The record-union., 1893-04-22

EDHaNI1GtA-
country, TO make it appear that sort of
fraternal relation exists between Russia
and America. The graces and accomplish
ments of our diplomats have been put to
their greatest exertions in establishing
cordial feelings between the two Govern
ments. Toasts have been drunk and
praises sung in mutual Fluctuations.
Even now in the office of the Secretary of
state, ready to be transmitted 10 Con-
gress for its approval, is the draft of
treaty agreeing that accused offenders of
the two nations should be affectionately
exchanged.
THIS LOVE FOR RUSSIA
Has grown from the false association of
Alexander II. with our Abraham Lincoln
III the matter of emancipating the serts,
and from Russia's attitude to us during
the war. Eleven years ago the soul of
America was riveted by the horrible
news flashing across the cable that the
Gar had been enshrouded in the columns
OF MS own palace by a volcano of flame
ana disaster springing from his very feet.
FIVE times before had his life been at
tackled by bullet, dagger or bomb. In
vain had he invested his body in mailed
armor, in vain had he surrounded him
sell with spies and soldiers. Prudence
was wasted. Then did the word "Nihil-
lst' implant itself as q terror in the
American breast. 'Nihilistv What is
the substance behind the shadow? They
Killed one Car and are trying TO kill an
other. They have killed some officials
and are seeking to destroy others. They
are trying to free themselves from bond
age worse than death. The autocrat pro-
duces assassins and begets his foes.
THE WORD "NIHILIsT"
Il
sian Government to place stigma upon
every one who opposes the Gar. The
word "nihilism" was an invention OF the
noted Russian novelist, Ivan Turgeneff,
IN his book Fathers and Sons" about
twenty-five years ago, to denote social
istic people he depicted. Through mis-
conception people have come to regard
the nihilists of Russia as a lot of anarch-
lstlc dlscontents bent upon destroying
property, religion, order, and all govern
ment, instead of the enlightened, pat
rotlc retormers they are. The entire
movement has been for liberty of thought
and action. Its earliest inception was in
lSl6, among the soldiers who had re-
turned from the Napoleonic wars and
brought with them the impulses for free
dom which they imbibed in the revolu-
Ionary west. The Constitution of the
United States was the model taken for
the Government they sought. The year
lo-6 was the date set for the Russian rev.
olution. It broke out Christmas Day
1875, when the iron Emperor Nicholas
carpeted and heaped the Plaza of the
Winter Palace with the
CoRPsEs OF THE INSURGENTS.
He trampled out every vestige of liberty.
He suppressed the respiration and heart
beats of his people. Finally, himself
heart-broken and despairing after defeat
in the Crimean War, he died and be-
queathed his rod of steel to Alexander II.
Alexander II. has been lauded as a
liberal despot. He gained this reputa-
ton from having freed q 100000 serfs. 1t
was policy of State, calculated upon for
century before, and not revolution of
Alexander II. In 1896 Poland revolted.
The Emperor reduced il to an ash pile.
tanaticism broke out, leveled principally
against the Jews. 1t has continued to the
present hour. Every day brings us news
OF further prosecutions. Instead of NOV
ing forward AleXander's sham reforms
went backward. Schools had arisen at
Moscow, Odessa and other places. Learn
ing begOt nihilism, so the schools were
stamped out and the students transported
to Siberia. Every center of Intelligence
is IN revolt against despotism, therefore
to think in Russia is crime.
The history of the present Car is a
continued chapter of atrocities I'M
equaled since the Roman Empire. The
press is muzzled, the Cars censors can
SUSPEND ANY NEWSPAPER
And forbid its editor to commence
another. The Gar is proprietor of every
newspaper. He is absolute. Every SUBJ
ject walks in the shallow of the Gar. In
Russia the assembling of three people is
suspicious. To discuss any feature of
government is a crime punishable with
nj fn mn N Siharia On
murder, burn, rape, commit any crime,
however enormous, and still hope for
pardon; but to entertain feeling against
the form of government is a capital Of
tense. The prisons of Russia are dens of
filth. Thousands of prisoners are
crowded in spaces intended for hundreds.
Every form of physical torture is EN-
ployed. No form of brutality is IN
known in the land of Romanoff. The
subjects of these indignities and fortunes
are the enlightened-the men and women
of brains. The works of John Stewart
Mill, Tyndall, Huxley, Spencer and
Buckley are prohibited in Russia Count
Tolstoi, the abiest defender of autocracy.
himself banished history, geography and
modern literature from the Russian
schools.
The nihilists are not atheists, COM
munists or anarchists. They occupy
every class and order of society. Could
they concentrate their strength thew
would be able to overthrow the Romanoff
power in an hour.
Mr.. Jackson, in language vivid and
thrilling, pictured the horrors of Siberian
life, instanced a few of the hundreds of
cruelties and barbarities that had come
under his personal notice, and closed by
saying that the nihilists were fighting
for the principles we espoused a century
ago. They ask for universal suffrage,
constitutionalism, representative govern
ment. Nihilism is Americanism, op-
posed to Czarism.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
At the conclusion of the address the
resolutions drafted by the Council of
Federated Trades were unanimously in
dorsed by the vote of the audience.
MEMORIAL, DAY