The Labor enquirer., 1884-03-15
A Portrait and Short History
of the Great Russian
Patriot.
His Connection With the Nihilist
Movement of His Native
Country.
How One Of Freedoms Noblest Sons
Has Suffered for;the Holy
Cause.

- lF u y.
The portrait presented was engraved from
q sketch made of Krapotkine as he was de-
livering his famous defense at his trial at
Lyons, France, in January, 1888. AT that
trial he was accused Of being member ofthe
International, and upon that ground, sem
fenced to five years imprisonment
Prince Krapotkine is not the leader of
the Nihilist movement as he is called
throughout Europe. He has not even
the least influence over the modern
Russian revolutionary movement; no
literary influence, for ever since he has
resided abroad he has never written ex-
cept in the French language; no personal
influence, for at this moment he is
known in Russia only by name. This
fact, however strange 1t may appear to
the reader, is the natural consequences of
another. Krapotkine is refugee; and
the political refugees, who reside in the
various cities of Europe, have not tie
slightest influence whether separately
or collectively, upon the revolutionary
movement of the country.
The thing may appear incredible, yet
any man of judgment who thin ks about
it for a single moment, will not fail to
recognize the truth of my assertions.
Only two things have to be taken into
consideration, the general character Of
the Russian movement, and the distance
between Russia and and the countries in
which the refugees can reside, Swltzer-
land, France, Italy, England; for no one
would trust himself either in Prussia or
Austria. I will cite one single fact. To
exchange letters with Switzerland, which
is the nearest country of all;a fortnight
must always elapse, allowing few days
for reply. 4s
Now, an order, supposing one has to
be given, or even advice, would reach
St. Petersburg a fortnight, or, at all
events, ten days after it had been asked
for. Now in Russia the struggle is no
longer carried on by exclusively mental
effort, as it was five years ago. 1t is a
struggle of arms in hand, thorough
war, in which the minntest precautions
have to be taken IN accordance with the
latest movements of the enemy. Let us
suppose that an attempt against the en-
peror is being prepared. The slightest
change in his ltinery, in the route he will
take, in the measures he will adopt for
his safety, Immediately cause the whole
plan of attack to be changed.
What orders cotld be given from Lon
don, from Paris, from Switzerland? Who
would be so stupidity presumptuous as to
believe himself in a position to give
them? Who would be so stupid as to
attribute any value to them? Let us
suppose for moment, that general
wished to carry on a war in Turkey,
while remaining in ST. Petersburg. What
would be said by every man with a par
ticle of judgment? Yet this general
would have an immense advantage, that
of possessing the telegraph, while we
have nothing but laggard post.
1t being impossible, therefore, for a
refugee to direct operations, or even to
give advice, of value, upon Russian mat
tere, why should he be informed before
hand of what is being prepared in Rus
sia To run the risk of some letter fall
ing iAto the hands of the police? To
incry yaso the perils of this Titanic strug-
gle, as though there were not enough
already2
We have thus another fact resulting
from the preceding. Even the refugees
connected with those who belong to the
party, and who take an active part in
everything, have not the slightest knoWl-
edge of what is being prepared in Rus
sia From time to time, out of pure
friendship, they receive some vague hint,
without ever knowing anything for GER
tain, respecting the place, time or mode
of execution of the project in embryo.
Why communicate such things, even to
the best of friends, merely to satisfy Gu
riosity? 1t would be crime, an infamy,
a dishonest act !; and every earnest man
would be the first; to reproaeh friend
for such an act. Thus events, such as
the putting to death of Alexander II.
and the explosion in the Winter palace
were as much of surprise to refugees
as to the rest of the world.
The political influence Of the Russian
refugees at the present moment is re
duced, therefore, absolutely to zero
Foreign countries are only resting places
harbors which every one makes for
whose barqus has been wrecked or dis
abled by the furious waves. Until they
can reft, and steer towards their native
shore, the refugees are poor castawaYs.
They may be as intrepid as ever, but
they can only stand with folded arms
regarding with envious eyes the country
where the combatants are fighting, dy,
ing, conquering while they, sad and idle
stife in their forced inaction, stranger in
strange land.
II.
Krapotkine is one of the oldest of the
refugees For six years he has continu-