The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-13
The Sources From Which They
Spring and Their Ranks
Recruited.
The Sufferings Of the Russians
Depicted BY One Of
Themselves.
Free Speech, Free Press and Honest
Clergy Terms Which Have no Ap-
plication Under the Gar.
For The Enquirer.

lin reply to queries as to what the
Nihilists complain of; Russian laws in
regard to land, taxes; manner of arrest;
law and practice; teaching and demands
of the Greek church in Russia: the mo-
tives of violent measures practiced BY
the Nihilists and as to what could enlist
the sympathies of other countries to
bring about the establishment of an
other state of affairs in Russia.
The Nihilists complain of only one
thing injustice. They have brought no
particular charge against the authors
ties-nol Such charge would Indicate
demand to improve upon that or an
other affair, leaving the whole structure
stand as it does. while they, the Nihil-
lists, are more than sufficiently intelli-
gent to understand that no remedy is
effective unless the. cause is removed.
The general laws are almost the same
as in the other European countries, ex-
cept such as are inconsistent with an
autocracy. Taxes are rather too heavv
on the poor and especially laboring
classes; tax is levied upon all trades
and works. The laws regarding land
are wiser in Russia than in any Euro
pean country, but the credit for it is not
due to the Moscovite government. The
latter has made several attempts to
crush to death some good old customs
regarding the ownership of land and 80
far has not fully succeeded-thanks to
Allah; for.it is His faithful people, the
Turks, with whom the constant fighting
is holding the czars away from serious
attempts at that point.
Laws regarding arrests of persons and
property have liberal tendency. A
judges warrant is requir ed on almost all
occasions. The police as well are given
the right of interfering, but ought almost
in the same day TO bring the case before
the proper Justices, who have the entire
control and right to master the police.
The police, however, are invested with
most despotic privileges whenever the
case has any connection with a political
movement. Down from the lowest subject
of the czar up to the members of the
highest ranks of the nobility the police
can and actually do arrest any one. 1t
is only necessary to say one word-po-
litical-and the case is out Of the gene
raj courts Jurisdiction. The police do,
therefore, arrest any one for whatever
cause it may be, from personal motives
even, and oftentimes from desire to rob
the unfortunate victim, who is always
ready to pay for his rslease to the ex-
tent of his financial ability-and there
is no way Of complaint. For in such
cases person ought to complain to a
higher administration of police char
acter, which works exactly the same
way. An attempt at it means a<sure ad-
ministration exile, probably to Siberia.
Being invested with such power the
police authorities are afraid of nothing.
Over fifteen wears ago woman was ar
rested for not having passport. She
named her native village, which the
police claimed not to have existed. She
was banishedto Siberia and after fifteen
! years confnem ent she was released and
her village found. Upon investigation
of the press it became known that the
whole affair sprang from mistake made
fby the arresting police officer IN spelling
the name of the village. That officer is
probably now in higher position and
the very one for directing a complaint if
such was made. Suppose he was not
and the poor woman complained-she is
free but subject again to any police
trick.
| A girl suspected of Nihllism was
brought to the Ispravniks office. The
brute was temrted by her appearance
aud she was ordered to undress herself.
Upon her refusal he fell on his victim,
tore her dress, and, after most violent
strug gle, was victor GUS. The police
W atch and carryof the victim in the
most painful commissions. Order reigns.
Nobody has right to disturb or inter-
fere
i At the usual time the Ispravnik for
wards his usual report to the higher adj
ministration, and if it is accompanied
with the usual certificate of confession,
which is made out of such stuff that
even such brute as an inspravnik is
rarely willing to utter in words and
rather bribes the priest for his silence !;
nothing else is looked into.
The strength of the Nihilists is equal
to the strength of the intelligent classes
of Russia, excluding some from the
ranks of the so-called high nobility.
4 Violent measures are not altogether
| their policy. They are challenged BY
still more violent measures of the czars
police. There is. however, hope that
terrorism makes the tyrants tremble,
and is also measure of agitation, whore
no other means exist A violent DEM
onstration results in some dying on the
scsfold, dozens banished to Siberia and
[Continued on fourth page1