Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-14
The AUGMENTATION Of tho Gar.

The Russian nIhitsts have finally accom-.
piished the object which they evidently re-
garded as OF prime imp )rtance ia carrying out
their designs-tte assassination OF the Car
The secret organization whose mysterious
work has seemed 10 be performed by Invisible
hands, has directed It's energies against the
life OF this one man for years past as though
ne alone stood be- ee1 it aud the achievement
OF its purpO seS with regard TO llberalklng the
government. The failure OF one plan OF
assassination had no discOuragng effect upon
The nihiiists; repe3 I'd failures seemed only TO
encourage successive attempts. until, at last
success has bten attained In a most cowardly
aid brutal manner. Civilization abhors
assassination, and the cruel manner OF the
Cars taking of will create throughout the
world feeling OF di-gust not only for the men
woo planned aud executed the deed.
but also for the cause they represent.
The murdered Emperor ha1. from the very be-
ginning OF his reign. displayed q regard for his
subjects and desire TO promote their interests
which had not mirsed any OF his predecessors.
He did not combine bis benevolent purposes {,
mere theory. but early commenced TO put them
In practice. he understood the condition OF
Russia, and set ab)uf TO improveiu. He under
took and accomplished reforms which arrayed
against him mos ~ the nobility OF the land,
for the reason tina these reforms were all for
the benefit OF the common people. His one act
OF emancipat1Dg the % 600 900 serrs ought at
least, to have created within the bosoms OF the
lower orders OF the people a feeling Of gratitude
that would have prevented them from Joining
In the movement which had for Its chief object
the assassination OF the Emperor; but evident
ly 1t did not. as nthtilSm, while IL comprises
some OF the better classes OF Russian subjects,
numbers Its thousands among the poorer
10 hrp, ina mr. Of
features OF government which his father had
established, by Alexander H., as Will as nu-
merOus other reform works or his are facts
OF record and OF history which are everywhere
known His effort IN 1866 10 give to Russia q
constitution and parliamentary form OF gov
eminent is an act deserving special mention,
now as its failure probab y more than any
other thing led to the compact and well dis
ciplined organization Of the nihilisss, which
hnally destroyed the Car. The masses OF the
people OF Russia were not then and are not
now, Mt for a representative form OF govern
ment They had existed for ages under the
most despotic government, where there was no
chance for enlightenment and education. The
liberation OF the serfs increased this class OF
people, and they could only be educated and
made nc for even partial self-government by
degrees. What effect the assassination of the
Car viii have upon the government remains
TO be seen. IL may determine the new Emperor
10 employ the unlimited power heshas 10 reach
In hunting down and crushing out nlhilisn,
or he may deem 1t The part OF wisdom to COM
promise by granting more liberty to his sub
Jects. The efforts of the common people In
Russia 10 attain recognition as men and some
freedom as subjects have been accorded no
little sympathy 10 this country; but the assas
sination Will, for the time being az least, cause
a decided reyuls1on In that feeling