The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-12
STEPNIAK'S APPEAL.
NihiIism Is Murder, but Nihilism Is
Also War,


NEW YORK, April 11.-Stepniak, the Rus
sian patriot, makes an appeal to the Ameri-
can people in favor of the asylum right for
Russian political offenders. The following
are excerpts from the appeal:
''fhe laws Of the United States and deci-
zion upon this important question rest now
entirely with Grover Cleveland. This is a
happy chance for US. The personal popu-
larity of the President is not limited 10 the
United States. and there is no American
statesman 10 whose arbitration on such a
matter the Russians would look forward
with so much confidence.
but American residents pride themselves
upon submitting to and not trampliug down
the wishes of the nation. appeal. there
fore, to the highest tribunal, which is above
Senators and Congresses and Presidents
TO public opinion and the American people
and beg leave TO submit to them some con-
sideratiOns upon the matter; to bring to
their knowledge some facts which few of
them know, and remind them of some others
which they probably have forgotten.
1.-The provisions Of the treaty in question
look harmless enough at first sight. But
affirm that this obnoxious treaty is in reality
the abolition. as far as the Russians are con-
cerned, Of the asylum right to political
offenders, which has never been infringed
in the United States since the foundation of
the republic. Its ratification by the Senate
would be the most un-American, undemo-
cratic act ON record. 1t would be an uD-
heard-of outrage TO the noblest traditions of
your country, which only a prompt veto can
obliterate.
although a stranger. must be excused
FOR using the language. With nations. as
with individuals, the higher the position
the greater the responsibilities. American
institutions are not an heirloom Of Ameri-
cans alone. They belong in one sense to
the whole world, TO all nations and all men
who look up to them as the most perfect
embodiment of democratic freedom that
we know Of, the most brilliant example and
final goal toward which all our countries
are slowly. painfully, but unmis takably
advancing. Every act tending to the dis
credit of these institutions delays this
advance all the world over.
Il have as much right to blame and pro-
test against the decision of the Senate as II
| were born an American. If, however,
this claim be denied me. will ask in the
name of common fairness for hospitality
to these lines of mine from every paper
which they may reach near the other side
before condemning.
Murder is probably the most eondemnable
ofcrimes, and cannot be tolerated In civilized
society. But as long as there Is war there
will be murder, and Of all forms of war
civil war is the most fierce and brutal.
terrible whirlwind of passions and of long
accumulated resentment sweeps away all
restraints and makes the people stop at no
considerations.
THE so-called Russian nihlists have
murdered the Gar. but the French COM
munards did worse things in Paris in 1871
They actually butchered hostages, men in
nocent of any participation in the struggle
and absolutely at their mercy, helpless and
defenseless. The communards set fire to
Paris, regardless of the consequences to the
inhabitants Yet these crimes we're con-
doned and overlooked. and the English
z arliament refused to extradite these men
to the French Government
''ln recent times. Irish secret societies
have committed murder. arson and burg
larry. yet the American Senate categorically
refused their extradition to the English as
political offenders, and this resolution was
applauded and Endorsed by Americans.
''The so-called nhillsts have all the
claims of Irish refugees to be considered
political offenders and many more In addi-
tion. 1t has been urged against them that
while nihiiists they have no realizable or
comprehensive aim of any kind. Such Is
the notion which scribes of the Russian
Embassy try to ineuIcate into the American
people. and which they have undoubtedly
utilized to the utmost extent to prejudice
the Senate. Now affirm this presentation
of the views Of so-called nihlists is de-
liberate lie, known to be a lie by those who
spread Ii.
What the Russian patriots who have
been nicknamed 'nihilists' want is to OBJ
tain Tor their country such guarantees of
freedom as will allow every citizen and
every party. without distinction Of opinions,
the possibility Of working peacefully for
their respective ideals and gaining ad-
hereDts to their respective programmes
They ask from the Gar no other eonces-
sion but that of giving up autocratic power
and substituting for it representative gov
eminent. as exists in all other European
countries. They do not want to force any
thing upon the people; they want to have
access to the people and to remove obsta-