Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-08-17
~ THE RUSSIAN POLICE.
HOW 1t Is Organized and Administered at
the Present TINA

the Present Time.
The police in Russia, as in all absolute
monarchies, has had to combine ths
duty OF preventing crime and watching
over The people with that of supervis-
ing officials and protecting the govern
ment. Alexander l., in imitation of
Napoleon, made it department of the
State. Nicholas. refining thereon. di-
vided 1T into two sections-the ordinary
police. under the Minister of the Inte-
rior. and the secret police, under the
Emperor in person. The latter was a
privileged body. above all law, re-
sponsible only to the Car, and with
almost unlimited authority. Its head
was member of the Committee of Min
listers, and by his intimate relations
with the sovereign and freedom from
other control became the most power
full parsonage in the empire. This in
sttution was preserved by Alexander ii.
with its attributions intact. Although
by law subjects of the Car could no
longer be arrested and condemned
without legal process. the Third Sec
ton could seize. incarcerate or deport
at will, and even secretly. By Jesuit
ical distinction it did not pretend to
punish or to interfere with the course
OF justice against crime; it merely sup
pressed indefinitely individuals who
were deemed IL danger to public order.
Its existence after the Inauguration of
the reign OF law presents an anomaly
similar to that of iettres de cachet in
France, of which the King could avail
at pleasure, despite tribunals and stat
utes.
During the early years of Alexander
III. s reign. when Russia seemed pro-
crossing toward new and glorious
future. it was seldom resoried to. An
attempt upon his life in 1856 restored
it to favor and activity. Notwith-
STANDING its irresponsible character
and its almost unlimited powers. it was
worsted in the duel with nihilsm from
1870 to 1873 Of it's last chiefs, General
Mzentsof was assassinated, and Gen
eral Drenteln, severely wounded, re-
signed. lis inefficiencv caused change
in its organizations; double police led
at times to absurd results and the pub
lie agents of one department often
wasted their efforts in pursuing the
emissaries Of the Of her, acting in secret.
After the explosion of the Winter
Palace. in 1889. the Thir Section was
abolished, but in name only; it was re-
moved from the imperial chancellery
and united to the ordinary police,
in order, by giving the whole
service single head, to increase
its efficiency. Both departments
were placed under General Loris
Melikof, upon whom, as Minister of
the Interior, almost dictatorial powers
were conferred for 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 Gar. but became one of the depart
ments 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 ire
mendous engine of despotism with in
creased powers. they have also turned
the wheel of progress backward, de-
prived the nation of liberties accorded.
and destroyed the hope of further con-
cessions for years to come. Albert r.
Heard, in Harper's Ma1azine.