The Washington times., 1910-03-10
PATRIOTS FREEDOA
DUE TO PROTESTS
British and American Action
Potent Factor In Tchai-
kovsky Case.

ST PETERSBURG. March IO.-It is
declared with authority today that the
real reason for the acouittaI OF Nicholas
Tchaikovsky. the Russian patriot. was
that the government, after considering
all the protests from abroad. decided II
would be unwise TO punish him at this
time
The declarations .by british and Am
ertcan organizations. that the trial IN
secret OF TchaikOvsy aud Mime. Bresh-
kovsky. was part of a plot to put both
out OF the way, was Investigated by
trusted agents Of the interior depart
ment.
They reported that the sentiment was
genuine, that there was a feeling that
both the United States and England
must he compelled to address notes 10
the Russian government protesting
against summary judgment in Tchai-
lkovslIy's case. To avoid this the inter
lior department ordered the acquittaI Of
1.-The patriot as the lesser OF two evils.
50 sure were the members OF
Tohakovskys family that he was TO be
convicted that they had mourning out
fits ready to don as soon as the verdict
was announced.
tcipated leaving Russia Immediately,
and he made IL plain that he expected.
should he not flee the country, that he
would again be prosecuted on a similar
charge. He has not decided where he
will go, but viii probably go first 10
England and later 10 the United States
Several of the states Witnesses are TO
be prosecuted. because IL is alleged that
I'm the government investigation which
result IN the ordering of the prOsecu-
tion they told a much more convincing
story than when ON the stand yester-
day. a number Of them are alleged
70 have already fled the country
Il is not believed that Nine Bresh-
kovs6y can survive the journey 10
Siberia. and her friends are declaring
that the government would have been
more humane had II pronounced death
sentence instead of exile.
Nicholas Tchaikovsky, Father Of the
Russian revolution was the first leader
OF the reform movement IN Russia IN
the early 10's, and Is one Of the
few surviving figures of those stirring
days. He is now seventy -four years
old. After Several imprisOnments he
was forced into exile in 1873 and came
10 this country. Several years were
spent in work and study. Then IL went
10 London, where h. made his head
quarters. In 1895 he ca me back 20 this
tOQulIl 20 ODldlu lflD lot Ills NNAlLIo
men. and on returning to St Petersburg
in 1907 was arrested and imprisoned ir
the fortress of St Peter and St Paul.
Nine BreshkOvsky underwent tn
bSTdshlps Of Siberian exile for the cause
of Russian freedom over thirty years
ago. A few years aso she visited th'
United States for purpose Of arOusinl
sentiment for the oppressed people ot
- her native country, and on returning I,
st Petersburg was arrested.
Great interest in the case Of the two
- prisoners has been manifested in thil
country. and last fan I'VE hundred
prominent citizens Of New York. Chi
.Cago. Boston. and Philadelphia signed
petition TO Premier Stolypin. askini
that an open trial be granted.
The joint indictm ent found aEains
them charged membership i'm the Cen
tral Revolutionary Committee and CiteC
articles showing that they had advo
Gated terrorism. TschaikOysky was
quoted as making speeches in favor o.
the crime Of reEicide. and Nine Bresh.
kovsky as avowinE participation ir
the preparations for the aSSa SSinatiO-
Of NJ Won Pleve, Grand Duke Sergius
and PObiedOnesIseff
The budget committee Of the douma
has struck At the root Of the system o
siberian exile by cutting the appropria
ton for the administration Of the sys
tenn to $500. The COmClittee admitted
that the government had greatly re
.duced the number Of eNiIes in recenf
years, but declared that the system
was bad and must go.