St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-26
THE POLICE OF RUSSIA.
Honest Folks Watched Like Grim
inals-A Terrible Instrument of
Despotic Ruler.

f1OncSC folks w dCCneu Like SfIHl-
inals-A Terrible Instrument of
Despotic Ruler.
The police of Russia, says writer in
Harper's Magazine. as in all absolute
mOnarchieS, have had to combine the
duty of preventing crime and watching
over the people with that of supervising
officials and protecting the government.
Alexander L.. in imitation of Napoleon,
made it department of the state. Mich
OlaS, refining thereon, divided it into two
SectionS-the ordinary police, under the
minister of the interior, and the secret
police, under the emperor in person.
The latter was privileged body.
above all law, responsible only to the
cZar, and with almost unlimited au-
thority. Its head was a member of the
committee of ministers, and by his lntl-
mate relations with the sovereign and
freedom from other control. became the
most powerful parsonage in the empire.
This institution was preserved by
Alexander H.. with its attributions in
tact.
Although by law subjects of the czar
could no longer be arrested and con-
demned without legal process, the Third
section could seize, lncarcerate or de-
port at will, and even secretly. BY
iesuitical distinction it did not pretend
to punish or to interfere with the courts
of justice against crime; it merely sup
pressed Indefinitely individuals who
were deemed danger to public order.
Its existence after the Inauguration of
the reign of law presents an anomaly
similar to that of lettreS de cachet in
France, of which the king could avail
hims elf at pleasure, despite the trlbu-
nails and statutes.
During the early years of Alexander
IFS reign, when Russia seemed pro-
crossing toward new and glorious fut-
are, it was seldom resorted to. An at
tempt upon his life in 1866 restored it to
favor and activity. Notwithstanding
its irresponsible character and its al
most unlimited powers, it was wOrSted
in the duel with nihiliSm from 1870 to
1878. OF its last chiefs. Gen. MezentSOf
was aSsaSsinated. and Gen. Drenteln,
severely wounded. resigned. 1tSt inetfi
cheney caused change i'll its OrganiZa-
ton; double police led at times to alb
surd results, and the public agents OF
one department often wasted their eff
forts in pursuing the emlSSarles OF the
other acting in secret.
After the explosion of the Winter pal
ace in 1880 the Third section was abOl-
iShed, but in name only; it was re-
moved from the imperial chancellory
and united to the ordinary police, in
order, by giving the whole service
single head, to increase its efficiency.
Both departments were placed under
Gen. L0ris Melikoff, upon whom. as
minister of the interior, almost dlcta-
tOrial powers were conferred Tor the
preservation OF public order. While
this change made no alteration in the
attributiOns of the secret police it was
Slight gain in principle.
" The Third section was no longer
under the personal direction of the czar,
but became one of the departments of
government. and as such was subject to
administrative control.
The unreasoning violence and mon
strous atrocities of the Radical party
not only led to the revival of this tre-
mendous engine of despotism with in
creased powers, but they have also
turned the wheel of progress backward,
deprived the nation of liberties ac-
corded, and destroyed the hope of
further concessions for years to come.