Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-08-04
A Russian Nihilist.

Among the Russian Nihilists few are per
haps more widely known than Leo Hart
mann. Who arrived in this country last
Wednesday. He will be remembered As
the leader IN the attempt 10 blow up the
railway tram, in 1879. on which the late
Gar was riding. Since his arrival in this
country he has been interviewed by Tn
tuae reporter, who says he really looks
something ike the typical conspirator or
revolutlonist. He is short 1.-THE man with
d small head and small hands His hair.
which Is Of light color. is cut closely and
stands out in all directions from his head
He wears a full beard " hich is Of the same
tint. His eyes are particularly keen and
bright, and are continually dancing from
one object TO another. Being Of a nervous
temperament he is all the time changing his
position, and when engaged in conversation
he smokes one cigarette after another rap
idly, rolling them with his fingers One
can see BY his dress that an attempt is made
10 appear as little like foreigner as posi-.
bic. Yesterday, when talking TO Tribune
reporter, be wore black alpaca coat, low
cut white wsistcost and mixed gray trow.
sers.
When asked if he was willing 10 disclose
his mission too this country he replied that
he was only too glad to have an opportunity
10 tell the story of the wrongs of the Rus
sian people.
You ask what brings me 20 this country,
Hartmann continued. 1T is the desire to
gain the sympathy Of the American people
for those who are struggling for liberty in
Russia. We wish 10 show that change o
government is necessary. sympathy, onct
aroused, will have an influence upon Tn
conservative element in Russia, as well al
encourage the revolutionary party. Before
| coming here judged from the tone of tn,
| newspapers published in this country tha
| the people were little acquainted with Nj
| hillsm-much less ia feet than in eonserva-
| tive England. II has been said that in
! tended to form Nihilist organization here
| This is utterly false. So is the report tina
| Geneva has been made Nihilist centre il
Europe"
Have YOU any fear Of extraditiOn ?"
Not the least" replied the revolutions,
at all in England while ] was there. 1t va
| only on NV arrival mere thal IL Nds Tdlse'
for the first time. An attempt might b
made to ki1nap me. Who can tell p
Just nat is the Interior object aimed a
by your party p
'''rhe term 'Nihilist' is misleading. A
YOU know it was first used by novelists L
designate certain philosophical idea. Thos
TO whom the term is applied are revolution
lists. What we wish is general Congress
elected by the people to frame Constitu
tion-in a word, . constitutional govern
ment Our party does not gapt even to la
down a programme for the people. W
would oppose nothing that they desired"
ais the movement gaining ground anon
the intelligent classes ?"
Decidedly. The desire for freedom
growing among all classes. The Nihilist
themselves compose the Radical party. II
who believes that they are unprinciplec
blood-thir@;y villains is mistaken. They ar
honorable men without stain. No, yo
cannot understand the natter of ASSESSING
ton in this country. But you did rot roc
out the curse Of slavery in Amerie
without the shedding of blood. Do yo
think that any ruler will give liberty to b
people without struggle on the part Of th
people The Gar is the head of the pre-