The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-24
SOME NEW BOOKS


say that rovolutlonists cannot obtain n fair
hearing Mt tho bar OF English or American
public opinion. On tho contrary. ever since
the instruction OF tho Greeks against Turkey
and tho uprising OF the Spanish American
colonies against their mother country. the
rebels against constituted authority have had
their full share OF attention and sympathy
from the English press. 1t has required half a
century OF unple asant experience to convince us
that tho mongrel people upon which Helleno-
pills too hastily bestowed the name OF Greek"
Ia. In all moral qualities. below his whilom OPP
pressor. the unspeakable Turk. As for the
Spanish colonies In North and South America
and especially the viceroyalties Of Mexico and
Peru. 1t has become truism to the historical
stndont that the laws made and instructions
Issued by tho Madrid Government wero In
high degree judlcious and benignant. and that
1t WAS the resistance OF tho creolcs. or whites
born in tho colonies. which prevented their
sppication. To tho great mass OF tho natives
OF Peru or Mexico. who were tillers OF tho
field or toilers in the mino. tho first effect OF
the revolution by which political independence
was acquired was to place Thorn at tho mercy OF
thsir worst enemies. Coming to later times.
we will but remind the reader how ono
sided were the accounts OF Hungary which
were current thirty years ago in England and
America. Wo heard all about tho encroach-
msnts Of the Hapsburg sovereigns on Hun
garian privileges. but We heard almost nothing
about the frightful expressions which had been
inflicted for centuries by Magyar minority
upon its Slavonic dependents In tho kingdom
OF Hungary. So too Just before tho outbreak
OF the last war between Russia and Turkey.
tho English newspapers were filed with grossly
exaggerated stories Of outrages committed by
Turks In Bulgaria. while not word was said
about the equally atrocious deeds perpetratcd
upon dsfenceless Moslems by Bulgarian brig
an,is. And finally when Arab Pasha who had
posed as u patriot. turned out to be merely
poltroon. no not only found defenders In tho
British press but advocates SO powerful that
tho Egyptian Government was compelled to
atultiiy itself by committing tho sentence OF
the arch rebel to exile. although two OF his
lieutenants far loss guilty than himself. have
since boon executed.
We are reminded OF these things because. Of
late. Russian Nihillsts-or as they prefer to call
thamselves. Tsrrorists-have played 50 con-
spicuous role In English newspapers and PEI
riodicals that hasty reader might assume that
there really Is but one method Of regenerating
society in Russia and that the advocates Of as
sassination and explosion may perhaps after
all deserve to DO regarded with some other
feeling than that Of detestation. 1t Is true. OF
course. that no sensible person. who desired
accurate Information regarding the social and
economical conoitioh OF 'ussia. wouid DO hkeiy
70 accept withou. sn"rp scru'ihy' eveh 'ne u"'a'
anu much 1888 tho CONCLUSIONS oHereu ny an
apologist 1or terrorism. no wouia insist
upon confronting their statements OF TACT anu
their deductions Dy tho trustworthy reports OF
such perfectly Impartial ana misunderstood op-
servers as Leroy-heauiieu ana MacKenHie
Waiiae. ana he ~ouid ma that 'he hussia Oh
to-day, rs depicted by these careful students
VINO nave no emu 10 supserve pY mendacity or
exaGgerntlon. Is very dlnorent country from
that which. according to the Terrorist writers.
can be saved only by such instruments rs tho
dynamite cartridge and tho assassin's knife.
The dimculty is that many readers are not
easily Interested In sober anu patient inves-
ttRations like those OF MIR. Wallace. whereas
their curiosity Is excited by graphic sketches
In which the imagination plays an important
part. and by real or pretended revelations
about subterranean Vaccinations and the
mysterious agencies by which the decrees
Of secret tribunals are fulfilled. We are
OF the opinion therefore. that more harm
than good is done by such a book rs
Underground Russia. which. after being orig
inslly published In italian. has been translated
Into English and is now reprinted In this coun-
try By the Soribners. These revolutionary
proflles" and disclosures nre said to have been
made by Terrorist who has taken the pseu-
donyme Of STEpNIAK. and who was formerly
editor OF tho revolutionary newspaper called
Land aud Liberty. The mischieSous feature Of
the volume is that. while many OF its state
n,ents rest upon the mere assertion OF an
anonymous person and are incapable OF being
verified yet they are presented in such tax
Ing way-for the book may be truly said to be
as engaging as many novels-that they are
likely to be accepted by u multitude of readers
too inadvertent to observe their entire want Of
Authorization.
In our Judgment the only valuable part OF the
book compiled by Stopniak y Is the introduce
ton. which contains clear and concise descrip-
ton OF the various phases through which the
Evolutionary movement in Russia has passed
during the last quarter OF century. Tho
important point to remember In connection
with this sutherland 1t Is one upon which the
writer lays due stress-is that the term Mill
Ism properly belongs. not to the last. but to the
initial stage OF the agitation. We apply the
word 10 the preachers ana the disciples OF the
gospel OF the knife. the shotgun. the dynamite