The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-02
''RTVBRS OF BLOOD"
Will Flow in Russia Before
Freedom is Gained.
AN IMPENDING REVOLUTION
In the Land OF the c1ar.-.1uteresttuG
!. Interview with stepniak, the
Famous NIhilist, just Land.
cd in this Country,

NEW YoRK, Jan. 1.-sergius Stepnial
the famous Russian reyolutionist, exil
and writer, arrived in New York on tn
Umbria and is occupying apartments {
the Everett house. Mrs. stepniak al
companies him. He has come to thi
country to deliver fly or more lectures
and, in view of the great interest whicl
Americans feel in Russian affairs, an
the particular interest which they mus
necessarily takein man who has bee
a co.worker with the most noted leader
of the popular movement against th
Gear, it seems probable that he will ad
dres large audiences.
It was mild.mannered Nihilist wit
sat in a room at the Everett house at
O'Clock and answered questions from
newspaper men. Anybody, taking ;
good look at him, would cay: "There'
man oyefhowing with good.nature; {
warm. hearted, sympathetic fellow. HI
cannot be Nihilist."
WHAT THE NInILIsTs WANT.
"The Nihilists as a party" said he
"bslieve that certain things should b:
given to the people OF Rassia. They
want n National Parliament, univera
suffrage, local autonomy, and nRtionali
ZatiOn Of land. They do not believe in
State Church, but in absolute freedom
in religions matters. For the present
they are fighting for but one thing, and
that is for the substitution OF a free gov
ernment in the place Of tautocracy. They
ask no more than this, willing to leave
the rest to be settled afterward, and
willing to take their chances with other
parties in the determination Of what in
stitutions are bestsuited to a free people,
They do not ask for republic, although
they are individually republicans. They
would be willing that the reigning Car
should be the President for life. But
they do insist that autocratic power shall
be done away with"
This and much more Stepniak said,
speaking with great rapidity and earn.
estness, exhibiting q wonderful com.
mand Of English and the ability to use
English words discriminatory. His
pronunciation, however. was far from
good, and at times it was difficult to
catch the words which fell go rapidly
from his lips.
"Whas are you hero for, to make
some money?" was the next question.
"Oh, no" answered Stepniak to this
rather abrupt inquiry. ~ come as the
representative Of the paper which is
published in Epgland-Frse Russia-a
paper which has for its object the
awakening in she civilized nations OF
the world OF a sentiment OF disapproval
Of tho course Of the Russian Govern
ment toward the people Of Russia. We
have no popular sentiment to which we
may appeal in our own land in the hope
that it may lead to modification oi the
rigorous treatment OF bis subjects ad-
ministered by the Gar. But We realize
that foreign opinion Of our country has
a tremendous influence. In the senti.
nents Of other people than our own We
have found lever which We may use to
great advantage in our work.
HENNAN's GREAT WORK.
"For example, We realize that what
has come from the work OF George
KEENAN, has made an epoch in Russian
history. do not mean that the senti.
meut which he has aroused has had it's
greatest effect direct upon the Car. II
hss operated perhaps more strongly
upon others, upon the great body OF
officials surrounding the Gar, and it has
certainly produced great Impression
upon the entire body OF Russian liberals.
The paper Of which / speak was founded
BIZ. some OF the leading men OF England,
and our committee Of management is
composed OF noted men oi both parties.
/ wish to create in this country an inter-
est in our cause similar to that which is
felt in England. That is what | sm here
for, and il do 1t | shall consider that |
have made verv successful journey"
''Do you indorse tho practices Of the
Russian terrOriats2" was the next in
terroSatory which was suhmitted.
To this question Stepntak responded
with the counter QUESTION, "lt any one
OF YOU should have your sister togged
what would be your ieelings-what step
would you stop at to oYerturn the Gov
eminent that authorized such punish.
ment?n Then he went On TO describe
the relations prevailing in RuBsis be.
tween the people and sovereign. The
conditions were so severe, be nRid, that
they could not be tolerated.
1--WE tried the propaganda Eirst," he
continued, "hut we got nothing from 1t
except the most cruel and barbarous
treatment OF all who took part in it.
There is no other way than by the use
OF force to get what we want and must
have, and / believe that it will in the
end be better for humanity II force shall
be used than il would be ii we should
continue to endure.
MS OWN EXPERIENCE,
81 had my arst trouble With the Gov
ernment,p said stepniak, Sin 1873, when
| was making pTopagunds among tho
peasants. was ordered into exile. But
/ didn't leave the country. | changed
my name and residence somewhat and
still kept on with my work. l was prob.
ably the frat Of what are known as the
,ilisgsI people. Yhat phrase covers
persons who, having bsen ordered to
leave the Country, stay in II under as'
sumed names, liable, II apprehented, to
undergo severe punishment. l went to
Switzerlsnd in 1915, and there wrote
for a leuhet publication which was cir.
culated In RuRsin, atcr ] returned 90
Rupsia, still IN !iRegai person, aud pub;
lished a paper called E6ad and Libriy"
"How did you Manage to escaps Rr'
"Ab, tha. was my good luck" said
stepniak.
"And what IS you status now woula
you daTe 10 go ylCk 10 Russia"
81 shall 80 if ] conaider it my duty to
"what would they do with youitthey
shou!d and you in the country send
YOU to slbeHia?"