Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-10
[From our regular correspondent
Paris Letter

PARIS, Dec. 70, 80.
In arresting Prince Krapotkins the
French government has incontestably
struck at the very root Of the anarchial
movement in this country. When the
Nihilist agitator took up.his abode in Gen.
eva some years ago, he found the revolu-
tionists in complete state of disorganiza.
ton. But he set to work with will, and
soon anarchial committees were established
at Verey, Geneva, Zurich and Berne. The
return of the amnestied communists
opened out new field for his labors and
ere long he was in constant communica
ton with his allies at Paris, Lyons, St.
Etienne and Montceau les Mines. The
announcement of the nihiists party's
doings in Russia, which appeared from
time to time in the Intransiglant Journals
were probably due to his pen. Gradually,
however, his miscellaneous attitude attract
ed the attention of the Swiss government,
which rather more than year ago
expelled him from its territory. He then
betook himself to Thonon, on the French
frontier, situated convenient distance
from Lyons and Geneva. and there
redoubled his efforts. with what success
recent events have proved only too we'll.
Prince Krapotkins, like his intimate friend
Elicee Reclues, is a savant "gone wrong"
Profoundly versed in the exact sciences,
he processes the most extraordinary
political doctrines. There is, however,
this method in his madness. viz where
as the great majority of his friends have
no settled programme beyond the over
throw of the social system, he, on the
contrary, advocates reconstruction stimuli.
taneously with destruction. The news of
Prince Krapotkine's arrest has fallen
like thunderbolt on the nihilist colony
in Paris. Some of the poorer streets in
Quarter Latin are crammed with Russian
refugees, who. for the most part extremely
studious and we'll educated, earn their
livelihood by giving lessons in modern
languages, chemistry and mathematics.
Each man now asks his neighbor whose
turn will come next The answer to this
question may soon be given by the govern
ment, which is now in possession of a
whole budget of very compromising
documents.
Victor Hugo yesterday followed up his
appeal on Oberdank's behalf by a second
letter addressed to the Emperor of Austria
and couched in these terms: "For every
civilized man the death penalty is abolish
ed. This penalty with all its dependencies,
will be effaced from the codes of the
twentieth century. 1t would be noble
thing to carry out now and then for ever
the law of the future" Scarcely, however,
had the missve been despatched when the
news Of Oberdank' execution reached
Paris. Here the matter might have been
suffered to drop. Unfortunately the
Rappel, in reproducing the poets second
appeal, appends the following lines,
which it would certainly have dono better
to suppress. 1.-The Emperor of Austria
might have remembered, were emperors
capable of memory. that Victor Hugo
once begged of Juarez the life of another
emperor of his family. In refusing the
life of the condemned man to him who
formerly pleaded for his own relative, the
Emperor of Austria has pronounced in
Juarez's favor; and in shooting Oberdank
he has shot Macmillan over again"
The Gaulois says that the Marseilles
town council met last evening to consider
the generous surrender by the Empress
Eugene of her claim to the Pharo prop
erty. After short discussion committee,
composed of five of its members, was
appointed to draw up report on the
subject, and there is little doubt that it
will recommend the acceptance of the
empress's gift.