Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-08-08

Is country governed as Russia is
governed tho ruler must depend for a
continuance Of power, as the Emperors
of Rome depended, chiefly upon the will
of the army. If, then, we are to put
faith in certain letter written from
Rome by Nihilist calling himself
"stcpniak" (who is also author Of work
called Underground Russia'1, which
appeared recently in the Pal Mall
Gazette, Alexander III. may die at any
moment rs bis father did. "Stepniakp
asserts that the germ Of Nihilism had
been sown carefully among the officers
Of the Russian army during the reign Of
Alexander II. The seed might not
have germinnted even yet but for the
childish oowardiee of the reigning Gar.
This characteristic, something new in a
Romanofr, has disgusted a soldiery who
regards personal courage-and what
soldiery does not 80 regard it--as the
first OF human qualities. In addition to
this he has wounded, deeply and repeat
edly, tho sense of honor common to
officers. II is common experience for
an officer Of the Guard-ono of the mon
whom the Emperor calls his faithful
children" entering tho palace
to be searched by the police lest weap-
on OF bomb should be concealed about
him. Ono day, after grand review,
the officers Of the army waited at the
palace gate. in order to salute the mon
arch, and, after an hours waiting, were
told that he had left by back entrance.
Many like instances are recorded. Thus
the insulted officers have been goaded to
ally themselves with the voiutionary
party which had already won something
of their regard because Of the splendid
courage invariably displayed by its
detected members. The revolution
ary organization in tho army is
composed exclusively of officers,
and spreads throughout the empire.
Private soldiers are not allowed
to belong to it, but each officer
seeks to recruit only men in sympathy
with the revolutionary idea. The nu-
merous recent arrests of officers show
that suspicion is entertained by the Gar
and the favorites who control him. But
acts of terrorism have been abandoned
by the Nihilists, and the present aim of
the party is political insurrection, and
the transfer OF power to the people.
The closing lines of 'stopniak's" letter,
supposing that we give credence to a
letter containing certain internal evil
dences of calm truth, in our Indignant
fully explain the present attitude OF
nihilism. 1t is simply that of the lion
crouehing for his fateful spring. "Step-
MAX" says: "In view of the general
tendency single acts of terrorism lose all
importance and become, as it were. use-
less waste of force, like the skirmishes
preceding pitched battle. They are
not, indeed, excluded, but they remain
accidental or secondary acts. An at
tempt on the life of the Emperor might
be made as tho beginning of an insur-
rectionary movement. or of bold
coup detat, but by itself it is no longer
of any Importance. Here is the secret
of the almost absolute silence of the
party for the last two years. Is it cred
ible that they should break that silence
precisely at the time of the festivities of
the coronation? that the revolutionists
should make their first attempt at iasur-
rection just when the enemy is most on
the alertg To put the qustion is to an
swer it. This is why We believe that
during the sojourn of the imperial family
at Moscow nothing will happen, and
that they will return safely to st. Peters
hurry