The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-12

An eloquent DekeHSo VI Ahelr Eo'
sitiOn.
New York, April 11,-G, stepniak.
the Russian patriot, to-day makes m
appeal to the American people in favor
OF the asylum right OF Russian political
offenders. The following are excerpts;
"By the laws of the United States the
decision upon this important question
rests now entirely with Mr.. Grover
Cleveland. This is happy chance for
tho United States. The personal popu-
larity OF the President Ia not limited to
tho United States, and there is no
American statesman whose arbitration
on such matter the Russians would
look forward to with so much con-
fdenCe.
"But the American Presidents pride
themselves upon submitting to ana not
trampling down the wishes OF the ma
tion. appeal, therefore, to the high
est tribunal which is above senates and
congresses and presidents, to the pub
lie opinion OF the American people, and
beg leave to submit to them some
considerations upon the matter.
AN uNIlEARD OF OUTRAGE.
"The provisions OF the treaty in ques-
ton look harmless enough at first sight,
but affirm that this obnoxious treaty
ia in reality an abolition, as far as
Russians are concerned, OF tho asylum
right to political offenders which has
never boen iniringed in the United
States since the foundation OF the re-
public. Its ratification by the senate
is the most un-American, un-Demo-
cratic act on record. 1t Is as unheard
OF outrage to the noblest traditions OF
your country which only prompt veto
can obliterate.
"American institutions are not the
heirloom OF tho Americans alone.
They belong in o sense to the whole
world; to all nations and to all men
who look up to them rs the most per-
feet embodiment OF Democratic FREQ
dom that we know OLA brilliant ex-
ample and the final goal toward which
all our countries are slowly and pain
fully but unmistakably advancing.
Every act tending to the discredit OF
these institutions delay this advance
all the world over"
HEAR TIE OTHER slDE.
"IIear the other side before condemn
ing. ,.,
condemnable OF crimes and cannot be
tolerated in civilized society. But Us
long as there is war there will be MUIR
der, and OF all forms OF war civil war is
the most fierce and brutal. The so
called Russian nihilists have murdered
czar, but the French communists did
worse things in Paris in 1871. They
actually butchered tho hostages, mon
who were innocent of any participa-
tion in the struggle, and were absolute
ly at their mercy, helpless aud defense.
less. Yet these crimes were Condoned
and overlooked and the English parlia-
ment refused to extradite these men to
the French government
yIn recent times the Irish secret 80
cieties have committed murder, arson,
burglary, yet the American senate cat
egoricalIy refused their extradition to
the English as political offenders, and
this resolution was applauded and IN
dorsed by the Americans. The So
called nihilists have all Of the claims Of
the Irish refugees to be considered po-
litical offenders and many more in ad-
dition.
1t has been urged against them that
while the Irish have for an object ma
tional autonomy the nihilsts have no
reliable or comprehensive aim OF any
kind. Such is the notion which the
scribes OF tho Russian embassy try to
inculcate into the American people and
which they have undoubtedly utilized
to tho utmost extent TO prejudice tho
senate.
WHAT THE NlHlLIsTs WANT.
"Now affirm that this presentation
OF the views Of tho so-called nihiiists is
deliberate lic, which is known to be q
lio by those who spread 1t. What the
Russian patriots who have been nick.
named 'nihilsts' want Is to obtain for
their country such guarantees oil free
dom as will allow every citizen and
every party, without distinction Of optn-
ions, the possibility OF working peace.
fully for their respective ideals and
gaining adhorents 10 their respective
programs. They ask from the C1ar no
other concession but that Of giving up
the autocratic power, substituting for
it representative government such as
exists in all other Europoan countries.
They do not, want to forcc anything
upon the people; they want to have nc
cess to the people aud TO remove tho
obstacles which despotism has put in
their way OF such access.
"rhe very same body OF revolution
lists which sent forth GuliNboliv, Sophia
Perovskuia and Ryssakov OH their nur.
derous expedition against tho Car
Alexander ii, sent to his successor II
sworn declaration that tho day after ho
summoned 10 the capitol IUlnsky
Sober national congross) OF representa-.
tives freely elected by tho people, they,
the perpetrators OF violence, would dis.
band their secret societies, forsnkc
bombs and dynamite and would become
lUw.abiding citizens dovotlng their onOr.
gcs TO tho work Of the social and intul.
lUctuOl regeneration OF tho people"
-
TELEaRAPH1C BRIEFS.
A cyclone in southern Kansas did