Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-20
The Assassin of Minister
Won PIehye Speaks.
Tells OF a Remedy for Present
Russian Conditions.
He Believed In Meeting Dishonor With
0ishonor.

A1t' ttCiSuuiS ly.-BefOre
| Sasoneff. the assassin of Minister of
the Interior Won Plehve, was brought
| to trial he composed a lengthy state
| ment which he intended to present to
the judges as a justification of his act
His lawyer at the time Informed The
Associated Press that the document
| alone proved Sasoneff was not ONLY a
| man of superior intellect but a deeu
| thinker. Owing TO the limited time al
| lowed ut the trial Sasoneff was unable
TO read the document to the Judges
being obliged to content himself with a
brief oral statement. The document
| which. however was made part of the
| record in the case. has now fallen into
| the hands of the Associated Press and
| aside from it's remarkable character
proves especially interesting at this
| time as it sets forth the views and aims
| of the Fighting Organization of the
| social revolutionary party which has
just brought about the death OF the
| Grand Duke Sergius. 1t shows clearly
that acts of terror committed by the
Fighting Organization are in the exc
cution of sentences passed upon Of
1icials and others held responsible fol
lighting with cruel repression the
peaceful propaganda of the larger par
| ~. The acts for which Won Plehve
was condemned are given in detail
! But perhaps the most interesting por-
| ton OF the statement is the pathetic
personal biography of Sasoneff and
| the analysis of the mental process by
which he gradually grew interested
in political actions becoming an ad-
vocate of socialism and later being
| driven by sufferings in exile into the
ranks of the terrorists by whom he
| was chosen to kill Won Plehve.
| Sasoneff's statement follows:
| Il am accused of playing an active
role in the Fighting Section of the So
| cial Democrats, which it is said has
as It's aim to overthrow the present
form of government and the establish
ed laws of Russia, and the existing
social conditions of Russia.
| Il am accused of using explosives fol-
| numbering officials of the State. and
| i am accused of having killed the
| Minister of Interior, Plehve, to attain
| the ends of the Social Democrats.
TO these accusations l can answer:
Yes | was member of the Social
EevolutiOniSts and had the honor of
being member of the Fighting Sec
ton Of the Social Democrats. and by
the latter's orders l killed Plehve.
90 not consider either the society or
myself guilty Of the intentions of which
we are accused. viz. TO be force at
tempt the overthrow of the existing
form of government and the social con-
ditions of the country. The Society
fas no such large aims as to overthrow
the form of autOcratic government i'm
Russia.
First of all ] must state that one
cannot say that the 'F'ighting Section"
is Secret Society" in the usual sense
of the word. The Fighting Organiza-
ton is not separate body. but only
part of the big party of Social Rev
olutionists. and the Fighting Organ
iZation" follows out strictly the orders
of the larger Society Therefore it is
not possible TO talk about the Fighting
Organization alone. but one must also
include the party of Social Revolution
lists.
Il cannot say that it is by means
of the activity Of the Fighting Or
ganiZation that the Social Revolution
lists wish to do away with the auto
cratic form Of government or even the
present social conditions of Russia, nor
is it by means of terroristic acts that
they intend to gain their ends. but
there is one thing which the party
meets by terrOristic acts carried out
by members of the Fighting Organiza-
ton and that is to answer by armed
attack those acts of the Government
where the lives and honor of Russian
citizens are not spared. not to speak OF
the life and honor of the Russian rev.
we are not party of force
Our party is in principle against
all forms of force and attain
ing their aims by force. The
ideals Of the party. as are also the
CONTINUED on Page Five.)