Year: 1879

Rise and Progress Of the Powerful Rus


sian Secret Order-The Object of the Nj


hilists and the Oath They Take.


The New York Herald has printed a
valuable contribution to the literature of
Nihilism, which goes to show that this
formidable agency of revolution is not so
recent in its origin as has been generally
supposed. On the other hand, it would
appear from the HerdldS compilation of
facts that this enemy of the Russian gov
ernment is already half a century old,
though never so active as now.


The first secret society was formed in
1926, and was organized with the distinc-
tive purpose of substituting constitution
al government for personal despotism.
1t was not long before it came in collision
with the government, and on the 10th of
December of that year hundreds paid the
penalty of revolution with their blood in
the streets of St. Petersburg, while all
the members of the society who were
known were either hanged or banished
to Siberia. The fearful revenge of the
government, however, only scotched it.


1t next came to the surface in London,
where an organ called the Bell was es-
tablished by the revolutionist Hertzen,
who advocated the destruction of every
member of the royal family, the titled
aristocracy, and the priests, the equal
division of landed property and popular
representation. Notwithstanding the
efforts of the government to prevent it,
his paper gained wide circulation in Rus
sia, and sympathizers with his doctrine
appeared in all ranks of society. New
organizations were formed advocating
his ideas, and two papers appeared in
Russia-the SOUrenei1nib and the RatS-
b0ic SlooCo-which was devoted to more
liberal form of government. They did
not last long, however, as their principal
writers were speedily sent to Siberia.
Between 1853 and 1870 the press had
more immunity, and the new movement
rapidly gained ground, and women en-
gagged in it even more zealously than the
men, not only working as missionaries in
the cause of more liberal government,
but demanding for themselves the same
rights as men. Wealthy women engaged
in menial work. Princesses taught peas
ants. They taught the schools and
studied the professions, especially that of
medicine, and on the marriage question
they took the radical ground of ignoring
it altogether and becoming wives with
out any formality of ceremony. The term
" Nihilist" was first applied to them in
1864 by writer who taunted them with
believing in nothing. They accepted the
epithet and have retained it ever since
The movement made its rapid growth
since 1870, and in the past nine years has
spread into the army, official circles, the
church, the school and universities, and
all classes of men and women, the latter
as rule being enthusiastic to a degree
that treads on fanaticism. The young
girls in the schools are often the most
Jealous missionaries in the work of Nihi-
listic reform.


Speaking of the details of the organiza-
ton, the Herald states that its members
are organized into circles, and as soon as
a circle numbers sixty members it is sub
divided into ten circles of six persons
each. Each circle has an agent who col
lects regular contributions from the mem
bers, which are applied to the purchase of
arms and the spread of ideas. Member
ship is not easily obtained. A candidate
has to bring recommendations of trust
wOrthiness, and, after these have been
investigated, he is voted for in full meet
ing. 1t only requires two votes to reject
him, and if satisfactory evidence of dis
qualification is presented, one vote will
do the work. The oath which is taken
is one of unusual severity. The candi-
date swears as follows:


81, A. B., do solemnly, before the altar
of my mother country, promise and
swear that | will never disclose, under
penalty of death, any of the secrets of the
Russian National Secret Society, before
any agent of the tyrannical Russian
government, having the Gar at its
head, or any one whom do not actually
know to be a member of this society;
that will sacrifice my life and all that
is sacred to me in the struggle against
the bloodthirsty tyrants and Oppressors
of the Russian people; that / will obey
and execute every unanimous decision
of the circle, without hesitation, being
ready to sacrifice my life, and regardless
of any personal danger | may encounter
in so doing | know that we must be
ready to fight in the name of the liberty
OF the Russian people when the moment
of arising shall arrive and the grand sign
be given calling all to arms. | do
solemnly swear that | will resist, in case
of an attempt to arrest me or any mem
Der of the society by the government
agents, with whatever weapon is at my
disposal at the moment, without fear or
regard for personal consequences that l
will not recommend any new member
without the knowledge that he is a true
friend of the oppressed Russian people;
that from the moment / become mem
ber of this Secret National Russian
Society l regard myself as the sworn
enemy to the Russian despotical govern
ment and begin to act against it by every
means | can command"


Z,