The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-26
THE NIHILISTS OF RUSSIA.
Thc VexatiOus and Annoying Passport
System Of the Great Empire.
Nihilism Not Yet Crushed, but FOrght in
Secret-The Constant Peril in Which
Alexander Ill Lives.
st. Petersburg letter.

so completely was IL covered Win s1rahS0
hieroglyphics, and so stained from the handling
of not over-clean police and military officials.
had had no particular use for this document in
any of the other countries of Europe which had
visited, and although kept it by me in order to
take it out and paralyze any interference that
might meet me by the display of the immense
and rampant eagle of the American State De-
partment, had, in truth, foundit somewhat of
an ncumbrance through France, England, the
Netherlands and Germany In Berlin, how
ever, was in momentary expectation of hear
ing demand to produce it, for that city, with
Hamburg and one or two others, is in state
of siege on account of the evil Vaccinations
of the Social Democrats, and every
foreigner who stays more than few
weeks in the city must furnish proof of his
IDENTIFY and purposes. Yet l was not actually
obliged to use the passport until began to make
preparations for going to Russia, when 1 was in
formed that in no case could get into or out of
that country without such credentials Nor was
it sufficient to have the Endorsement of the Unit
ed States government alone must FIRST have
my passport vised by the American consul in
Berlin, and from him 1 must take it to the
Russian consul and secure also the approval and
seal of his Office. This I did, and may state as
an illustration of the superior expense of things
American over things foreign, that had to pay
four marks for the Endorsement of the Office OF
my own country, and only one mark and sixty
five pfenning for that of the Russian authority.
But the Muscovite made up for the difference,
and more before got back, what with fees for
this and that, and general hindrances and an
noyance.
No traveller is allowed to cross the Russian
frontier or enter a Russian port without pass
port from his own government Endorsed as ]
have described. When he reaches St Peters
burg, he is Immediately deprived of his pass
port by the porter of the hotel who sends 1t to
the police station. together with any informa
ton about the guest that may be procurable.
In due time it comes back with an Endorsement
in unreadable Russian to the effect that,
the strangers credentials being approved, he is
at liberty TO remain in the country. One would
naturally suppose that after this his troubles
were over and that when he wished to depart,
country thus Jealous about letting him into it
would be glad enough to see him depart to make
him no further trouble. Not so, however, for it
is rather easier to get into the country than out
of it again. When the people at the hotel learn
of the guests intended departure, they make an
other demand for his passport, and when it re
turns a second Time from the poce-station it Is
found that the officials have equazed the differ
ence in tariff prevailing at the American and
four roublcs' worth Of tough-looking stamps upon
it They have also inscribed upon it form to
the effect that 1.-The American Honorable So
and-so having been in the country such and
49, such length of time, has now permission to
leave, and there is also loosely pasted upon it
anotsasr paper, which is addressed to the officer
in charge at the frontier, and numbered to con
form to the passport upon which it is affixed
and which he must tear of and return
Go the st. Petersburg office as earn
est of the performance of his own
duty, and proof that the traveller has been
safely set down in the domains of some neigh
boring power. L imagine that all the authori-
ties take long breath of relief when it is known
that the dangerous foreigner is safely dismissed,
and l am that he does when he sees the
masts of the men-of- war at Cronstadt or the
walls of the frontier station disappearing from
his view. had wondered what would be done
with man who had not complied with all the
forms of this complex system, and was for
tunate enough to have my curisosity gratfed.
returned to Germany by on board the
Lubbock steamer Neva, which L can recommend
as pleasant and clean boat and commanded
by thorough seaman, Captain Nevermann, and
when be drew up to the mole at Cronstadt,
boat, rowed by six sailors and carrying an
officer and several soldiers, drew alonside and
the military and police contingent stepped
aboard There were only three passengers and
the passports of two were found all right and
approved That of the other, however, although
describing its bearer fully and bearing the
eagle of the German empire. the Endorsements
of the Russian consul at Berlin and the first au
thorization of the police at st. Petersburg,
had not upon it the official permission to
depart The captain knew the man, and drew
up paper Offering to be responsible for him, but
it would not do. The officer was courteous but
infiexible He would be liable he said to the
loss of his rank and in danger of Imprisonment
if he should break his strict orders in such mat
ters, so the unfortunate passenger was bundled
down the gangway, and rowed ashore amid rep
representatives of the military naval and police
forces Of the empire. What became of him 1 do
not know, but probably he suffered only in be-
ing obliged to return to st. Petersburg and Sc
curing after some few days waiting, the per-
mission which be had been too ignorant or care.
less to obtain before.
This incident, slight in itself, became to me- in
connection with my own endorsements and
hirdrances in travelling in Russia of consider
able Significance, and | learned more from it
than | could have done by much hearsay and
reading in regard to the suspicious and defensive
attitude which Russia maintains at present to-
ward the outside world. The scare about Mill
ism is, of course, at the bottom of it ALL and al
though so little is heard publicly about Nihilism
at present that it ight be supposed to be less
of menace to the government than it
once was, l soon found out that it is
regarded in St Petersburg constituting
as great and constant a danger ever. The
present appearance of quiet is misleading,
and indicates, not that Nihilism is becoming
discouraged and weak, but that the government
has adopted new policy in treating it. For
merv the activity OF the police proclaimed
abroad by reports of the arrests of revolution
ists, the seizure of printing presses and incen-
diary newspapers and pamphlets, the discov-
cries and coniscations of dynamite and Internal
machines; but now every item of such news is
suppressed ard silence and secrecy attend
every movement of the authorities There are
no more public trials and publications of sensa-
tional testimony. and the police, taking leaf
from the book of the Nihilsts themselves, work
In the darkness which has always shrouded the
deeds of their antagonists
The result upon the general condition of things
In Russia is might be expected. The sense
of security, hitherto weak, has become entirely
destroyed, and all men live in constant fear,
not only of what may at any moment happen
to the persons of the Gar and his officers from
Ane IL