New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-14
COMMENTS IN THIS CITY.

| GRIEF OF THE PASTOR OF TIE RUSSIAN GREEK
| CHAPEI-THE CoNsUI-GENERAL CALLED TO
wAsHINGTON-A TALK WITH 4 NIHlTIsr
| The Rev. Nicholas Bjcrrng. pastor of the Russian
Greek church in Second ave-, seen last evening
| at his house by TRIBUNE reporter. lilo had re-
ccived an official telegram from the Russian Minis
ter at Washington. Mr.. Bartolomai. announcing the
| Cars DEATH and he III very agtatcd frame o.
mind.
~ can scarcely realize this horrible event." he
| said POLITICALLY things seemed 10 have improved 80
mucb of late in Russia that it is really bombShcll
IN more than one respect. According To letters which
! | have received from frjcI Is in st. Petersburg
within the last few weeks the people of RuSsia, III
view OF the EnperoTs numerous reforms. HAD begun
| to look forward TO a happy future, devoid OF the
| tcrrors experienced since the termination OF the
Russo Turkish war. Imperial clcmency had 80 often
| been extended to even the worst Of political cTiu-
| mails as to create the idea among the public that
! even the advanced NIhilists themselves wero be-
ginning to recognize and appreciate the goodwill!
| of the Government. But now with ono blow ali
| this gooi has been set ut naught, and God only
knows what Russia will come TO.
However all Russians including myself, enter
tain great hopes in the Czarcwitch and spite of
much thar has been sad We have full .cohiI'ch'r
that he will lead the country ont of the tori bio
l. has been SAID that tho Gar and Is son
differed in opinion. and that tho latter
WIS opposcd to the measures adopted by
the Government in its struggle AGAINST tho
revolutionary clements OF the Empire. | am not
able to decide how far these rumnrs are founded
on fact as have not been ~ Russia for year.; mt
| this much declare, that bY the dnSiIri,y
act the Nlhil,sts will not gam pt. NJ. much -
| the views Of AlcxlnLcr AiexaudTowIlch d.il red
from those held by bis father Thar h" sccs iiN
| father stricken down by cOwaraly hand his oliy
| desire will be t. destroy tho sentiment wIrcn
prompted the deed. Vengeance, believe me. viii oe
| swift and sure"
"Do You think that the reforms lately introduced
| will bc given up T.
"No. do not. The Czarcwitrh will never allow
the whole nation 10 suilrr for tho msdrc'is 81 lew
dcsocradoes. Further reforms that may be urcr--
sary To- the welfare of the people will be introduced
at the proper tune in every branch OF tho adHiuis-
ration am sue; but individual u"'iticIi cranes
| viii neither rcIa,d nor hasten then."
"WIII constitutional form o; government be- ia"
| next move III .hc direction OF reforms Z"
THAT IS "A question | cannot answer. II
I. dilicnlt to say whether the country l.
ripe for such an innovation. Yet | be
hevc that local sci-goycrnucnt la, a
fair prospect Of being introduced ~ no tar 81
future That Is all | can say tonight ! Shall
leave Ncw-York Tomorrow morning Tor Washing
TON hv an early tram. There being no IG,-I.,u
priest III that city shall o'Icatc ut thc mass for
the rcpo,c OF the Emprror's soul'
The reporter next called on Michael de Nrirlzly,
fine Eusslan Consul-Greral IN this ci'y. hyin5 ID
tv-iourth-st. II, la alrcady started for Wash
mgton whittier he had been called b? the Hu ian
Minister. Ga the side Of the door wasa large
r0sei lie of Grape in token of mourning.
The neat Russian visited by the reporter VAS :. f.
Shevltch recently made editor Of the IO',=rliHag III
this city. lie was obliged to leave his country ai'on
two years ago in consequence OF hIs political
oplnlons lie was one Of the leaders of the Lavrol
Nlhilisis, and subsequently edited the NImiist
sheet Tprcd winch had been started n Paris by
Michael Lavrof. ShevItch. unlike the pastor Of the
Russian Chapel, appeared to he III exubrrant
spirits over the news of the assassinalion He bad
received a dispatch from "A friend in st. Petersburg
stating that the Emperor, whilo riding in a coach
with his brother tine Grand Duke Michael, had been
killed bv bOmbshGll.
The importance Of tho event. lie said could be
iudged better # tho incidents following close upon
it, above all the attitude of the population OF ST.
Petersburg were known. This calls TO mind Kara
kasso's attempt to assassinatc the Car IN the Sum-
mcr Garden of st. Petersburg in 1866. Had the
assassin attained his end, it is safe to say
that the streets of the Capital would
have been bathed in the blood Of the nobility, for
at that time the Emperor enjoyed enormous pop
uarity III great part owing to his sO-Calleu emanCi
patton of the serfs few years previous As the
Nlhilists were then recruited from the ranks
of the nobility, at any rate from the
more intelligent classes Of the population the masses
became greatly incenscd at the attempted murder
and there IS no knowing what might have occurred
had the EmprrOPs life not been saved by n by
siander. At the present moment, however, the
ditons have changed, and, come what NAV, the
Russian lower classes will hardly rise to avengc the
death of Gar who for ten years has been Il down
right curse to the country"
How do you account Tor the lull in NihilSt en-
terprises which has marked tho last four months,
only to end IN THIS UNEXPECTED fashion r.
My UpiniOn-and ii Is based on facts-is that tine
Nihiists seeing themselves unable to cope with
MekOh and 10 attain their ends III the face of tho
stringent cOercivo measures brought 10 bear on
them had resolved to abstain from any further dem
OnsratIOn for short period III order to inspire the
authorities with a feeling of security The conse-
dnence was that the Gar, who. three months ago,
never left his palace without squadron OF cavalry
as an escort has lately been seen IN pub Inc IN COM
pany with two or three guards and II the dis
match | received be correct, he was alone with
his brother the Grand Duke, and two COachmen,
when surprised by tie bom6shell All this goes to
prove that the NiLlllst element, far from being
crushed as was triumphantly declared by the |
Governments supporters IS as strong as vigorous
and ~ determined as ever"
What VIII the consequence Vi Vhe aSSaSSi""'ion
be p .,..:..
nortance 10 f6e event Tho Gar has been pracil- |
cav dead letter, or puppet IN the hands OF Mel
ikoA for over year and To tell the truth though
n NlhiIist myself hardly know whether 10 cohSluol
fine assassination necessary act or not. Yet there
il no doubt but that it will raise the prestige OF
Nhisn in Russia, and such result - by no means
do you believe tho Czarewltch will be a liberal
Emperor ~, ,.,, . III
,o than mis- father but not because he really wants
70 elevate the Russian people. No, If he allows any
reforms to be made he will only 90 50
from fear. TO avoid the dead CzarS