The National tribune., 1881-08-27
Hartmann, the Nihilist,

IHE declaration OF MS intentions 10 become a
citizen of the United States recently filed by Leo
Hartmann, the Russian Nihilst, brings up for
consideration question of the gravest import
ance, and which, sooner or later, the American
people must decide The genius of our peculiar
form of Government is opposed to the recogn-
ton of the sovereigns absolute right over the
'consciences of his subjects; and in our treaties
with foreign powers for the extraditon of crimi-
nails, we therefore provide that their provisions
shall not apply to any crime or offense of pollt-
cal character. Now Hartmann claims that, if he
has been guilty of any offense it falls within the
excepted category above mentioned; and hence,
if a request should be made, in the absence of
treaty. for his extradition, the nature of his
crime, if any would be the first subject of inquiry
on the part of our Government.
1t is difficult if not impossible for the Ameri-
can people to comprehend that condition of affairs
which makes nihilism possible. The United
States and Russia, so far as their respective sys-
TENS of Government are concerned, are as widely
separated as are the poles. But yet the Ameri
can people know the definition of murder, and
the principal and his accessories before and after
the fact as that relationship is defined by law.
The question that must be answered, then, in the
event of request that Hartmann be delivered up
is this: Is it purely political crime or offense,
according to the correct meaning Of the term to
deliberately kill or attempt to kill for political
reasons, the lawful sovereign of friendly power,
or is it murder or an attempt to commit murder?
We hold to the latter opinion, Assassination
is not honorable warfare-it is not even respect
able rebelliop-and monarch, be he king, en-
peror, or ear, is but man; to deliberately and
with malice, aforethOught, take the life of any
man is murder. And he who assists in such an
undertaking is equally guilty, or should be so
held with him who does the deed. If Hartmann
sia, he has conspired to commit murder just as
surely as he would have done had the person
against whom he plotted been a private citizen
of the United States. And he ought to be re-
turned to his own country without objection,
whenever the request is made and competent
proofs of any such conspiracy are presented We
want no such criminals from abroad. We have
enough of our own to look after, and besides, it
is but right to extend to a friendly power the
same courtesy we would desire under similar
circumstances. Let us suppose that Guiteau,
+bo 3 A.
President, had escaped to Russia OF any other
country, and in order to avoid extradition had
set up the plea that his a political crime
only? Suppose that the Government of the coun-
try in which he sought asylum had refused to
give him up and upon that ground-what then?
The American people would have been up in arms
as one man to compel his delivery The case of
Hartmann, in principle, is just the same. He
should not be allowed any greater immunity
from arrest at the instance of his Government
than we would wish to see accorded to Guiteau
under the supposititious circumstances above
given.
So far as Hartmann's determination to become
" NitiH1i vi tliiS ID lHc utClft-
ration filed by him ought not to stand in the way
of extradition and we believe cannot. The mat
ter rests solely with the Executive of the Nation.
If the President in the spirit of comfy and good
will sees'proper, las we hope he may in the event
of request to that effect to deliver him to the
officers of the Gar the courts cannot nterpOse to
save him, and we are glad of it. We would gladly
be rid of such characters and in order to prevent
their coming to our shores to continue their plot
tngs and conspiracies abroad and stir up seditOns
in our midst laws should be passed prohibiting the
of any person charged with any
one of the graver crimes at least who fees to our
shores for safety. Political crimes that do not
strike at human life, or that of such magni-
tude as amount to open war or rebellion of num-
bers like that we experienced in 1S61-5, may be
properly excepted from the operation of such a
law, but murder, attempted murder, and conspir-
acies to commit it should be included without ,
regard to the condition in life of the victim, or
the political or other reasons prompting it.
The War Department experiences considerable !
difficulty in furnishing the military histories of
soldiers called for by the Pension Office, owing |
+o bo oo,,J;t;n,, Of no rooor1S