Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-07


lay down their lives, if necessary, for the
common country. Because of their devotion
and self-sacrifce they are admired even by
their political enemies In Russia, even a:
one must admire the courage of soldiers. ]
intend to explain the causes of Nihilism and
| the ambitions of these men. It is the out
| come of many circumstances, too many
| things being involved to be told in one
| evening.
"Russia is now in the same condition as
was France before the revolution that over
threw the monarchical form OF governmen:
and the same means must be used to bring
about the same ends. The Nihilist party
is rapidly gaining strength for their work
which is to come later. The time is rapidly
coming when it will be declared wrong for
one man to have the power of taking the
life Of any of his subjects without tribu-
nal, before which they can have defense and
find justice. This power is now conveyed to
one man in Russia by the accident of birth,
but 1t cannot remain thus forever.
Story of a Nihilist's Life.
II was born in the South of Russia and
though my people belonged to the nobility,
peasantry and recall with pleasure the
memories of those happy days. 1 learned
to love these people, which one can not help
doing, because :of their goodness and ever
readiness to do kindness. All the young
people of the nobility who reside in the
country or village grow up to be impressed
with the good traits of the peasantry and
become their firm friends.
"One day happened to be present at the
house of friend during the preparation for
sublime crime, 1t was sublime, because
it was to revolt against the i'll treatment re-
ceived at the hands of the masters. An at
tempt was made to burn a house belonging
to one of the masters, and in order to find
out who did it, it was ordered that my friend
should be fogged once every day until some
one came forward and confessed. My friend
declared that he hoped whoever did it would
never tell and declared that something was
about to happen, which developed into one
OF the big riots against the masters.
AT that house 1 learned the first feeling
of democracy. NY friends mother was my
first teacher, and she declared that though 1
was born in a station above them, yet was
one of them in sympathy.
University Students Take the Lead.
"Soon after the occurrence was sent TO
high school. In Russia all the great move
ments start in the universities. There the
young people come forward and take the
part usually allotted to the older people.
Russian students are compelled to teach
themselves secretly these great problems.
1t was not long before we decided that the
wrongs must be righted; that the work
must be done quickly, and for this reason
violently. by revolution of the Masses
"A number of US started out secretly to
educate the people. In the suburbs of St,
Petersburg We found small body of work
lngmen who were ready to listen to our
teachings. They met with us oD SUNDAYS
and we delivered to them lectures on the
subject of the wrongs inflicted by the ruling
classes. We started with only seven or
eight men.
ut requires great sacrifice to become a
member of the popular party. First, all
wealth must be abandoned and put in the
hands of the leaders to be used in the
furtherance of our plans Ali intel
lectual pleasures were also lost, vet scores
of people born in luxury have left all be-
hind and Joined the Nihilists, working in
the factories, etc, for Is hours day.
Meetings are always held in private, be-
cause the penalty for holding them is
usually 10 or Is years at hard labor, the
same as for murder.
Cause of the Arrest of Stepniak.
"We left the capital after awhile and went
into the country villages to convince the
people of the justice of our cause. We did
not preach lnsurrection, nor did we preach
riot of any kind. We merely tried to show
that so much land should not go to the mas
ters and so little to the people. We told
them of the inequality of the taxes and other
political burdens.
But for this we were arrested and SEN
fenced to ten years at hard labor with the
prospects OF exile to Siberia when our terms
might expire Four of US were arrested,
still we had friends who looked after us.
One of them got our four guards drunk
during the night and we soon became free
men again. But We knew that in the
morning the police everywhere would hear
of our escape and we therefore must make
80 miles to a railway station.
81 knew of path through marsh that
would shorten the way five miles, and
against the counsel of the others we took it.
We lost our way and alter travelling for two
hours came out on the road very close to
where we started. In few hours the people
very fast we would be captured, so we de-
cided to get horses if possible.
Troubled by the District Constable.
"Soon we came to house in which a
country dancing party was being held, and
IesOlfeu W TAKE Iue cnduCeS Oh going IN.
Almost the first man 1 saw was the district
constable. with whom had been talking
only little while before 1 knew that it
would be no trouble to crush him with one
blow, if necessary, but decided that we had
better try to get out peaceablv.
$50 told him our arrest had been a mis-
take, and that word had been received to
sci US free again. He wanted TO see the
authority, and well knowing that he
couldn't read, showed him the copy of an
old song, which 1 said was the legal article.
After considerable difficulty VIC succeeded
in securing horses, and Sc hours after our
escape were in large village 100 miles
away from where we escaped.
1--WE then decided to 60 to Moscow, and
after reaching that city our friends took
good care of us and concealed us from the
police, who had stringent orders to arrest
u.s. Though we were safe, we could do no
good, and it was a question of leaving the
country to work Tor the cause and being sent
to prison. SO we decided on the former
move"
Left the Country to Escape Prison.
Mr. Stepniak then detailed his escape
from Russia. and told many interesting
anecdotes Of that trip, which required the