Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19


be at a dreadful disadvantage; so will be pen
sve cOuntenance or one that grief has touched
even without spelling. There are insignificant
blondes who are utterly eflaced In the fresh
brightness of pink party.
What Nihilists will Do.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
We subjoin the concluding portion Of the let
ter, dated Rome, May Oath, of the Russian
nihilist "Stepnaik." author of Underground
Russia, the beginning of which appeared in our
columns last Friday.
MATTERS stood thus up to 1877, when the war
WITH Turkey broke out. The influence of that
war was decisive first, because it showed every
body the bemishes OF the hideOus Colossus with
the feet of clay Russia; and secondly because
it brought the officers of our army encamped
beyond the frontier into contact with a country
OF liberal Institutions and gave them full liberty
to satisfy their curiosity by reading prohibited
books coming from Geneva and London, which
were exhibited In the windows Of all book
sellers. And it should be noted that the books
most popular with them were not the purely
sociaistic works, but those which demanded,
above all political liberties, a constitution, the
calling of a national assembly, &C. The Off
GERS were evidently neither so young nor 80
intammable as the youth of the universities
who form the great mass Of the readers of pro-
hbited books, and they felt already at that time
years later-namely, the impossbity of taking
a single step toward the social vindication Of
the people before having acquired political lib
erty: This possibly explains fact which greatly
the war seemed not to have produced in the
army any such notable change as We expected
The officers showed themselves Just as unwilling
as ever to make common cause with the revolu-
tionaries of that time-the advocates of agra
rian socialism. But events of such importance
do not happen without leaving their traces, and
the influence Of that war remained latent, await
ing its opportunity to show itself. In tact. in
proportion as the political element developed
itself in the programmes of the socialists the ad-
hesOns among the officers increased, and the
first military circles among the garrison of st.
Petersburg and the sailors of KrOnstadt were
founded even during the reign of Alexander H.,
as was seen afterward in the trial of Snkanoff.
AFTER the accession of Alexander III. this
germ developed into great movement. With
his childish cowardice he rendered himself con-
temptible to the soldiery. who think personal
courage Is the first of human qualities, and
wounded their honor most deeply by his dis
trust Of them. The officers of the Guard, be-
fore entering the palace, were searched by the
police like thieves. tor fear they should have
weapon or a bomb concealed about them. The
emperor did not even stick at unworthy subter-
fuges to deceive his faithful children az the
Guard are called, and to escape their manifesto
lions Of loyalty. One day. after the great re-
view of May. while all the officers were await
ing at the gate OF the palace the departure of
their car, in order to salute him, he left the
palace secretly by another gate, in another car
rage and the officers, after an hour of idle
waiting. were informed by chamberlain that
his majesty was already many miles away. 1t is
easy to understand the resentment which such
incidents must have produced. The general
discomfort felt everywhere, and affection for a
country oppressed by stupid greedy ignorant
Camarilla. combined themselves with the senti-
ment of disgust which this shameful govern
ment excited, and goaded the officers to ally
themselves in great numbers with the revOlu-
tiOnary party. which fascinated them by it's
splendid courage and was the only one which
for 80 many years courageously kept the field
against autocracy.
1--WE will make no indiscreet revelations We
Will only say that the revolutionary organization
in the army, composed exclusively of officers, is
specially widespread in the capitals of prov
inces, with ramihcations in every important
country town. 1t is composed exclusively of
officers of all ranks including the commanders
of numerous independent bodies. Private SOL
ders do not belong to it, but every officer seeks
to have among his privates men in sympathy
with the revolutionary ideas. The members Of
the organization are completely independent as
regards their internal discipline, but are collec
lively as well as individually, bound by solemn
oath to appear at the command OF the execu-
tive committee at the time and place agreed
upon for the revolutionary work, together with
as many soldiers as they can induce to follow
them. The numerous political trials of late
days and the numerous arrests in various regi-
ments of the army have drawn the attention of
the government and the public to the evident
progress of the revolutionary idea among the
military. IT is the participation Of this new
element which has determined the important
change which we indicated at the outset. With
the powerful reinforcement which the adhesions
on the part Of the army give and with the uni
thing to confine ones self to acts Of terrorism,
and this Is why we see their place being grad
ually taken by the idea of instruction pure and
simple. We cannot dwell upon the change for
want Of space We will only say that at the
present moment this idea Is incontestaby the
only prevalent one.
"The last program Of the executive committee
accordingly defines the immediate aim of the
party to be political Instruction with the OBJ
ject of transferring the power to the people.
(cap. III. S. H. The Narodnaia Volta of the
9Th Of February, 1882, is still more explicit
Now. 1t says our immediate object is the re-
organization of conspiracy for upsetting the
existing . 1s order OF things. At this mo-
to binding together all the elements of opposl-
ton into one central body, capable of taking the
Initiative in revolt at the Opportune moment
In document called THE Preliminary Work of
the Party lately published in the calendar of
the Narodnaia Volta, we see unfolded de-
tailed instruction about the operations necessary
to that end.
'In view Of this general tendency single acts
VI eciToE1ll los0 atl importance ana become, as
1t were, useless waste of force, like the Skin
mishes preceding pitched battle. They are
not indeed included, but they remain accidental
or secondary acts. An attempt on the life of
the emperor might be made as the beginning of
an insurrectionary movement, or Of a bold coup
deadt, but by Itself 1t Is no longer of any impor-
lance Here is the secret of the almost absolute
silence Of the party for the last two years. Is
1t credible that they should break that silence
precisely at the time Of the festivities of the
coronatlon' that the revolutionists should
make their first attempt at insurrection Just
when their enemy Is most on the alert? To put
the question 10 to answer 1t. This il why we be-
iieve that during the sojourn Of the imperial
family at Moscow nothing will happen, and that
they will return safely to st. Petersburg"
"A superannuated French general, named
Vernevile, upon taking leave OF the troops ne
commanded at Luneville, the other day. made
nse OF the following imprudent expressions;
"Yon will take vigorous revenge on the day
when France appeals to the courage Of her
children. 1.-THE enemy Ia strong and ingenious
4, fo,,u