Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-09
THE TZAR'S PERIL
Leo Hartman Takes Rrazil's
Revolution for a Text.
THE KILLING OF soUDEIKIN.


monarchy came about in such a wondrously
quick and unprecedeutedly bloodless manner
as TO astonish the whole thinking world A
complete revolution, without drop Of blood
shed In defense OF the old time honored prin-
ciple OF monarchy
The effect of the fall Of the empire in Bra
Kil ON the nations OF the Old World must be
tremendous Tremendous, too, must be the
effect upon their kings and tzars. The peo-
pie there are Disconnected, rebellious; their
kings lose ground all the WHILE whereas the
principle OF popular republican government
Is gaining new ground.
How will my old unhappy country take
the newsi How Is IL with the tzarl He Is
the very ideal OF monarch, whereas Dom
Pedro was not. Through no fault OF his
own, Dom Pedro was inconsistent with the
ideal OF n true monarchism-he cared, it is
said, for his people 10 the detriment Of his
personal interests, interests of the throne.
The far-sighted tar is consistent--he cares
not, Il Is known, for his people. Under cir
cumstances as in the case OF the Brazilian
ex-emperor, Dom Pedro did not resist, be-
cause he could not resist Such an emperor
as William would have shown courage TO the
extent of ignoring a popular demand, where
as thar would have aSsailod, flown like "the
blind fury with the abhorred shears and slit
the thin spun life.n
Such, / think, Is true monarch, and be-
ing the truest, the tar must feel sore, and
wore 80 than any other inconsistent mon
srch. However little they-Dom Pedro and
the tzar-resemble each other, the cause OF
their doom, effected with respect to one and
expected with regard 10 the other, Is one and
the same. One digs his own grave by being
good, by doing good to his people; the other
does the same by being bad, by keeping down
his people
And he does IL well, this other onel
Heavens, when will my poor, oppressed
country see the light OF republican liberty ,
When will IL be happy That we, Russians,
would not get rid OF our ideal monarch in
the Brazilian manner, doubt not; but that
the easy downfall OF Dom Pedro lightens the
task before us, feel sure
People in America brand us Nihilists with
the name Of 'assassns.n They disturb the
equilibrium, for they never give a name TO
tzar. But speaking for myself rs well as for
the hosts OF my murdered friends, may say
that happy should we all have been could we
have done our duty without taking up arms
However, things in Russia are just now as
summing most wonderful shape. We, the
Nihilists, may some day fold our hands and
with satisfaction observe how the furies
thrust their knives into their own Hesh.
They do IL even now, and the effect is truly
grand, since they do it through their own eI
cesses
As an illustration in support Of this state
ment, allow me 20 narrats recent event.
which, had il not taken place la Russia,
could hardly be believed
A former friend Of mine, and my comrade
In our war with Russian despotism, Left
Tihomirof, is one OF only two OF us who sur
vived the two short years 1s70-lSSO, which
seemed % US two scores Of years long, aud
during which our terroristic activity at
tained It's apogee. TihomirofY emigrated to
France, and subsequently,, disheartened by
the lack OF substantial success and the enor-
nous losses In the ranks OF revolutionists,
contrived % convince himself that IL is the
thar, and none else, who can make the Rus
sian people happy.
Tihomiroff's somerSault became known 70
the ideal monarch, who graciously allowed
him TO return to the country Of his fore
fathers My former comrade is now there,
and has TO some extent succeeded In regain
ing the confidence of the ever suspicious tzar.
However, before he left Paris, he wrote
an account of the occurrence, which
am 10 narrate. The character of the man
just with regard to the readers 10 narrate the
event as l know il myself My attitude
towards the Russian tzarism is well known.
as much TO the public as to the tar would
be suspected of exaggerations were TO put
my own color on the picture
The principal actor Is no less a parsonage
than the chief OF the Russian secret imperial
police, Col. Soudeikin, vested with the I'M
limited powers OF his imperial master. The
secret imperial police Of Russia was formerly
known as the third section OF his imperial
majestys own chancollery;n the name was
abolished "a the institution became abhorred
by the people, but the substance was retained
The secret police, IL should be remembered,
deals exclusively with ofYenses and offenders
OF n political character; and the Nihilists be-
ing the only party actively opposed to the
ideal monarchism, Soudeikin directed against
them all the resources of that vast and ON
nipresent organization. l say vast, since
there Is not nook or corner in Russia where
there Is not Mt least couple Of spies present;
since there is not one house in St Petersburg,
Moscow and the other large cities where there
is not a resident detective; since the aggre-
gate force Of the secret police exceeds one
hundred thousand men.
The readers will presently see that the
chief Of the secret imperial police Is vested
with powers over the life and death OF a Rus
sian subject there are no "citizens" in
Russial; he can and has the right to go by
or against the law, and to Ignore or overrule
judicial decisions
As n detective Soudeikin was successful be-
yond all expectations placed In him by the
emperor, and while he pursued his calling
with fanaticism worthy man OF convictions
he was free Of any principles Moreover, he
yas as free Of devotion TO the tar as OF hatred
towards Nihilists. Personal interests, an ex-
cessive love Of himself and passion TO attain
the position OF n minister of the imperial
cabinet, and to rule every one and everything
20 his own liking, were the only stimulants
that reused his mind TO wonderful successes.
Naturally, principles in nihilists, as much as
In all others, were subjects OF his derision
Life and happiness. even OF his own friends
he treated with indifference; they must serve
his own ends. Soudeikin was a true repre-
sentative OF that political and social degrade
ton which slowly but unrelentlessly gnaws
into the flesh and bone OF the official Russia
Detective P, a traitor from the ranks Of
Nihilists, betrayed to his chief n number of
his former comrades-revolutionis His
sfiliation with the secret police became ulti-
mately known, and no was powerless to do
any more harm. His life was threatened
He appealed to Soudeikin for assistance. But
the latter could make no use OF him any
longer; another one was needed; one suitable
TO replace P, one who has yet the conf
dence Of the Nihilists. Degaieff, another spy.
would be a suitable man, but he does not
answer the last mentioned condition.
Kill P, Soudeikin advises his spy De-
gaieff; "this will restore to you the former
confidence Of Nihilists Degaieff was also a
traitor, and your work will be effective. OF
course" adds he, ''it is a pity TO kill him, but
it cannot be helped P is now useless,
anyhow"
DeQaieff found the Dronosition AZ his chi.f