The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-03-11
sERGIUs sTEPNIAK.

nihilists, soon began TO arrest them on
charges of organizing revolutionary So
cieties dangerous 10 the Cars dynasty.
The prisoners were sentenced to ten,
twelve and fifteen years in Siberia. The
speaker told of his own arrest with three
others, and the four were marched oft 10
prison. But one prisoner was a nihilist,
and managed 10 get the prison guards
drunk during the night, and the four
prisoners escaped.
After two hours OF hard.waking the
prisoners reached almost the point from
which they had started. They had lost
their way in the dark and had missed
the road TO the railway station thirty
Eve miles from the prison. The fugi-
tives saw light in a small house and
veI1tnred in, only 10 be received by a
constable. But the speaker had copy
of an old song in his pocket, which he
palmed of on the illiterate constable for
a passport
The prisoners forged their own pass
ports, and, escaping from the country,
Stepniak found refuge in London.
The speaker then referred TO the sys-
tenn OF trials, by tribunal and by ad-
ministrative justice, so called, in Russia.
Men were allowed a jury In the tribunal
But in the administrative justice system
they were arrested, convicted, and eX-
lied 10 Siberia without even knowing
what charge had been placed against
them, or knowing the names Of their ac
cuseTs. They were often taken away
by officers TO Siberia without knowing
the point OF destination. The speaker
gave graphic description Of the in.
quistoral infections on the prisoners in
Siberia. Two young women who
were confined in jail were forced
TO disrobe before crowd OF brutal
men from the fortress. One young Off
Ger was arrested for being nihilist, who
went insane while in jail, but he was
tried and executed while in his demented
condition. Out Of 1913 prisoners at one
place in 1877, seventy-four died from
privationS in Siberia, and now there were
only five or six Of them alive These
prisoners were simply propagandists who
had committed no crime, but had simply
spoken what they believed Where one
prisoner gets a trial there are twenty
five who are convicted without trial.
The government now eXies even chill
dren. In 1887 3l0 boys and girls under
age were exiled 10 Siberia. The speaker
cited one case of little girl Is years OF
age, who had been noisy at a public
demonstration. The police arrested her.
She called on the crowd 10 rescue her,
and the crowd oheyed her appeal. She
was afterward rearreSted and eXiled TO
Siberia, where she committed suicide in
prison. Many of the men who are ar
rested are exiled TO satisfy political re-
venge. A man OF influence can place a
charge Of nihilism against poor enemy
and get him out Of the way.
In conclusion the speaker said nihiism
used peaceful means when proper, but
was oftentimes compelled 10 use de-
structive methods. But the day was
coming when the army would support
the nihilists, and general uprising of
the people would overthrow the Cars
dynasty. Where there are one hundred
prominent leaders there are thousands
upon thousands OF dissatisfied people
who never take an active part in fight
Ing for the doctrines of better govern
ment. Nihilism was spreading among
them. The opinion OF America, which
was decidedly against despotism, had
great weight with the intelligent classes
In Russia