Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-01-30
"A RUSSIANS PLEA,

"A RUSSIANS PLEA,
IN WHICH HE OFFERS SOME coeeNT
- REASONS
Why the U.ited States shsuld Reject tho
Proposed Extradition Treaty With the
Russian Govern4eat-A Sympathetic
appeal.
WASHINGTON, January "a plea for the
rejection OF the proposed extradition treaty
between the Russian and United States
Governments has been sent TO Senator
Joseph K Hawley, of Connecticut and Mr..
i. ;. Heath, newspaper correspondent OF
this city, by Sergius NJ. Stepniak, the Rms
sian exile, Nihilist and reyolutionist, now
located in London, whom these gentlemen
met in Russia last summer. Stepniak
makes special request that the matter be
laid before the Senate Committee on for
eign relations. and il is considered one OF
the stronccs; if not most violent arguments
that could be made against the alliance
between this and the Russian Governments.
Stcpniak, who is noted author, lays
down as his text that il is the rule with all
civilized nations that nobody can he con-
demned without being heard in the defense,
ard that the projected extradi;ion treaty
with the Russian government if ratified
by the American Senate, will be whole
sale condemnation to capital punishment.
and worse. Of any number of Russian pa
triotic people, designated as nihilis;s, who
may seek refuge from the de.potism OF the
Car. lie compares the nihilis,ic party in
Russia with the Irish Nationalists or Home
Rulers. The Russians want 10 overthrow
the Cars despotism. 10 break the yoke OF
the auiocratic bureaucracy. and TO estah-
iish National representive assembly,
or a government by the peopls-an
object similar TO that which the
Irish are striving for in their native coun-
try under the title Of Home Rule and
which, Stepniak says, receives the p,audits
Of the American people. He calls atten-
ton to the fact that the work Of the NitAk
lists or revolutionists in Russia is similar to
that of he Home Rulers in Ireland, and
says they are granted much less latitudex
than the ssbiects OF Great Britain, and for
free speech and free education and the
change in the form OF government He
holds that the United States Government
would be party 10 these expressions and
crime in name Of the Gar of Russia il it
formed the alliance contemplated in the
eItrsdition treaty To come before the
Senate.
That the instincts Of American citizens
naturally turn again against the oppression
in Russis, Stepnisk cites the fact that near
" all Americans who visit the Cars coun-
try become sympathizers with the Revolu-
uonists there. and not only write and speak
against Russian despotism, but actually
tender outside assistance. Should the treaty
he ratified. therefore. i, would be in oppos-
ition TO all Americans who understand its
meaning and through ignorance on the part
of the Senste. Many citations from history
and newspaper accounts snd the otticia! re-
ports of Russian officials are made, showing
that the political offenders which this treaty
is intended to take from the United States
TO the parent country are tried before mill
tsry courts withou, having either counsel
or witnesses and that there are discrimina-
tons in trials and punishment o: the most
cruel order against people who take issue
with the present form OF Government over
those who commit murder and crimes Of
the haser sort. That while the murderer is
given jury trial the man who advocates
eduCatido or change in the form of Gov
ernment is tried before = court martial and
denied all the rights Of counsel. witnesses,
etc, and the accused is even denied the
name OF the accuser, and is prevented from
even proving an alibi. He holds that the
present expressions form OF Government
are maintained only by force of the military
and the exercise OF the most unreasonable
obstinate and free use Of crown power !
The benefits to be derived from the treaty,
he says, are all on the side Of the Russian
Government, inasmnCh as criminals from
the United States cannot gain admission TO
Russia under the present order Of things
and there can Toe no more effect on the part
OF the United States IN securing the rati-
the than enI.-sin,. ka
tyranny OF the Czar.
Stepniak declares that rcgicide and politi- /,
cal assassination in general are not the only |
form OF activity of the Russian rebels or |
nihilists. They publish and circulate |
clandestine papers ard pamphlets. and the |
effective men and women do not defend |
the principle of assassination. Under |
the present system of censorship the
public press of Russia cannot give |
uiterance TO anything showing the
oppressive acts of the government
and while the European papers are indis.
nant at the barharous suppression by the
Cossacks whips and the butt end Of sol
i!er's guns, the purely scholarly disturb
lrCes in the Russian universities and the
killing of several disarmed students the
Russian papers are not allowed 10 say any,
thing about it. Girls of seventeen and tif-
teen and boys o: fourteen years of age
are exiled 10 Siberia. because their brothers
were killed by the Gendarmcs. and il is e1-
pected that the younger ones of the fami-
lies are likely To sympathize with them
The fain;est supposition Of sympathy with
revo!utionists is sufficient TO condemn to
another exile anyone.
In concluding his long argument against |
the ratification OF the treaty Mr. Stepniak
,ay-: After being first 10 proclaim the
hight 10 rebellion will you be first to assert
Il the end of Il century the divine right of |
nlngs and Empcrors TO trampie down ali |
hat men hold most sacred? For this is the
Dnly standpoint from which rebellion in
my form is biamable in Russia of TODAY.
br do You consider us. Russians. to be
over race which has no right 10 feel like
timers do. and 10 wish for what other men
Iave won There is no reciprocity what
.ver in this treaty. No American crimi-
evolutionists who flee 10 America come 10
ray but temporarily; then they secretly
eturn 10 their country and resume their
work anew. Of the men who. took any
'art in the conspiracies during the last
en- years there are actually in America |
lot more than five or siI scattered
ii over the States. The material harm the ,
practice could ipfict upon the
tussian revolution is absolutely insigpiti- :
ant But the moral effect will be great
ne. II will not stop or in any way di-
linish the so-called crimes OF the Nj.
ilists. If the Americans do not wish TO
AXE the lead and SET an example in sup
orting dying ont, discredited dcspot:sm
We. young, hopeful nation of one hum 3
red millions; ii they do not wish 70 /,
ssume upon themselves the moral respon-
bility for new thousands Of wrecked Il
vea. thoY must reiect this rnonaSynns ~