The daily gazette., 1881-03-15
3. r. JOHNSON. EDITOR a Proprietor
TUESDAY. MARCH 10, 1851.

THE DEAD CzAR.-Nihilism has
finally succeeded in one of its objects.
Through the death of the Gear terri
Bile blow is given to the religion of the
Empire. The Gar is the head of the
Greek Church, and the assassination of
the Emperor, in that church would be
viewed as the murder of the Pope would
by the Catholic world. The blow is
not aimed so much at the man as what
he represents. Nihilism in this country
would be termed Atheism. NihiFism
denies the existence of God, and aims
at the destruction of the power and in
huence of all religion, and through de-
struction of the faith in a Supreme
Being, the destruction Of the power and
influence Of an oath, as by the effect OF
the oath upon the mind OF the faithful,
is the whole Empire held together.
Ministers of State, and counselors,
armies and navies are all sworn to
obedience, and are thus held to main
tain the great fabric which directs and
governs. 1t is the oath of Office that
holds the most powerful leader Of
armies as it holds his weakest Lieutenant
also TO do the bidding OF the head of the
Government, or in Russia the Gar.
Therefore, the blow given by the fanat
les OF Nih;lisR in Russia on Sunday is
blow at the existence OF Deity, since
the Gar is hell to be the head of all
Goodness in the Greek Church. The
assassination Of the Emperor Alexander
on Sunday will be regretted by a.
Christians, as desperate act of Athe
Ism, lntidelity and wIckedness to erusi
out Godliness and morality. 1t is not
necessary 10 exalt the character Of TIE
dead Car, although his reign has shown
him to be the most liberal of all th,
Russian Emperors of note. All Auto
cratic government is obnoxious to the
American mind but it follows never
theless that despotism regulated by
national law and Christian faith is bet
ter than chaos. Had Alexander been a
worse man than ne was Nihillsm mIpRl
not have made his destruction the ideal
Of wicked triumph and tile greaIest
step toward the success of the mos
aShoEsent of all doctrines.
In referring to the tragedy and the
Sentiment in Europe" the New Yoik
Herald lo-day has an editorial of some
length aud of much force, from which
we make the following extract:
"How far does a sentiment which has
finally destroyed the Emperor of Russia
permeate the Empire Nhilism, as
explained to US b. It's best informed ad
Vocates, reads like the m4d4est form OF
frenzy. In America, where opinion is
free and human nature has an oppof-
tunity OF expressing herself IN grotesque.
ly quaint foIms, We have never had SC
fantastic and mad an eplteme of oplI.
ion as what is known as nhilIsm. The
aim Of the leaders of this party j,
chaos. Itturns everything into anarchy
If the proposal to apply to stabl,
nationalities what we must call tht
Pompeian method-to fl cd everythin.
with ashes and lava aud death-Wefe
carried out and If nlhllsm PREVAILED
throughout Europe we should have
something like what one sees on ascenG.
ing the black ribbed and buraed sides
Vesuvius-above the burning crater and
below the cities of the plains. A systeu
which wars upon society, upon TIE
family ties, upon personal self-respect
upon our reverence tor God, upon mar
riage, even upon life itself, can only b.
viewed with horror, and specially SO II
free country, where liberty depend
so largely upon tolerance and justice
The careful study OF tie character {
the Emperor Alexander would shoi
that much Of his system Of terrorist
and absolute sway, the proclaiming {
martial law, the reduction Of province
into military obedience, the exile {
thousands of the best citizens OF Russi
and Siberia, was inspired by terror {
this new form of political faith whic
avows itself as seeking nothing for a
social institutions but death