Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-25
"RUSSIAN STUDENTS AND NJ
HiLiSM.c

HiLiSM."
UNDER this head the New York
Tribune has the following apparent
ly logical statement. 1t shows what
danger might come from merely
intellectual education, unaceom-
panied by religious restraints or use
ful employment.
"Under ordinary circumstances any
attemp, to obstruct education and en-
lightenment would constitute an act
Of almost senseless blrbarism. With
out accepting, It may be useful to re-
count heterogeneous officially put for
ward in Russia at the present time in
defense OF the retrograde policy Of the
imperial administration. The object
which the latter proposes to attain by
restricting access TO the universities
and high schools is TO diminish the
vast number OF college graduates,
who, being unable 20 obtain employ
ment which they consider worthy Of
their scholastic attainments. become
discontinued with their lot, embittered
against both government and society,
and form the kernel and backbone Of
the Nihilist movement. Among the
sudden and advanced reforms inaug-
uraied by the late Gar after his access
sion 10 the throne in 1856 was one
which practically rendered education
even in the highest branches Of sci
ence almost entirely free AS the ex-
pense was merely nominal, lib
Grated serfs, petty tradesmen,
and poor artisans made it
point to send their SONS TO
the college and university with the !
conviction that successful studies |
would necessarily involve lucrative
and influential appointments in the
service Of the government. Unfortun-
ately, the government service was. and
has continued TO be, crowded with the
sons Of the wealthier and more arisio-
cratic classes. 1t was entirely closed
to Jews. and utterly unable TO meet
the multitudinous demands Of the
for employment. Russia
is as yet so poorly developed as re-
CARDS trade and manufaciure-agri-
culture constitutingthe principal ma
tional industry-that the Students
could find no career open 10 them.
The absence Of any technical training
At the university rendered their ser
vices unavailable in connection with
The progress Of Russian industry, and
hey were too proud OF their classical
md scientific accomplishments to con-
descend 10 follow the humble pursuits
IF their fathers. Without profession,
without regular means Of existence,
md dangerous on account Of their I'M Z
Employed learning and knowledge, q
hey became the nucleus Of the Nihilist
lar,y, with the object Of obtaining .
trough an overthrow OF the existing :
rider, both Of government and Of so !
'ieiy, the means Of livelihood which
IRE now denied to them. At least 90
YER cent. Of the Nihilisis brought to
rial during the last fifteen years have e
belonged to the student or college grad !
iaiing class, and in almost every
ase they have been the sons Of either !,
ONE peasant or petty tradesnan. The /
ate Count Tolstoi was the first to reai- h
.e the peril TO the monarchy which o
Tas constituted by this vast body Of 0
ighly educated men without employ /
lent or means OF existence, and held II
nat it WAS unreasonable for the Gov =
to afford gratuitious instrse- :,
on and training to the very persons
tho were destined to become its most
angerous enemies. During the reign
the late Gar he attempted in vain ri
} restrict the educational system, so q
II as the higher branches OF science
ere concerned. II was not until two
ears ago that he was able to enforce =,
is ideas, and TO issue an imperial de h
rec debarring the masses from sccess 81
} the universities. II was pro- o
cted at the time to organize s.
IT the lower classes system -
technical and trade schools :,
IT instruction in the various forms Of n
annual labor. But these have not fe
Il been established. Since Count b.
olsf,ffS Hath raut 49,, II ,,or.-..- -. | -