Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-11-05
REVOLUTIONISTS!
So Do the Russian "Nihilists" Call
Themselves.
Their Work Of PrOpagandism and
the Sublime Courage with which
They Labor-Herocs, Hero.
49,. ard Martyrs.


Foreign Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
N;hilis.s do not call themselves by that
name. They call themselves revolutionists.
Nihilsm is 9 word invented by Tourgeneff In
one Of his novels to signify utter absence OF
belief and the coin he minted having been
current all the world over, Russian revolu-
tionists are compelled in some measure 70
Acknowledge it. but while acknowledging
they protest There was, | believe once a
class of pessimsts in Russia who professed to
have no faith whatever, but they were not
militant revolutionists, of whom Tourgeneff
kew little or nothing, for he was
exiled before the movement began. |
do not suppose the people we call nihiiists are
orthodox Christians, but the Sclavoric races
arereligious and emotional by nature, and it is
not in the nature of things that men should
suffer and fight and die for cause without
believing in something immaterial and
divine Nihilism, in its present development,
is essentially religion-a religion which de-
mands from its votaries all-pervading
faith and an unlimited capacity for self-sacri-
fee Nihilist who does not possess the
constancy of n martyr and the courage of a
hero is of no more use than soldier in petit
coats. armed with broomstick.
The ordinary work of Russian revolu-
zionist is not, some may suppose, making
mines, fabricating dynamite and numbering
police spies. Being the work Of propagand-
ism, ii resembles in some respects the work
of Christian emissaries in pagan times, or of
Huguenot pastors after the revocation of the
edict of Nantes. The great hindrance 10 re-
form in Russia lies even more in the ignor
ance Of the people than in the tyranny of the
government. All the educated classes ex-
cept employees Of the state, are either potential
or actual reyolutionists or, we may say,
reformers; but the masses, though terribly
oppressed and taxed almost to death, are. as
yet, ignorant of the source of their sufferings
and the possibility of Improvement When
things go wrong Il ey lay the blame, not on
the car, upon whom they look, or rather
have looked for they are slowly waking up
10 a perception Of the truth, as sort Of
derni god, but on his agent or representa-
tives
The real object of the Nihilsts is to ell
Tighten the masses t. show them that with
ont political revolution there is no possibility
Of amendment and convince them that the
proudest of all blessings is freedom. Could
the masses be won over 10 the cause the po-
sition OF tho government would be unteiiable,
for if the peasantry who are now the basis
be forced to grant some sort of reform which
must end in the establishment of representa-
tive institutions Why the car does not
Spontaneously concede reform is a question
with which, as also with the motives and
deeds of the terrorists, shall deal in another
letter.
AS IL is, the government not alone refuses
81 made concessions, but TRAITS as a felon
....l
with their proceedings or hint doubt that
the car is not the best and wisest of earthly
rulers. Public meetings are not allowed, the
press is more than fettered-it is throtted-
and open agitation is simply impossible A
youth of 10 has been hanged for posting a
revolutionary placard on wall, and lad
Of III sent TO Siberia because his brother was
hanged for a political offense 1t is hardly
possible for tie brother of man who has
been hanged to love his kinsmans execu-
TONERS IL may develop into dangerous
character and it is well to have him out of
the way. When Prince Krapotkine was in
prison his brother, then an officer in the
army, expressed, in letter to friend in
London, the opinion that it was wrong "to
keep Peter 50 long in confinement without
trial. This letter was opened in the post
brother, of course without trial, was sent to
Siberia, and he is there Yet.
Ii is, therefore, evident that the revolu-
tionary propaganda, as it is called, must he
conducted in secret ard with great circum-
spection. Those who take part in il assume
an alias and go about incognito-become
schoomasters, learn the use of the hammer
and chisel, and become blacksmiths and
masons. drop a word in season and out of
season, distribute revolutionary pamphlets,
and when these apostles of revolution have
made "A few converts, hold classes and make
speeches nj secret meetings. At this
work the women are rs active and
devoted as the men. | know of Young
girls or noble families, nIgnIy educated and
brought up in luxury, who have got work at
cotton factories, wrought fourteen and
sixteen hours day, gone about barefoot
and lived on black bread in order that thew
might carry ON the propaganda among the
mill hands. Aud this is done not in the
hope of praise or reward, but in the GER
tainty of capture and death Sooner or
later they are sure to be denounced and
arrested. and it is hardly possible for any
young girl to survive the rigors and horrors
of Russian Jail Knowing what is before
them, they deliberately run the risk and
court their fate. These victims of des-
potisn deserve well the epithet that has
been bestowed upon them of heroes heroines
and martyrs of Russian liberty