New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
LIGHT UPON RUSSIA.

The announcement by cable that the Russian
press ccnsors would not permit MIR. George
Remnants articles in "Tbe Century Magazine"
10 enter the country, need surprise no one.
The Russian press censor always errs on the
safe side, and even shuts out advertisements
which he has not quite the intelligence to COM
prehend. 1t is not to be wondered at then,
that he excludes articles which are attracting
attention wherever the English language is
understood. Mr.. Remnants exposure of the
methods of the Russian Government in dealing
with political prisoners is of great value, be-
cause he writes so dispassionately and with an
evident determination to risk nothing by over
statement. His statements are based upon
careful personal observation, and are, wherever
it is possible, fortified by official proofs. 1t
cannot be said that thcv present any startlngy
new disclosures. for tho Russian system has
long been the byc-word Of the civilized world
for its cruelty, its secret methods and its dcs-
potic irrcsponsibility. But these articles render
a great service in showing that the progress OF
civilization elsewhere has done little or nothing
TO amelioratc this side of Russian life and that
tho Government is still relentesSly pursuing
its traditional barbarous methods. The proof
Of this is so complete that no impartial mind
can resist it,
After reading even the comparatively limited
showing of facts thus far made, the wonder is,
not that there should be Nihilists in Russia,
but that there should not be more Russians
arc human beings of flesh and blood like the
rest of u.s. and the present disposition of large
numbers of them is not to be explained, as
Mr.. KEENAN, reminds us, on any theory that
the race is peculiarly liable to homcidal insan-
ity. When the assassination Of the Car was
arranged at revolutionary conference, nearly
fly men and women volunteered to commit
the act, each one knowing that it involved GER
tain death. Such n remarkable manifestation
as this is not to be set down to total dcpiavlty.
Such desperation must be born OF deep-'ylng
causes The horrors of the French Revolution
are only to be understood by those who will
study the history of the preceding thousand
years. during which the kings and arstocracy
of France had been sowing the wind; the
whirlwnd that broke upon them in the Reign
of Terror was only in Natures order of seed
time and harvest So in Russia Nihilism is the
legitimate offspring of system that will drag
an innocent young girl from her home, without
charges, almost without suspicion, keep her
for year amid herd of filthy and dcpravcd
criminals, or in solitary confinement, without
even hearing until she dies raving. and then
brutalIy refuse to her parents the poor privilege
of weeping at her grave, by declining to let
them know even where she is buried. 1t is
difficult for the Anglo-SaXon reader accus-
toned to system of laws under which the
rights Of accused persons arc guarded with
jealous care that amounts in these days to
giving odds against the Government in every
criminal trial. even to conceive of such system
as this, where suspicion is equivalent to sent
cnce, and where the most cruel devices are
used to torture prisoners in body and mind.
As he reads he wonders. not that there should
be conspiracics and assassnatiOns, but how
such expressions continue without terrific eX-
rlosion that shall shake the Empire to its foun-
dations. II needs no skill as prophet to fore
see that the only cure for this situation will be
the concession of many reforms in cOnsonance
with the spirit of the age. The policy OF re-
preston can only have one result.
1t is useless to discuss the morality Of Mill
ism under such a system. Effect must follow
cause and the men who take part in such
movements are governed by forces beyond
their control II would be worth while though,
for persons who may have been disposed to
sympathize somewhat with tho American brand
of Anarchist. to learn what things are done in
country where people have really something
to complain of; and then to reflect that the,
Uaymarket massacre at Chicago was pcrpe-
trated in furthcring an attempt to limit day
work to eight hours Having to work moro
than eight hours day docs not seem great
oriovance beside those narrated by MIR. Kcnnan