New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-29
RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONISTS.

i22 London: r Fisher Irwin. Imported by
G.. i. Putnam Sons
The main aim of this volume Is 10 reveal the
inner life Of the Russian revolutionists. mis-
called Nihilists. Writer'S like George KEENAN,
and Edward Noble have made laborous and i'm
martial Investigations Of this mysterious move
mcnt. and recorded their impressions Of the
leaders and their methods Of organization and
work. but they are outsiders obtaining informa-
ton AT second-han In this volume the revolu-
tionlets who have found shelter in England speak
for themselves. Stepniaks two principal chap-
tors are translated reprints Of pamphlets written
bv him. not for English. but for Russian reau-
crs: Felix Vokhovsky adds a pamphlet on 'he
claims OF the Russian Liberals; ana TWO I'M
poriant documents are appendicitis letter soh'
h,. ,bo Revolutionary Executive Committee 10
Alexander III AZ his accession to the throne and
I the mcmora ndum Of the Russian Liberals u
Count Louis Melil<off. containing an outline OF
constitutional reform DR.. Watson in his preface
makes a reasonable claim when he asserts thct
the volume is valuable, since IT tends 10 give
clearer view Of a revolutionary movement which
is ordinarily misunderstood. He also assumes
with entire proprie,y that no one can r&d these
authoritative statements OF the aims and objects
90 the revolu,ionists without sympath!zinG with
what Is ostensibly "A struggle for freedom ma
tonal ana individual: and h. vaguely forecasts
the hesitation and difficulty with which tn"
means employed by the more extreme party VIII
be accepted by thoughtful and conservative
minds.
Stepnlak describes the Russian opposition as
Kaleidoscope Of parties. which. while working In
essentials FOR the same cause have contrIv"d 10
become So much divided TO have lost all IN
tcrnal cohesion. and IN many cases all capacity
and even desire 70 understand one another. In
1873 arose native movement In consequence oi
dissatisfaction with tho results OF emancipation
II was condemned to failure because only a new
free state could SOW" the agraran question. and
because the young generation Of peasants could
no, tell clearly what they wanted SO "a TO be
understood BY the educated classes. Tho real
movement began five years later. when the
strength - tho first impulse was spent but the
revolutionary cycle has evidently ended and
something new is abou: to begin. since f. has be-
como c,car that tho Nihi,!sts az they have been
called I'm Woe,r-n Europe. however great may
D.. ;h,.r energy and horoism. cannot alone over
throw the aUtocrary.
tn. q,ieeii0ua vh. n chiefly concern leaders Ike
St.pulk are those. How can the revolutionary
,r,,,c,ren, b. vi lcrcI'" aHI who WI supper;
t9' They admit that autocracy has rcv"ngei IL
sci, g,r tho humiliation - CAPTIVITY terrorism
and a uamratury cIus.n' - compromise. u til
urIhs aui 10 .0r r"s.sts J. S'r'd mas "''H
rr..,l.,llv r.Ia:rrlu-"I: "A gang = IN ial brig
ar s. !.o- Nhl' it il'1s"s. th" whips AMI rods ~
,he p.i.. flourish ln prison and I'm street. and IN
far-oN siberia. AMI things iuconceivahle. i1tocr-
able. ar, done with IMMUNITY. hut autocracy IL
victorious hc-.Ise the reyolutionsts are divided.
intolcrin. and Incapable = working together.
tn. only asri-l,. q suc,oss't r'sisanr" - the
present system wll Dee the union q all opponents
.1 support = 4 common cause. TBS is ih" main
burden q S'cpraTs pamphlets
Whle Russia Sc country - p"a"nts. ~"
,.iu'lonlry patty evidently fare 20 appeal 10
tf,r again although e. might hlr" hop" ~
r-a.ti-al SUCCESS u 10 were 90 ~ i1 them with
.., rpr,n.rs.hl. plaza = a transfer Z the Land by
,.. sat" p, 'h. roop,e iint the m'yom'n, -
n.w ~. Gsively au urhan oa". depending partly
or the working CLASSES bat chiefly upon IN" "du-
.,,.I .I,s. IN general Ta~ revolutionary party
pI.t4 up INFO ~, divisions corresponding 90 the"
..,...t..u, clements one faction s",s lnly one
possible supper, fr the revold'ion-'h' factory
,yorliuen. or the proletariat NOW growing up In
| Eus4it. and IN" other regards that element as
/ n,;hing more than an auxiliary force and turns
| T.. the educated class az the mos; powerful one
/ after the peasaa'ry. and one. moreover which 10
/ ,horoughly pcrmeatcd with discomfort. Stepniak
/ contends that TIE energy ~ the revolutionary
struggle. depends upon the attitude u the Russian
! educated class toward Socialism, the greatest
! moral force a, work in modern society II"
! thinks that the political revolt VIII be strength
! ,ned 10y wide. inspiring study Of social pues-
| lions: and that Il Is mistake for Russian Lib
erals q, wish 10 deprive Socialists II the right ~
| pre-. their doctrines. According 20 HIS View,
! political liberty ought To be desired by Liberals
as "A means toward the solving of the social ques
ton. and On the other hand that Socialists ought
! To be- able - accept the Immediate aim Of tho
Liberals. which IL the establishment OF a consti-
! ;uiional government in Russia. His appeal is for
q general league between the leading factions
now in opposition - existing institutions, 10y
which mutual tolerance and cooperation will BE-
secured.
While declaring himself to be an cvoutlon!st
respecting Socialism. Stcpnak proclaims himself
! g. be a rovJlutionst I'm politics recognizing not
| only popular instruction and military pots M
suitable agencies. but also bombs. dynamite and
nocturnal attacks upon the palace. He believes
| that all such acts are morally justifablr. in
view Of the cynical. boundl"ss dcspot!sm now
rampant In Russia" and because also. every
form II protest becomes lawful when there
ou'ragcs upon human nature 50 intolerablc that
| violence IS citizens duty. and II he does not
! openly preach these things IT is because he does
| not wish 10 assume the responsibility OF melting
| his country mcn to actions in which he can take
no part himself while living abroad, and because
there * also the question OF the timeliness and
| therefore Of the eXpcdoncy Of this line of work
which can be determined only by those on the
| ground This Is probably the passage which his
! Russian critics have been quoting against him
| in confederation OF their charge that he was APP
pealing to the worst instincts Of the human race
and 1t raises the question from any impartial
critic whether the abhorrent means which he
does not hesitate to Uphold can be- justified by
the political ends to be accomplished
This volume is intended to be reference-book
for the friends and advocates Of the Russian
In, N nln nd md Ai,n