Year: 1879

authoritics-ial in this emergency IL cannot strike
US here and restricts itself to mere snarling and


THE GOVERNMENTS FEAR.


Here the gentleman left a moment and going
to desk. brought me copy of proclamation bear
ing the undoubted evidence OF its having been
issued by the highest authority in ST. Petersburg
.This proclamation, said he, belrs the seal of no
less person than the Minister of the Interior and"
he added with bitter smile. lit is addressed to the
peasants in concatory, persuasive tone totally at
variance with the stern terse wording of uksses and
ordinances in which the Russian is accustomed to
read the will and pleasure of his imperial master.
Tho very tone is confession of weakness which
the commands confirm. 1t is. practically, a conies-
sion that our government observes. i'll the
growing dsafection OF the peasant surface
indication of an undercurrent whose strength
it is feared to test lest 1t should be publicly discov
cred that 1t Is beyond the power of government to
check. This circular which show you in my hand
has been sent to every commune III Russia and pub
lished in every official journal and you will find it
probably in every newspaper in the country"


Having spoken thus the gentleman handed me tho
imperial circular. of which the following is exact
transation:-


CIRCULAR OF HIS ExcELLEScY MINISTER OF THE


INTERIOR.


population that an additional distribution of land tho
rs of of s Maey & IN acsodase Wh an s%
addition whatever 10 tho landed property already
any future time That landed property hold lawfully
and upon would be such a. injustice and
.hat il could not be tolerated The peasants
Of February 10. 1861 under which they enjoy their
ing land from other propreors acquisitions
only SS, BY Of to M s
propery they forbid graspng at the property Of others
they deond tho property OF the peasants faithfully
that of Other classes and insure the Empire large
The referred TO- distribution of land to
the holdings arc spread IN tho villages
Slaon and disturbing the public peace Unfortunately


s h by SO ss nr ere sy to
treason rehecting upon the misforunes they may
Exeeuting the supreme command Of His Majesty aa-



police authorities carefully and
to enghsen the deceived people and


A CONFESSION


This circular" said my informant, folding the
paper els a virtual confession by the government
that we have becu successful in our efforts to induce
the peasants to believe and accept our promises.
Let point out that which is the most amusing to
and discreditabe to the government i'll this paper.
being foreigner it would not occur to you. You
have noticed that His Exceency the Minister of tho
Interior calls upon the lower authorities
prevent the spread OF our agitation. These authori
ties placed in power at the time of the emanci
patton OF our serfs, to rule the villages which
villagers owning and farming the lands in common.
These officials studiously impressed on the people
the doctrine that property is held only on
the pleasure OF the Gar reward OF
loyalty aud obedience to the government; that
land owned by the doo,ianns nobility may be
iscated If the gentry indulge in rebelious demand
civil reforms and representative government and
may be divided among peasants remaining loyal and
instructors i'll socialism, and created by their teach
ngs the existing social animosity between lord and
peasant and their policy generated the prevalent
Now, the Minister of the Interior selects
the Same officials to promulgate an oppo-
site doctrine-the sacredness OF the right of prop
erty. Even our somewhat obtuse peasants have dis
covered the ridiculous contradiction in this latest
tduS pas of His Excellency and you may be sure we
not slow to seize Oh the opportunity afforded.
The Car has told you he can do with your prop
erty as he pleases, we whisper in the peasants
ear:-'But now that he has joined hands again with
the aristocracy he tells you, when you beg return
OF the land which was ali yours that he has not
the power to touch it as it is held under sacred
bond OF right and justice Bah! The arstocrats are
your enemies II the Car sacrifices your good will
to theirs. include him among your common enemies
and wrest from him by riot and rebellion the just
dues refused you after your long fidelity to the
autocrat.


WHAT DIsLofALTY MEANS.


You lay stress, significant, the fact that tho
circular admits that crelence is unfortunately given
to these false rumors?"


YES The government ALWAYS pooh-poohed the
idea that the movement was or Importance. All is
couteur de rose i'll official statements. But here is
about the first candid acknowledgment that the COM
mon people arc accepting and are swayco by these
Influences. Unfortunately they croditoI,'
says the Minister. Heretofore the government has
professed to rely the fidelity OF the peasant
against revolutionary upper class. and am aston
sned that they admit that the loyalty of the peasaut
class is shaken. Disoyalty in the peasant means
disoyalty in the army. and should we succeed in
disatfecting majority of the rural population tho
fate of Czardom is sealed Our weakness lies in the
difficulty of organizing mass of peasants against
disciplined forces. but these latter forces be





or their brothers. and the hope helu them or
sharing the benefits offered to all the mushiks
(peasants)."


We were standing by the window looking out
the fields and city beyond and l looked in his
face could plainly written the hope and
confidence he possessed in his representations.


EVERYTHING TO BE RIsKED.


"fou are OF u sanSuiiio disposition said "and
expect too much. am afraid from men who may be
sturdy fighters but 40 not possess the keen intel
hgence necessary to plan Us well execute in
emergency. Their bravery and determination can
nrlv m ynn vNlndv i,ttn
incite revolt. but prepare for no results should
the unrnly forces conquer. Will not your rebelious
peasants be merely duplicates OF the Partisan Com
munist fighting obstinately behind barricades, but
with aptitude in of success to evolve order
out OF the chaos which follows his vctoryg"


II believed that every one aware" retortcd
the gentleman THAT while we do not desire chaos We
pretend to higher task than razing to the ground
the imperial structure which has been built upon
The future be worse
for the people than the present. earnestly
the government endeavors to conceal it's horrors
from the world Chance may give us something bet
ter. We sincerely hope and shall strive to realize
it. We have leaders; all Young Russia and it is
not all transported imprisoned yet will officer
brave lighters when We come out into the open from
our concealment. and challenge the Czar to battle
But We must first enlist these fighters. and that il
what dong with some success if the circular
OF the Minister Is to be believed!''


"Your means OF enlistng them must be. ncces-
sariiy, limited. The peasants cannot read"


EXCUSE me. Every village contains several indi-
viduas who can read to Others and who are well
supplied with our literature. Reports to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. our presses are busy. Even
all those on Russian soil seized. Leipzig and
Switzerland supply us in large quantities.


DANGERS AccEPTED


81 should think you would fear treachery among
the peasants to whom you to in,rust the ds-
tribution of pamphlets and the repetition of oral
teachings? Arc you not moths dangerously near the
light, showing yourself in kien?"


Your questions are natural. You. foreigner,
do not readily understand the characteristics OF
peasants. They are close above all things; long
serfdom and misfortune have made them the most
distrustful and uncommuncative people in Eu
rope They are slow to accept our promises. but
once converted. treachcry In exceptional They
peculiar in this-they carry tales either way
Russian peasant will not betray You to tho Gar
but he will be no more likely to tell you that he
knows that the Cars officials after you i'll tho
neighborhood. However, we do not show ourselves
among the peasants. 1t is unnecessary and
dangerous. mushik would not enter into
conversation on such topics with we'll
dressed gentleman. Our sisters speak to them
and agents are i'll their confidence. the latter
being generally local villagers. 1t almost prime
tenet ot RUSSIAN peasants faith, never to betray
fellow vilagur nor woman. So you are
comparatively safe. Here. in kicn, am not sus-
pected, and 1 will be duly warned if am wanted