The daily critic., 1890-10-23

] O. ANNitAE Dl hNetllltN tAdluot iuOeg lil
power which nothing can ever subdue.
The story, in many points, IS weak, aud
shows poor comprehension Of the sub
I iect dealt with II takes powerful
mind TO faithfully portray the lights
I and shadows Of the past and present Of
! the social and political life Of the Rus
sian people
In 1870, the Nihilists having steadily
/ increased iu power, began 10 take more
I decided measures for the propagation
/ OF their ideas The young people Of
| both sexes travelled to distant parts Of
the Empire, where, under various
guises, they mingled freely with the
peasants and soldiers, circulating their
! literature and imbuing them with revo-
utiOnary tendencies. In this work the
women played the most important part.
many Of them throwing of the cares Of
rank and wealth and boldly sharing the
peasant wife's labors, all to inspire a
spirit OF freedom in the poor, crushed
soul.
#*s
In the schools and colleges the young
Of both sexes are nearly all converts to
Nihilism, and no restrictions, no prose
cutions have been able to arrest its
rapid growth. Some idea Of the strength
Of the movement and the terror it has
inspired in certain quarters may be
CLEANED from the following facts. In
the summer of 1880 an attempt was
made TO assassinate Generals MezentznT
and MakarofT. In September of the
same year Il was announced from st.
Petersburg that the police were search
Ing for form Of secret government.
branches Of which had extended to
every province throughout the Empire.
In the city of Kostov a man named
Nikouaff was mysteriOusly murdered,
supposedly for having Informed the
police Of the meeting Of a few Nj
hilists.
.aa
The Society next issued a proclama.
tion declaring its intention Of putting TO
death all spies It discovered. Such
handed proceedings caused a panic
among the secret police Of the country.
when, by order Of the Car, the follow
ing manifesto was Issued "1n view Of
the frequency Of late Of the commission
Of numerous political crimes, having
clearly the character Of disobedience
and resistance to the governing powers,
His Imperial Majesty recognizes a secret
band Of insurgents, who. inspired by
social, revolutionary and other theories,
would destroy the Constitution of the
State, said secret band refusing TO recog.
nize the necessity Of social laws, the
right Of property, the sacreduess Of the
marriage tie-eyen going the length of
denying the existence Of a God a band
which Is willing TO employ any means,
no matter how Infamous, In the carry.
ing out Of their plans. They boldly
commit the most atroCiUus crimes,
destroy the public peace aud endangor
the power Of the State, the sacred duty
OF which Is to protect society and frus.
trate criminal Intentions. The constant
repetition Of these unheard-Of crimes
demand the immediate Institution OF
such measures as will inlliCt the severest
punishment For that reason we order
that all the above mentioned cases be
tried under the jurisdiction OF special
courts, and punishment be enforced aC
cordlnE 10 the criminal code; that all
persons charged with using arms In re.
slsting the agents Of the Government,
the military OF police are TO be tried by
the military courts and sentenced In ac
cordance to Code 200 Of the year 1875.
This order applies 10 all cases not con.
signed TO the ordinary courts
-
From the above manifesto you can
readily understand what a power Mill
ism has become in Russia. This great
secret society Is administered In the fol-
lowing manner: Six members. il so dis
posed, are privileged to form a separate
circle, always subject TO the governing
laws of the main body. They are EN-.
powered TO enroll new members, and in
every way conduct the business Of the
circle. In the admission Of candidates
the greatest caution Is enjOined. The
casting Of two blackballs is sufficient 10
exclude person.
Once a candidate Is elected he Is,
without the slightest warning, taken
from his home and blindfolded, driven
10 a meeting Of the Nihllist Circle of
which he has been accepted a member.
With eyes still bandaged, you are ar
raigned before the chairman Of the
meeting, who, In a loud voice, puts
some very startling questions. which |
you, on your honor, are expected 20 |
answer truthfully, You must be ready !
10 sacrifice life for the cause If neces /
sity demands Il. You are compelled 10 /
make promises, which you do in the |
enthusiasm Of the hour, but which /
when you look back 10 them. after /
n ore mature years, cause a feeling of /
horror 10 possess you that you so wan /
tOniy gave yOHT word as TO the sacrifice |
Of life. Self and friends, If need be, /
were 10 be inundated on the altar Of /
Nihilism. The Nihilistic or Iron Oath /
could not possibly be more binding. /
You swear 10 use every lawful aud un- /
lawful means 10 upT0Ot the existing /
form Of government Life must be /
nothing more than a bauble in your /
hands. You swear 10 protect aud fur |
ther the interests Of the party, no mat |
ter what the cost And much more in /
the same strain.
-
A narrator says that after the oath /
had been administered he was ordered /
10 remove the bandage from his eyes.
This he willingly did, and for the first /
time saw the mixed assembly into wnOse /
midst be had been led The Toom was
dimly lighted, TO avoid suspicion, but 4
be saw seated around members of the
Imperial Guard, government officials, i
professors. students of b0ln sexes mer
chants, peasants and one or two gen i
dIImes. Some Of the ladies present Il
have since met violent and brutal deaths.
In The corner of the TuOm SAT Sophia 4
PerOvskai, calm and digniHad, fun Of 1
h4r Ur4af r1rrD1ea II vvas fHa 20 ffuI4 I