Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-27
nfseontent Russia.
OIBOOMkO1AG N8B1Ns
st. James Gazette's st. Petersburg Correspon


denee
The last ten days have proved disastrous
to Russian secret societies and to all who are
dissatisfied with the present state of things
. in that country. Arrests are still the order
of the day. Thousands of Liberals have
been apprehended and imprisoned through
oat the country in connection with the uni
| versity disturbances, which seem to have
attained to serious proportions Simultaneous
| Iy in all the universities of Russia. Only
| two universities are still in anything like
| working order. In Kieff and st. Petersburg
alone the authorities are able to keep the
| ferment within bounds. In the other uni
versities lectures are suspended till February
| next Meanwhile the ringleaders of the
movement are being selemnly Intercepted as
to their motives, after which they are sent
back to prison, there to await further devel-
opments, such as exile to Siberia, transporta-
ton to Arehangelsk, Or SO many years COM
pulsory service in a battalion of military
criminals.
The police are endeavoriug to hush up the
awkward revelation that in every university
town political societies exist with ideals and
methods of attaining them utterly incompat-
ible with the actual regime. Each of these
societies-and in some cities there are three
or four-is quite Independent of the others,
having official connection with them
whatever; SO that the arrest en- bloc of all the
members of one society need not have an in
furious effect on the well being of the others
In Odessa, for instance, Georgian Cir
clen has existed and agitated, actively but
unobtrusiyely, until week ago. Its presi-
dent was Georgian prince, than whom
there is no more daring and fearless plotter
against government. He was charged at
first merely with completely in the students
movement; the discovery of his connection
with secret societies came out afterwards.
He is already expiating his temerity in pris-
on, waiting to be transported. The police in
reality spread their nets at random, and the
result was much better haul than they ex-
pected. Young ladies, school girls, students,
ETC., were taken up on chance-or "on sus-
picion," as it is officially termed-and many
of them were then found to be affiliated eth
er to the Georgian circle or to another secret
society lately founded in the South, which
has rami6cations in the principal cities of
southern Russia. Letters found at the lodg-
ings of the prisoners led to more arrests, and
now the Odessa prisons can hold NO more.
The Odessa branch of the above mentioned
society has, I am informed, suffered very Sc
we're losses of men and money, SO that it's ac-
ton will be paralyzed for some time to come.
At Odessa and Kharkoff subscriptions have
been set on foot for the benefit of those who
are to be transported, which means being
hurried off to Arehangelsk or Kholmogory in
the light summer clothing suitable to the
warm southern climate of Odessa, but miser-
ably untitled for region where the mercury
descends below zero. The prisoners fund
of course it is collected secretly-is a brill
liant success. Representatives of all the
better classes of society are making contribu-
tions.
political trial of sinister interest to Nj
hilists is going on just now in st. Peters,
burg. The proceedings are conducted with
the profoundest secrecy, and the result will
most probably not be made known-if at all
until the sentence has been carried out.
The principal members of a secret society
which had its headquarters in Tagadrog are
on their trial for high treason. Among the
least criminal manifestations of their sctivi
ty may be reckoned the printing of books,
pamphlets, proclamations, &C., in a secret
printing Office, presided over by ei-deyant
student who was expelled from the Universe
ty of Odessa on account of the political
opinions he was suspected of holding But
the most Interesting figure among the ae-
cused is young woman-an intimate friend
of the student's-who for many years played
the part of Good Samaritan to political
prisoners in Odessa under difficulties which
would have discouraged most persons. She
took meals to them in prison, bribed the
ja1Iers to allow them to receive the little lux
uries she brought with the proceeds of her
labor, saved up money for those who were
released penniless, ETC., ETC. The life of this
young woman has been a tragieal romance.
From being an outside sympathizer she was
gradually drawn within the circle of conspir-
ators, until at last she became the soul of the
enterprise. She is now figuring in what may
possibly be thu last act of q gloomy drama
played before very few spectators.