Wichita eagle., 1890-02-16

and proposition followed that l should
make special journey to Russia for the pur
pose Of giving to the American public
through the columns of The Century Maya
zine, clearer insight into its exile system
than had been before obtained. In order tc
provide against failure by reason of any in
reference on the part of the Russian authori
ties, / made a preliminary visit to st. Peters
burg and Moscow in 1884, and received the
assurance that no obstacles would be thrown
in the way of a thorough investigation of the
subject. In fact, found that the govern
ment was IN possession of copy of my lecture
before the Geographical society in New York,
and being fully acquainted with my views
and sympathies at that time, the officials
were ready to extend to me all needful facili-
ties for the prosecution of my mission.
81 returned to New York, and in the spring
of the following year, 1885, accompanied by
Mr.. Frost, an artist connected with The Cen
fury establishment, started again for Russia.
We were absent about sixteen months, trav-
cling during that time $4,000 miles, 5000
miles of the journey in sledges, and visited
every penal establishment except one Among
the mines inspected were those of Nerchinsk
and the Kara silver mines in the province of
Trans-Baikal, 1000 miles east OF ST. Peters
burg. We also visited all Of the large. exile
forwarding prisons in both western and east
ern Siberia, along what is called tho great
Siberian road, making the acquaintance
meanwhile of some 800 political exiles in all
parts of the country, through whom was
enabled to obtain very thorough knowledge
of the entire system.
Let me say here that went to Siberia as
strongly pre- udiced against revolutionists and
nihiiists as any man could be. Ireturned
with my mind entirely changed. The exiles
whom I met were neither fanatics nor an
archists, but Of a higher type of men and
wamen who were struggling for freer form
Of government; people who did not propose
to sweep away all existing institutions, but
would be content with limited monarchy
and whatever the term implies in connection
with personal liberty and freedom of speech.
Russian exiles, as we call them, may be
divided into two general classes political
and criminal The political exiles would
again divide into four classes: First, the
Moderate Liberals q name these first, be-
cause they ara the most numerous). who
would be satisfied with limited monarchy
regulated by a. constitution, and with re-
forms that would be perfectly practicable
under the existing government Second, the
Liberals, who desire representative form OF
government; that is, one that includes ma
tional parliament of some kind freedom Of
speech, freedom OF public asseIDblage, free
dom from arrest without a warrant and
from exile 70 Siberia without a trial, but
still q class which does not think it adj
viSable to employ force i'll order to at
tain these results Third, the Revolution
lists, who seek precisely the same end
as the Liberals, but who believe that
nothing can be accomplished by peace
full agitation owing TO the restrictions
upon the right OF public assembly, upon
the press and upon ali means of srousing
public opinion, and who therefore regard the
use Of force as advisable. Their immediate
object IS 70 overthrow the existing govern
mear by conspiracy and that species Of or
gained violence which is employed in masses
Fourth, the Terroris5s, who, while moving
on the same general lines with the Liberals
and Revolurio2ists. have become satisfied
from repeated failures lasting through long
series OF years. that force cannot be success
fully organized in the face OF such police
and bureaucratic system as that which exists
throughout Russia Often exAsperated bv
terrible private grievances. they regard them
seIves as jUssiaod in 5e-roriZiag the govern
inert by such acts as the blowing I'D Of toe
dining room Of the Winser Palace, en-
desvoring 10 DESTROY tas cars railway
train and fascinating high officials
who have shown mere tnan usual cruelty
and ruthiessncss IN the prosecution Of
political offenders Il numbers the latter
constitute TIE smallest Of the four Glasses de-
scribed, 5ut the others are made 70 suffer
from the aaisciaeds CT sseir more reckless CO.
sdJUGors. Terrorism was really the Lass or
extreme phase OF this struggle with The gov
ernment, and believe il ass tss-u practically
abandoned a. party policy, % That wat
ever at-asa-7ts May te hereafter maze 70 IS
saSsinate JEe car are ilkeiy % cone from
private In6iy I.insis e7-zzsd by peTsonaI wrongs
rather thin as tie result Of ssttlsd plan On
The part Of aay fraction o. Las revo!as@DEis-s-
THIS murder policy was ssicpsad az meeting
I eld N LIptska II 1875, and was p@rsastsri8y
pursued NJ d TIE assassination OF tEs car n
March, ISL. bat tie REss-An liberal and
revolutionary party IS a whcie dSstslairzef /
5 T.z1patl4v s3:n tue fe-Tor4stAc fAciAon and !
OF political assassislstsoa as i
means q reyeare. Esay OF tse political ex- I
lies whom MT IN Ssb.szs regarded fae XII
iac OF Alexander II as zee creates rnistase 4
;hst rad eee1 made By tie R1szisn protest
Ing cizsa7 l