the powers that he claimed
o hold by the grace of God. And there
orc the fearful responsibility must {
est upOn him,