The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

newspaper. Most OF these secret presses
are in Russia itself, though enormous guam
Titles Of revolutionary literature are pub
lished abroad and struggled into Russia
But experience has shown that II Is better
TO publish all their literature at home rather
than abroad, owing 70 the risks and DIM
culties Of smuggling II. There are secret
presses In almost every important town
Of Russia though Southern Russia has more
than any other part Of the empire. There
are even villages where a great deal OF
secret printing Is done. The Russian secret
police are baffled by the secret presses and
the circulation Of revolutionary literature.
The means Of these societies are derived
from voluntary contributions and sub
scriptions, from the sale Of literature and
from at homes" or amateur theatrcals
organized under some charitable guise.
Often IL happens that these societies re-
ceive anonymous donations in cash-that
is, banknotes OF gold, owing to the strict
surveillance Of the banks, which have TO
furnish lists Of checks received and drawn
and details connected with them.
Every society publishes a yearly balance
sheet, In which particulars Of expenditure
TO the last farthing are given, and these
documents are duly certified by the mem
bers Of the executive. The funds are used
in forming workmen's unions, in organiz-
ing new divisions, in maintaining secret
presses and In keeping propagandists, who
otherwise have no independent means.
Broadly speaking, a revolutionist rarely
takes advantage Of the funds OF the so
ciety; on the contrary, he contributes him
self toward them, II he can, sometimes
even sacrificing the most essential neces-
stiles Of life TO enable him to do so.
The methods Of revolutionary propa-
ganda are various. The educated ana
iterate classes are approached through the
newspapers Of the society and revolutionary
pamphlets, sent through the post under
sealed cover, and even sometimes registered.
In these papers no Russian address IL
given, but a Continental one, in order 20
mislead the police. remember case
which happened in London severa years
ago The Russian police were anxious to
know who was the real editor or publisher
Of a certain paper, so one day Russian
agent called at the address given in the
paper and requested to see so and so. lie
was shown into the room and fairly stag
gered on seeing his brother, who was en-
gagged in commerce.
On being questioned, the agent pulled out
Of his pocket the paper and showed the
name and address Of his own brother, who
really had no knowledge OF the matter,
and could not account for II. However,
after many years II was found out that
his servant girl was the agent Of the revolu-
tionary party, AID received all letters
without the knowledge Of her master
and forwarded them TO the proper quarters.
This servant girl was the daughter OF a
Russian general. She is now back in Russia,
and working among her Russian sisters.
CIPHER IL used 10 a great extent in private
correspondence, and no three revolu-
tionists can understand the same cipher,
IL being always limited TO two Of them
only. Recently many letters were seized
by the Russian police, who offered several
hundred pounds 90 have them read, but
unsuccessfully. No figures are used in
such o.phers, but letters OF a certain Ian
guage, while each letter denotes a given
-
easy It may have been to approach the
educated and literate classes, on the other
hand, great difficulty is exercised in APP
preaching the illiterate classes and peas
antry numbering more than thirteen million
families.
Having always had in view the religious
prejudice and the superstitious awe with
which these classes regard the State and
the Church, II was decided 10 approach
them under such guises as were cal
Culated TO appeal 20 them therefore,
self-saorihcing propagandists with uni
Versity educatiOns donned the garb OF the
priest 10 60 forth and administer both to
the soul and the body Of their fellow orea-
lures; Others became plain peasants, sol
diers and officers In the army, sailors In the
navy, public notaries for the villages, police
men, publicans, tramps.
In fact, every imaginable glise that could
be thought OF these champions Of liberty
have adopted for the purpose OF approach
the lowest strata Of Russian society, TO
awaken in them the instinct Of individuality
which has been dead, owing 20 centuries OF
continual suppression and slavery may
say that these propaRRndists were not disap-
pointed In their expectations. Thanks TO
their efforts, TO-DAY you will not find one
single peasant who does not understand The
rottenness Of the present monarch ical
regime.
Among such propa gandists there are many |
priests Ike Father Oapon, many bishops, |
and even archbishops Then / know !
captains, colonies, superior commanding |
officers in the amy who are propagandists, !
and whose whole regiments are revolu- |
tionists ] know many doctors. lawyers !
and engineers who have sacrificed brilliant |
career for the sake 81 their country and I
These are not confined 20 |
the middle and lower classes only. There /
are our agents In the Palace Of the Gar, I
among the highest society Of Russian ans .
tocFacv. among the Ministres-men who (
occupy high and exalted positions-all
Of one or another revolutionary !,
society.