The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-24

which has burdened them with responsibilities
they are not able to bear and for the nonfulfll-
ment unknown to slavery itself. Russia is
peasant state. The inhabitants of all the cities
and towns make only 10 per cent. of the popula-
tons, and one half of the towns are agricultural
And our peasants are our taxpayers. They,
and not the wealthy folk, supply the
revenue. of the. state, and they are
taxed far beyond reason and Justice. The taxes
so imposed that they fall due just before
harvest time, when the people have not yet
turned their crops to cash. At the best of times
they have barely enough to live on after they
have paid the government demand how much
worse then must it be when they are asked to
Day their taxes at just that season Of the year
when they have no money! You would think
that it would only be rational on the part of the
government to postpone its days of collection
until the harvests have been gathered and sold.
But the Russian government does nothing that
is rational Year after year efforts have been
made to SO postpone the date when the taxes fall
due. But to no avail For then the officials
would be bereft of an excuse for plundering the
peasants and appropriating their crops in the
name OF the law. And understand that in Rus.
sia eyerything is done by the officials as they
think best OF rather, as they find the best
chances for plumber. At one time banks were
started to assist the peasantsso that they could
lay up money through the year to meet the
taxes as they became due, but just as these in
situations met with, favor from the men they
were designed to benefit, and their Golfers began
to I'LL with savings decree issued-which
is only another way of saying that it was carried
out-appolnting government official at the
head of each bank. and the officials at once APP
proprlated the funds.
In Russia there is no public opinion. because
there are no means of formulating one. The
peasants. who form nine-tenths Of the popular
tion, are densely ignorant, and the educated
Glasses suffer ceaseless persecution unless they
enroll themselves prominently on the govern
ment side. What called the .Nihists' are
chiefly the educated people, for there can be no
harmony between despotism and enlightenment
The educated classes have taken up on behalf of
the peasant the battle which the peasant is un.
able to fight for himself, and for this they are
prosecuted beyond the power of an
recognize the might of education and the
fact that it's spread ia dangerous
to the existing order. of things For
this reason ban is placed upon learning and
Ministers of the Gar. Everything is done that
can be done to ruin the peasants materially and
the educated classes morally. To thinking Rus
slams and to our ambitious youth, life is but a
dreary span of years, without hope, without any
of those Incentives for the future which men in
other countries enjoy. Already one generation
OF noble youth has been swept away by the gal
lows or by exile. The severest fortunes are
orougnE 20 pear upon po1tlcal prisoners, fortunes
that would have been disgrace even to the dark
ages The innocent suffer with the guilty, If
man can be called guilty whose deed is calcu-
lated to effect the rescue of his country and
the freedom of his race. But the authorities
know no such thing as innocence If they sus-
pect man, even without cause, he is doomed,
and NO earthly power can save him. The gov
ernment is as blind as it is perverse and cruel.
It's continued oppression. which grows worse
year by year, is goading the people to despera-
tim IS
flower of Russian intellect is being wiped out
by hand we are powerless to stay. Against
this barbarism our only resource is secret war
fare. They call US 'Nihilists, and seek to impress
the world that we are the friends and brothers
of those despicable fanatics-of whom you
have some in America-who preach the absurd
doctrines of socalled Socialism, and seek
to overturn the fundamental principles
of civilized life 1t is false! We have no
connection and no sympathy with these dema-
gogues. Our strife is for freedom, constitutional
government and a represen tative Parliament
Give US these and the Car may retain his
throne. Our organization embraces the best ele-
ments OF the Russian people, and SO much of her
intellectual strength; so much of all that is most
noble, generous and intelligent, so much of her
vital vorce as is not buried among the thousands
of Siberian exiles One thing is certain We
can never gain our freedom by peaceful methods,
successful in our generation our sons aud daugh-
ters will carry on the struggle. Posterity will
gain what is denied to US. A struggle has begun
which will never end until Russia is as free as
England.
MY mission in England is to educate public
opinion in our support, and have already met
with success which snrpasses my expectations.
My books Underground Russia and Russia
Under the Cars are eagerly read, and am at
present engaged upon two more works-'The
Storm-Cloud' and The Russian Peasantry.' The
press has met me with great kindness, and the
London Times has opened it's columns to my
pen, thus creating great indignation in Russian
officialdom, where the Times is regarded as the
greatest power in England. The English people
have treated me with unbounded hospi-
pitality, and last week Russian Society
was formed by some of the leading men and
women Of London with the object of supporting
US in our struggle with oppression of the ex-
tent and nature of which you free Americans
can little dream, though the very best book, by
a foreign writer. that have ever seen on Russia
is by an American; it is Mobiles Russian Revolt
II welcome, and shall always welcome, any
opportunity to inform Americans Of the state Of
affairs in Russia. and to gain their attention. SYM
pathy and support, and to inform them that we
'Nihilists' are patfiots-not desperadoes and
demagogues-and that if our system. of secret
warfare is thought unworthy of modern civilza-
tion tell them it is the horrible oppression we
suffer that makes it SO, and that it is our only
means of revolt"
Man and Wife Murdered.
CLOvBRDALE, Cal, Jan. 23-Details reached
here to-day of double murder, the victims of
which are prominent farmer, Jesse G. Wicker
shall, and wife, The tragedy occurred at Mr.