The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-15
sTEPNIAK, THE NIHILIST
The Great Russian Refugee Discusses
the Present Prospects of Nihllism.
The Work of the Russian Aut0cracy - The
People Really Dying 0ut-Specimens of
Government disagreement.

TO the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
I send you to-day able letter by Stepniak,
the celebrated Russian author and revolutionist,
and preface it with the following brief bio
graphical notice, furnished me by an English
friend CT Stepniak:
He has written several we'll known works
which have created much stir here in London
and done great deal TO arouse interest and
sympathy in the modern Russian Party of
Progress, known more Familiarity Nihilists.
in powerful and lucid style he describes the
aims, aspirations and methods of the Nihilists
and the present condition of Russia. and re-
views its past history, and its gradual growth up
To the internal struggles of today These
works Underground Russia which
consists of series of sketches Of
the principal Nihilist workers martys,
as one may truly call them. Everyone
here has read this fascinating volume. He has
also written Russia Under the Cars in two
volumes The title explains the nature of the
work He is, too the author of the Russian
articles to the Times on Russian agricultural
questions. which will soon be collected and pub
iisned.
.Stepniak, who was formerly, I believe, pro-
fessor in Russian University Il don't know
| which, passes his days, accompanied by his
charming wife. in the British Museum. working
/ and studying. At evening. they return to their
pretty little villa near Regents Park, The gar
! den slopes down to the canal, so that moth
| has essentially Scavic type of physiog-
nomy, a square, powerful head, strong
jaw and rapid, fiery glance. indicating great in
! tellect, resolution and energy. He also pos
| sesses remarkable quickness in interpreting
/ character. He has massive frame, a broad
chest, and is of fair height In conversation and
discussion where he is interested, his manner is
! animated and impressive He is quite at ease
/ in writing English. but in speaking 1T he now
aud then checks himself instant to choose
word. He is a complete master OF the whole
/ field of Russian subjects, and is generally
/ learned and cultured man. His manners are
somewhat brusque and original but he receives
his friends warmly, In his whole bearing there
/ is such air of superiority and straneeness
1 that he cannot fail to attract attention. His
wife is graceful, gracious, vivacious. inteili-
gent Russian lady, with most sympathetic
countenance, two large dark eyes, short, curly
black hair and fair skin. "
THEODORE STANTON.
[Copyrighted.l
LONDON, Dec. 81, 1SS7.-What are the pros
nects of nihilism! Is it on the decrease on
the increase? Is the revolution likely to sue
ceed in Russia9
In all its forms and manifestations revolutions
are but pathological symptom, showing that
the organic growth of nations has been OBJ
strueted by those who, for the moment. have
the supreme control over public affairs. II
rulers wise, they would avoid revolution
by removing these obstacles in time. If nations
were homogeneous, or even approached homo
genelty in their intellectual stan dard and conse
quently in their intellectual growth, they
would have removed these obstacles without
any need of having recourse to revolution.
But unfortun ately none of these requisites for a
smooth development exist in reality. OF all
nations modern Russia is certainly the most
heterogeneous intellectually. Her educated
classes stand on exactly the same 'eve as those
cIsa8yt 5tl1er civilized eountry, but the masses
still cling to the traditions of the middle
AS. moreover. total isolation from all contact
with real life has rendered ruler the very
verse of wise our chances of escaping reYo-
lutionary action have always been very small
indeed. That why nihilism. socalled, came
into existence. and that is why its extension.
intensity and prospects of further development
must be gauged by the amount of obstruction
caused by the existing govern ment.
When the great duel between the Nihilists
and autocracy began in Ri ssia, good people
said: 1.-THE Gar is prevented by a sentiment
of honor from making concessions under
threat" But since the accession to the throne
of Alexander Ill, autocracy has had long
enough period of tranquility. in which to show
what It really intends to do. But instead of the
long expected reforms. the nation sees only
signs of inaction and even reaction. which
grow stronger a feeling of comparative safety
takes possession of the Gar and his immediate
circle.
The first month of the new reign marks the
epoch when autocracy was at its lowest point,
and the prospect of national emancipation at it's
highest. The young Emperor. deeply affected
by the tragical end of his father and the enor-
nous responsbliti he was about to assume.
and not accustomed as yet to the enjoyment of
Unlimited power, hesitated to what line of
policy to follow. The Liberal Ministry pre-
served. The pros and cons of a new constitu-
tion were discussed at the ministerial council in
the presence of the Emperor. But the Liberal
Ministry was suddenly ousted from office by
bold and unscrupulous move of the Reactionary
party.
That sa,timbanco Ignatieff came to the front,
and for whole year he oppressed the country
by his evil deeds. Another court intrigue, and
Coun. Dmitry Tolstoi, the most hated states
man in the empire, succeeded him. Tho reac-
tion took en- tire possession of the Emperor, who
decame henceforward obedient tool in the
hands of the triumvirate composed OF Katkof,
Pobedonorfer and the Prime Minister.
But the people still hoped that reforms would
be granted after the Gar had been crowned
The coronation came however, and nothing was
DONE A year passed, then another. The
home policy of the governments became only
more clearly and cynically reactionary. Count
Tolstoi is Of the few; il not the only one, of
statesmen who can be called peasant
hater. His hobby is to build upon our sofia
landed aristocraoy, to whom the common people
will be subjected But the task is as unreallza-
Bile would be an attempt to reestablish to-day
the planters supremacy IN the Southern States
of America
And yet the government did it's utmost to
bring about this Utopian scheme. by Subsidizing
lavishly, the one hand the landlords and by
granting them various privileges in local and
general administration, while on the other hand.
1t curtailed the communal selt-government
rights of tho peasant, and deliberately and
cynicalIy put obstacles in the way of their edu-
cation. The educational law of June. 1854,
takes back, practically. to sthe period anter-
ior to 1861. when whole system of education
nominally in the hands of the clergy, al
though in reality it did not exist at all Recent
proposed changes in the laws concerning local
self-eovernment threaten here, too, to put Russia
where she quarter of a century ago.
In the eyes of the masses of the people, how
ever the crimes of autocracy not go much
what has been DONE what has been allow ed
to go uninterruptedly. 1reier to the fright
ful spoliation of the peasantry of their land by
the village usurer, and real estate forstallers,
evils due the overburdening of the peasantry
with taxes. The worst feature of the present
regime is the running of the most important ele-
ment of our rural population and the consequent
reducing of the peasartry to state bordering
starvation.
In the thirteen central provinces, the heart of
Russia, the rate of mortality as high as 81 in
a thousand per year. According to the last re-