Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-19

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they are subjected to reprimand and
finally suppressed. The Russian Social
opinion objects when the presidents of
the Iemstvo towns at the meetings
forbid the speakers to treat vital ques-
tons in accordance with their views
and opinions. Russian Social opinion
is only free when it is Eandcuffed and
speaks eloquently only when it is ST
lent. Therefore. we Russian Social
lists and Revolutionists count ourselves
in the mSral right to assert that in
Russia the government does not allow
the majority of the people to speak
freely. that it does not represent their
opinion and acts against the wishes
and the wants OF the majority and
that it does not fulfil the purpose
OF this last we are compelled to tell
the people.~@We are compelled to
spread the idea Of changing the exist
ing order OF things in Russia. We
preach what is essential for the, PEG.
pie. the right freely to air their needs
through the press and meetings: the
right to discuss and make laws. the
right to control the state expenses.
Yes We Social Revolutionists preach
this and consequently preach a totally
different condition than that existing
at present in Russia. But at present
we are only preaching. Our weapons
are the printing press and word Of
mouth. Where is the forcible doing
away with the existing regime? Who
is it that uses force? We or some
body else?
Policy of Repression.
We have not time to make our
selves heard before our mouths are
shut. and for a word we are sent tc.
prison or Siberia. Our press is called
Illegal. The authors OF the articles.
even the typogra phists.= know of the
sad life in Siberia The simple read
ing Of our brochures is regarded by
the state as criminal
We are prosecuted as government
criminals and subject to punishment
for participation in club meetings
| where we discuss our tasks. We are
subjected to yhumiliating corporal pun
ishment, beaten with knouts, trample;l
over by horses and fired on when we
decide TO come out into the air TO de-
clare publicly our views and express
our demands.
We are debarred the protection Of
the law. We are declared interior en-
emies OF the people and political Grim
inals. although this is not one and the
same thing.
Yes there is much force used, far
too much, but which side uses it?
Therefore. let them not say that
| the party OF Social Revolltionists is
trying to obtain something by means
OF force. Neither in the aim OF the
party nor in the means Of attaining its
ends, is there anything like force
| Perhaps force refers to that moment
when the final ideals of the party will
| be near attainment when the Social
conditions will be replanned on the
ruins Of the present government and
Russians will become not only sub
jects, but citizens OF their country
Perhaps the accusation means that the
party will first attempt a political
change in Russia and then a Social
| one.
Does Not Decide Question.
To this / reply that the party
does not decide the questions as to
now the present conditions will be
SAiaA SSu tilOSe w SNel lSI. VI the
establishment Of Socia conditions to
which our party. is pledged it is mpos-
sible to talk even seriously The or
ganization Of the Social conditions Of
the empire on the basis Of Socialism
would be an impossibility even for the
powerful bureaucracy. The tasks OF
our party are som eti,nes understood,
but for understanding them you are
i.sent to gaols. Russia will get Social
lstic reconstruction possibly when the
name Of Russia will not exist longer
on the earth. So far as the final tri-
umph of our ideals is concerned, this
triumph will take place not only here
/ IN Russia, but over the whole world.
But it will undoubtedly not take place
anywhere while the Russian autocratic
empire exists, because up to now the
progressive movements Of the best III
formed people have broken to pieces
against this strength In the mean
time we are fighting in other states un-
4 der the banner of Socialism and have
advanced further than any bourgeoise
i party, and we Russian Socialists are
j 3 dong the same, We demand serious