Daily Republican., 1881-08-02
A 1ALK WITH LEO HARTMANN,
His Plans for Work i'm America
Description OF ftheNihilist-W work
Here. to Help the Cause In Rus


y Here. to Help tho Cause In Rus.
s1a.
, Leo Hartmann, the Nihiiist who ar.
d rivedsin New York Wednesday last
reall looks something like the typical
conSpirator or revolutiOnist. He is
q Il short 1.-the man with a small head
n !, and small nands. His hair, which is
!. of light color, is cut closely and stands
4 out in all directions from his head. He
!. wears n full beard, which is of the same
, tint. His eyes are particularly keen
and bright and are continually dancing
n from one object to another. Being of a
/. nervous temperament he is all the time
a changing his position, and when cnga-
: ged in conversation he smokes one
i cigarette after another rapidly, rolling
r them with his fingers. One can see by
=, his dress that an attempt is made to an
: pear as little like a foreigner as posi-
. bio. On Sunday, when talking to a
{ Tribune reporter, he wore black al
paca coat, a low cut white waistcoat
: and mixed gray trowsers.
When asked if he was willing to dis
close his mission to this country he re-
piled 'lat he was only too glad to have
an opportunity of telling the story of
the wrongs of the Russian people,
"iou ask what brings me to this
country Hartmann continued. "It is
the desire to gain the sympathy of the
American people, for those who are
struggling for libert! in Russia. We
wish to show that change of govern
meht Is necessary. Sympathy, once
aroused, will have an influence upon the
conservative element in Russia, as we'll
rs encourage the revolutionary party
Before coming here Judged from the
tone of the newspapers published in this
country that the people were little ac
quaintcd with Nihilism-lnnch less in
fact than in conservative England. 1t
has been said that | intended to form "A
NihiliSt organization here. This is ut
tarly false. SO is the report that Gen
eva has been made a Nihiist centre in
Europe"
"ilave you any fear of extradition?"
| mot the least replied the rrvolu-
zionist, laughing. 'rhe question was not
raised at all in England while | was
there. 1t was only on my arrival here
that 1t was raised for the first time. An
attempt might be made to kiduap me-
| Who can tcil?"
| "JuSt what is the uterior obj 'ct aim.
ed at by .our party"
The term 'Nihilist' is misleading. |
Asyou know it was first used by nov
! elists TO designate u certain philosophi-
cal idea. those to whom tho term il
applied are revulutonists. What we
wish il Il general Congress elected by
he people to frame u constitution-in
word, u constitutional government.
Our party does nut want even to lay
down a programme for the people. W"
would oppose nothing that they desired.
"is the movement gaining ground
among the intelligent classes?''
"Decidedly. The d, Sire for freedom
IS growing among all Classes The
Nihll SITS themselves compose She raIi-
ca! rarty Hewho believes hat they
are unprincipled, bIood-thirsty villains
Is nli:t"k n. They are honorable men
without sta.h. No, you cannot un.
d"rst;ind the matter of assassination in
this country. But you cid not root
out the curse of slavery in America
and without the shedding of blood.
40 you think that any ruler will give
liberty to his people without struggle
on the part of the people? Tie Gar is
the head OF the present form of govern
nent, and as long as there is no chang.
the people VIII suffer oppression. I'll
becomcs necessary, therefore, to strik,
at the head"
When hartmann was questioned con.
cernlnS the present Gar and the pollcy
!" De pursued toward hin by the revo-
iutlohiSts, ne seemed to feel that he
was on delicate ground. Speaking
about the po'icy OF the present Gar he
said:
''lle has adopted such a policy that
it would be difficult for a cnanre TO
take place-in fact, l do Lot think it
possible. But it is highly probable I
that after his death All agitation might
result i'll political liberty. You a
ask if the people will wait patiently v
lihtll The Car dies natural death! If a
mere Is no change of policy the Czar I
VIII dle; ana II mis- successor pursues a
similar policy he will be killed; and SO e
On. There were eight attempts upon /
he life Of the last Gar. But if all l
,ouLtries would show IN active interest {
al the subject of reform in Russia the II
'e,rorists would no longer pursue 81
ms policy. ltwould not be necessary. ii
II we depended solely upon terrorism 2
.or bringing about Il revolution | would e
have some doubts of success Bat W
Ihe misery OF the people is increasing I'll
Jay by day, ~ d the spirit of revolt is III
ncrcasi g with the weight of their bur. al
lens. IA change is not brought about p
vast ter ltories in the country will be- al
come dePopulated, the percentage of IN
ieaths being greatly in excess of that
ii births. There is not .nly political
oppression but social oppression. Tie
'easanti are not able to pay their taxes =,
WIN The whole of their Incomes, to say /,
:othing Oh supporting their families. tn
mere u Il great difference between the Il,
oc'h' problem iii Russia and those that
ave arisen IN other countries. In II.
slsSla There is no middle class, and ~,
ohselucntly the oppression of the Gov IN
rnnlcnt falls directly upon the work hi
ng classes. 1t is a struggle between ~
hem AMI the Government, yol see. -,
therefore,, TO gain liberty you must ~ "a
ractically annihilat, the Government. II II
Are means still used to make the h.,
eople ripe for revolt ." W W
1--WE are endeavOring all the time to w
iucate them by means of pamphlets. :,
'eatises and other documents. The ~, ~
arty that has this work in hand is ", '"
iuch greater than the extremists or j.,
'rroriSis. 1t is my purpose to publish
ron in his country secret Government
ocuments showing the difference be-
veen the laws of Russia and the ac-
lal administration of them. Her. is pl
a example: Certain laws were made 70
public schools, but the Min Gu
ters of Public Instruction sent out Sc. c
'et circulars that directly prevented lat
'e laws from being lrried ont " La
In conclusion Hartmann said that he 81,
isned everybody to understand tnat un
: dill not intend to organize any So is
alistic or Nihilistic party in this lie
unirY. All he desired L. acco1nnlish VIII