The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-08-27

OF all the secret associations ev banded
against tyranny. that of the Nihilists is the most
formidable. daring and widely spread. At the
present moment it is not only the terror of Rus
sia but a source of no small discomfort to one or
two other European Governments that still
smack strongly of despotism. In relation 10
the iron rule of the Muscovite, the
Snout and Siberia are beginning to recoil
against the House of Romanoff With terrible
effect. Already one crowned head has fallen
Victim to the Nemises of Nihilism, while that of
Alexander III. is simply kept on his shoulders
through system of vigilance and espionage.
which has turued all the officials of the Nation,
who not themselves false to the Throne into
detectives, body guards and spies. That there is
something frightfully wrong and oppressive in a
system of government that has to resort to such
means of support is obvious at a glance, and it is
equally plain that no law, human or divine,
counsels obedience to rulers who persistently
irample upon the rights of the masses, and by
their tyrannous utterances and conduct shut out
from them all hope of peaceful redress.
There Is no moe noted name among the Rus
sian Nihilists than that of Leo Hartmann, whose
portrait we herewith present to our readers, and
who has been justly termed the terror Of the
patriot who is now the in full flush of manhood,
has been hitherto one of extraordinary vicissitud
and danger dashed with romance so dramatic
and startling a. to create suspicion OF fxagger-
alton. During his visit to this country few days
since, he was most outspoken regarding the
aims and prospects OF Ninilism as well LAS as his
his statements are to be relied upon, he has
shown cOuclusively that no more barbarous
Government has ever existed than that of Russia,
nor one so thoroughly stepped in cruelty and
blood. As one evidence OF this. and in re.ation
| to Poland, he says that the late Car Alexander
hard labor military roads or fortresses; 80 600
to the north deserts; 400 to the army for life
go to Prison, where t0ey died; l420 to be shot or
hanged; $500 to expulsion from their country,
without the right of ever returning; and drove
| H. 600 all over Russia and Siberia forcing them
| from their homes and families. In addition he
Poles killed In the revolution of iS6l-6S, he him
self having melted the outbreak to give him
an opportunity of crushing his victims more
Prior to his arrival In this country, Hartmann
| alleges that he had been tracked by Russian
Tese 6e pnde
guise OF friendship and sympathy with the Nihi.
lists. to betray him into some position which
thosa among whom he was sojOurning on one ac
sS'Vf 70 the ss sea shore, eA with u the % intennoI
Russian vessel snai ready
| to sail close by. On another, they attempted Il
get forged Russian notes into his possession SO a
to SO place him that were it not for his ad oitness
the charge of an attempt at robbery might have
been preferred again him with some show o
justice. But on every occasion his GOODNESS anC
clear-slghted ess frustrated them. and brougn
nlm out triumphant. Some of his escapes wer
all but miraculous. While engaged with other
i in running dynamite miae at a certain point
under line of railway over which the Car wa
to pass, the roofing of earth fell in. so that
large hole presented itself quite close the track
ann In full view OF number of neighborln
habitations. 1t was raining heavily at the time
| when preceiving the imminent danger in which b.
and his fellow conspirators were pla ed he hastil
Mt n N
house clcse by. and gaining the highway stoOt
convenient to the opening. warning vehicles AM
foot passengers to turn aside as the earth at tha
particular spot had given away before the rain
No one suspecling the true state OF the case. tn
who happened to be passing at the period an,
who subsequently noted the filling up of tn
breach with the utmost complacency.
A price has been set on the head of Hartmann
, have been made to CAPTURE him. For so far, how
. ever he has, through his extraordinary b0ldnes
and dexterity, evaded them al. He had at on
time been imprisoned in Russia for distributin
Nihilistic documents, but managed TO escap
from his jailers. During his s0journ on the Con
. | strained TO observe the utmost caution and pre-
serve the strictest lncognit0. lest some of th
: crowned heads should hand him over to Russia. O
the Rles; of s or gsnnsd the
he attempts to justify as political necessity bu
ference In opinion. No secret organization hal
In our judgment, q right TO determine what sha
be the political necessity that may properl
3 can pronounce in this relation, and not fe
, handsful of conspiratos. just though their caus
may be, scattered here an6 there throughout tn
world or the land of their birth, True. Hartman
ayers that the Russian nobility and people a