The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-08
THE CARS AMBITION.
He Is Determined to Be the Spiritual
Head OF the Church in
Russia.
The Stundists Subjected to More
Severe Persecution Than
the Ieraelites.
A Sect, tho emb of which Live Pure
and spotless Lives. to BE
Bnnished.

The determination of the car to be the
spiritual head of his people has been mani
Tested not merely in the relentless persecu-
ton of the Hebrews, the enforced CONVEX
sion OF princesses of German blood and the
withdrawal of privileges from the people of
Protestant faith, says the Now York Trib-
une. The members of the ~"Stunda," a sect
which first came into prominence q few
yeaas ago, have now been placed under the
imperial ban and are obliged to cope with
difficulties to which even the lsraelitss have
hardly been subjected. The essential arti-
cles of the creed of the Stundists are simple.
They believe that the worldly power of mon
archs was established by God, and that it is
a good and necessary institution for the
Children of this world" In their opinion,
however. genuine Christians-among whom
they reckoned themsslvss-are "no of this
world" and are not necessarily subject to
the dictates of mundane rulers. Their
moral code is upheld with fanatical strict
ness, and the lives of the Stundists are
~apotless and pure. Although they theoret-
ioally deny the authority of temporal rul-
ers, they live in strict accord with the laws
OF vu0 GIuDlIOs LSCA LASSA Va - XIV
eminent and priests Of the orthodox church
acknowledge that they are peaceful, law
abiding subjects. They have charged them
with no specific crimes, but they justify
the measures which have been taken to
check the spread Of the sex, and declare
necessary the hardshiEs which have been
placed upon its votaries.
For years the devotees of the new religion
have been unmolested. But the govern
ment authorities have suddenly decided
that tho stunda j. n \ reality 9
religion. They declare that it has
been managed by nihilists and socialists,
who despair of accomplishing their
ends by terrorism and assassination. and
rightly believe that they can SOW no better
r~ovoluntary seed than by spreading a tree
which denies the spiritual power OF the car
and encourages opposition to the orthodox
faith, and who are preparing the way for q
mighty upheaval by preaching a new re-
liRion.
iects of discussion by the holy synod. which
favors the steps taken for their suppression.
The adherents to the sect are most numer-
GUS in the western and southwestern parts
of Russia. The five departments at Kief-
foire, ia in fact, their home. From there
the Stundist's pro~pagandlsn is made by
workmen and peasants h seek employ
ment in other districts Of the empire.
Henceforth, however, the passports
of all Stundists who leave Kief, are to
contain the name Of tho sect which is made
equivalent to a crimina brand. Men whose
passports show their adhesion to the new
religion are to be excluded from employ.
men on railroads., III factories, industrial
establishments and in mills. Inc po 20
are empowered to Danish them from all
cities and to force tVem to return TO the
provinces whence they came. But these
fnr-ranCbjnu attarfa uppn individual lib
erty-which in Russia is almost unknown
are only phases OF the persecution.
Stundists who nave children are to be
placed under the guardianship of the priests
sure the education OF their offspring IN the
creed of the orthodox church. Russian
~law-which is almost a parody upon the
name-it will be remembered, permits chill
dren to be taken from their parents when
1t becomes evident that they have not 10,
eeived proper instruction in the national
religion. Tho Stundists are, OF course
deprived of the freedom of wor-
ship and of tho privilege Of erect
ing chapels i'll which to hold
religious services. 1t is even intended to
withdraw from them the right Of appeal to
the supremascourt, in order that there may
be no delay in the execution of sentences
imposed upon them. The police and SOL
diers arc to guard carefully against any
violation of the new regulations. People
anxiously ask one another, What Will be the
result of such persecution! 1t Is believed
that the Stundists will become martyrs for
their religion; that these men and women.
who have been docils and Obedlent, Will rise
in rebellion against such persecution. and
will eventually defeat the objects and in
tentions of m unwise car.
The removal of Prince Dolgorukof as
governor general of Moscow caused great
surprise to the sedate inhabitants of that
once imperial city. The liberal ideas, un-
ostentatious ways and simple bearing OF the
prince had endsared him to the people
over whom he ruled. For more than q quar-
ter of n century he represented the czhr in
Moscow. As he had reached the advanced
are OF four score years, the citizens believed
that he would end his days in possession of
the honorable office which he had filled so
long. But Dolgornkotf WAS u disciple of the
liberal policy prevalent under Alexander
ii, which had been reiegated to the past.
His removal, in the eyes of the'new regime,
had, therefore, become a necessity OF the
times. He has fallen, in fact, into semi
disgrace. He was not treated i'll the man
ner customary in %displacing men of high
place and distinguished Lineage. The note
i'll answer to his enforced resignation failed
to enumerAte his distinctions or his virtues,
and was Guilty signed Alexander There
was no declaration of regard, affection or
gratitude for his services.
Various causes led to Dolgorukoh's down
fall. He was not i'll sympathy with the
Pan-Slavonic programme nor with the Rus
slfication of the FOREIGN elements of the
empire. He has always been known rs a
friend OF the Germans of. Moscow, who
were favorite guests at hia receptions. The
"patriots" subjected him to severe crlti-
cism for attending the Lutheran church
uQon the recent anniversary of the death of
Emperor William. But his friendly policy
toward the Hebrew race, especially since
the publication of the recent DEGREES, has
been especially annoying to the car. In
fact, Hebrews tlocked to the gold-dotted
city during the last years of his Roverno -
ship. His friendship and protection, now
ever, resulted. it has been said, from the
money which he received and not from
sympathy for the down-trodden people. At
my rate, his disregard of the wishes of the
car regarding the Hebrews, together with
another indiscretion, WIS the immediate
cause of his downfall.