The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-11

.nussGAN.A hlsrocRACY.

OaIce Nos. 20 aud 81 Fourteenth street.
Iss--s======s..s
AN-AltlsTocIsACY. -. -
.s
a Picture of Lifo Under the CARA Strong
y lwl iLndigtinont. 2
ENs Ysri 7tibaas.
This Is the indictment drawn against
c1ardom by Russian hand. The author
is man Of letters who was driven from
his country because he dared to advocate
some appfoach to liberal measures and
institutions. From his place of refuge in
England he has Issued work-"Under.
ground Rnssta" which came as reyela-
ton to the world generally; and through
the london Tines and other journals and
reviews he has done much to inform
Europe concerning the real causes oil
Russian Nihilism and the tendencies Of
Russian governmental reaction. His knowl-
edge Of these subjects is full and accurate
and his statements have not been inn
pugned, much less controverted, by the
bureaucracy he attacks. He Is q Russian
patriot, full Of enthusiasm, admiration
auu ply loT tue Illnesses VI mo Gouhttylhen
whom he believes to DO lifted for an 3D.
ganeed civilization; but burning with
indignation against the autocracy which
is crushing the life out Of the nation, and
systematically sacrificing It's best elements
to tho maintenance Of the colossal scheme
Of official corruption and Incompetence
which is paralyzing progress and pre-
pairing an inevitable national conyulsion.
stepniak has drawn terrible picture Oh
Russia under the Izate, and picture
which is undoubtedly faithful and exact
IN the main: lis true that ne mas leit out
Of view all but the darker aspects OF Rus
stan lie; put II - clear that inc govern
mental policy which ne deais with Is OF
character 70 inject every social stratum
and. 70 produce the most depressing ana
demoralizlng enects upon the whoie Gym coIl:
manlty. ne pegins py IN account OF t ~
NH, the pTimitive village commune Wnten
preserves tne denoefatsy spiilt ansong tne
RUSSIAN masses, anu Whicn. WINE " u W too
deep-rooted 10 ne touched py even the
most desposic otgoyernments, Keeps alive
q certain rough independence when when
the habit Of submission % lne ozar Is once i
broken may necome tue nucleus OF IN
portant advances. rus Veneiation lor tse
Czar has been ex!retneiy miscnisVouS,
causing all classes 70 yieia 9 slaVish ope:
dlenee 70 the most lntoleIaple tyranny,
and encouraging me .f, measures meas res o. opPtees-
son when the olllcla. cars las urged tne
mead OF the government 70.
1nese measures nave ,peen eafrieu ~
lar that the STATE Of tne hussi 1si SUBJECT Is
to-day almost 1ncfedioIe. mere never
has been any justice IN the isha, pat NOW
even the prrtenee OF It's abandoned.
Everyoody IS naple 70 % ae ~ ny UPON
by the police az any Iine " tne gay VI
night Ihese domlclllaty Nsls may OF
may not END IN arrests, put Whetner tney
do or not the victims g. theA are eSpose4
TO punishment; FOR etepniak SHOWS tnat
In Russia people are punished often IN def
spite Of their acaulttal. me desaons o.
the courts are OF no ehect. a man may
be declared innocent BY tribunal yet DC
rearrested by tue police as ne leaves court
and be sent to Siberia. Anu there Is q
condition known as administrative e1-
ile"which enables the ponce 70 punish
the innocent y a man y atrestea anu
nothing Is proved against MN ne may DC
ordered to 80 and live IN distant prov.
ince under police supervision. Gor Is ~
necessary that any reason ior suoh meas
ures should be given. For political offences
there is no law and no RESPONSE
bility for the police. Ihey arrest whom
they please without warrant anu lhey
imprison them as long % they please
without trial. The innocent are eoniound.
ed withthe guilty, Tor anonymous dehun,
Citations arc received ana actea upon, ana
malice can always gratly llsell py sueh
businesses, because tho poilee are not oD-
liged to give any explanation 70 Their NC
Tins. It's the system OF the French Ter
ror methodized and made permanent, IN
short. And itoperates sgalnst a.! that IS
brightest and best In Russia; Intellect
patriotism, talent, energy, are by their ma;
tute rendered. "saspect. Every scoundfei
can ruin every honest man, Fer actual
crime, such as robbery, THEFT, arson aud
murder, there IS tolerance and lar play:
Fer the heinous offence Of liberal thought |
there are no terms Whatever. a more
horribie. detessae!e; intoieraete state O.
thing lsinconceivanle, yet stePniaRs cyl
lence cannot be lightly SET aside,
for he gives names and dates Tor
every assertion, and trequentlyo cites govern
.lnent reports IN confirmation OF his state;
ments. HIs'aecount Of the way political
offenders and arrested persons against
whom nothing. Is proved are treated IS
deeply interesting, though much Of the
matter has been before MADE public. II
is clear that there never haa peep any des-
potism 50 extensive and at the same time
50 crushing as that Of Russian ozardom;
And It Is perhaps IN nus descriptions o.
the attitude Of the Government toward
education that the immortality aud stu
pendous e!iminaltty Of that despotlsm Is
most plainly exhibited by stepniaE. Inc
bureaucracy fears all popular eniighten-
ment doubtless because y realizes that an
enlightened pubic woula not tolerate lts
corruption end lnetiicleney. IL therefore
resists oil attempts a natiopa! education.
From the primary school 70 tAe nM-
yerstty tho educational system 70 m
IaHt b a YNaIfRA and the nnliNn bNnHfaIiV