National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-23
NIuILIsTs AND CzARs.
William Armstrong; Lecture Upon Rus
sinn DespOts and Patriots.

William ArfnstronSb 1AectuTo bpoh iAub-
sian Despots and Patriots.
Last evening at Lincoln hall Hon. VIM. ].
Armstrong repeated the lecture which ho
delivered before an immense audience at
Cooper institute, New York, upon the sub
ject, "The Nihilist." The audience that
listened to his able and eloquent lecture was
not large, but an intelligent one, and quite a
number of ladies were present.
Mr. Armstrong was introduced by Col. Rob-
ert q. Ingersoll, who said Every philoso-
pher and student of history knows that be-
hind everything is a cause, that one extreme
produces another, that the extreme power
exercised by an autoCrat produces assassina-
ton, hut that the killing of the autocrat, and
the hanging of the assassin, docs not remove
tAe cause. We have got to go back and
Let us destroy tho monarchy, and
not the king believe that an absolutely
honest man is far better than any king or
tyrant / have not the slightest patience
with socialism or communism. Here in the
United States we have laws made by the peO-
pie; the people have the same amount Of
power, be they q Lazarus or Dives, q men
dicant or a millionaire. If the laws are not
faithfully carried out it Is not the fault of the
people. ! have no sympathy with socialism,
and | DO not want the tyranny Of an
autocrat. In another country where an auto
GThL clNlnlS 10 Dc IHc 1tau u llS CHulCH anu
has an immense standing army,a place called
Siberia, to which men, women, and children
are sent VIC shall hear about from one who
tonight will tell us the story of tho tyranny
of Russia. hate an autocrat who puts his
will for the will of the people, Kossuth said
that Russia was therock against which signs
for freedom break Russia is the worst gov
erned country in tho world. Whatever is
being done in Russia the reason for it is the
OPPRESSION which mankind endurcs."
Col. lngersolls remarks were greeted with
applause.
The lecturer, Mr.. Armstrong, appeared in
full dress costume. He lis perfectly familiar
from his travels with the vast domain Of
Russia is q man Of fine personal appearance,
has a graceful delivery, and clear enuncia-
tion. His lecture for over two hours was
attentivoly listened to, but ho failed to elicit
any enthusiasm on the part Of the audience.
lie commenced with dramatic recital Of
the assassination Of tho Emperor Alexander
III, its transmission by cable TO the remotest
portions of the globe, and its publication
through the magic types of the printer A
coterie of nihilists was formed under ono
Michael Bettuni twenty years ago, and its
idea WAS caught up by the democratic party
In favor of civil and social reform. They
revOlted against the most terrible despotism
ever known. The civilized world has wit
messed the amazing affection that has
existed between the faiT-haired republic
of America and Asiatic Russia, a con-
cord similar TO that of the Knights
of the Round Table. The czar Of Russia
thinks there are only two Countrics-Russia
aud the United States. The United States and
Russia may be first cousins, but they never
will be siamese twins. The lecturer referred
TO the Tartar style of the civil and eCclesias-
tical government Of Russia, and said IL was a
pity that pagan Russia had over been Chris
tianized through an ukase Of tho czaT.
Referring to tho house of RomsnOH he said
that Peter the Great, was an astute barbarian,
who had the heads of scores Of his subjects
decaptatod; that during tho reigns Of the
Empresses Anne, Catherine, Paul, and Alex
andor / the utmost atrocities were perpe-
trated Catherine was the most debauched
and enlightened OF sovereigns, and assembled
the throne over the dead body of her hus-
band.
During the reign Of Alexander / an at.
tempt was made TO overthrow FIVE hundred
wears of tyranny by establishing a republican
form of government, but those engaged in
the conspiracy were shot down in front OF the
palace of ST. Petersburg by the soldiers Of the
car, and some who survived were banlshed
for life to Siberia.
The death of Alexander l by suicide, the
nsgession Of Nicholas, who also ended his life
by poison, and tho accession Of Alexander II
VINO was assassinated in February, 1850, by
the nihilsts were rapidly reviewed by The
lecturer, who spoke in anything but hattering
terms Of their TeiRns The emancipation o
the serls by Alexander ] ] was the result OF I
policy that had been contemplated by hispr
dccossors. The horrors OF the Russian dungeon
aua VI sibsTis, the espionage oi the R9IIse