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EVlE‘W.
VOL. I.-No. 10.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 15, 1880.
Pmcn 6 cans.
A RAY OF LIGHT ON THE NIHILIST QUESTION.
BY PROFESSOR WILLIAM WELLS, LL.D., erox' COLLEGE.
A RAY of light seems, at last, to be penetrating the obscurity which
has so long involved the question of Nihilism in Russia. The world
has vainly asked the question, again and again: “ that 1s it, and what
does it mean?” And this question has never been satisfactorily an-
swered by the only men who ought to be responsible for an intelligible
reply; namely, the enlightened and intelligent statesmen of Russia.
At last the man who truly comprehends the case seems to have come
to the surface, and he is no other than the official into whose hands the
Czar placed unlimited power to do in all things just as he pleased, with
the intent of stamping out the plague of Russia. The ukase conferring
prerogatives on this single individual was absolutely frightful in its
latitude; the Emperor virtually'abdicated and made Melikoff the most
absolute dictator that the world has ever known. The life, the liberty,
the property, and the will of every Russian were placed in his hands;
and, from the vicinity of the throne to the portals of the cabin, men
trembled at the prospect of a reign of terror involving the guilty and
the innocent in the mere arbitrary dictum of one man, who could play
with the scaffold and the glaive as the toys of his hand. '
It is not to be wondered at that, under such circumstances, many
well-meaning and patriotic Russians, although they recognized the ne-
cessity of stem measures, trembled‘more in the presence ofthe new dic-
tator than before the Nihilists themselves, because they saw how
fearfully this power could be misused. Men were nervously anxious
to know which path Melikoff would choose; whether he would still
more stringently execute the severest laws of his predecessors, or en-
deavor to modify the police regulations and improve the administrative
processes of the country. The first announcement that he made to the
people of St. Petersbnrg gave some intimation of his purpose. He
called together the members of the civil'commission for counsel, and
. addressed to the- people some sympathizing words, in which he asked
for their co-operation in his work of reform, which show cd that
he, at least, comprehended the latter. This was replied to by an
effort to assassinate him on the part of the fanatical Nihilists, with
whom he very coolly made short work within twentyd'our hours, and
went on with his measures, in nowise affected by the occurrence. Men
expected, in the wake of this crime, an increased stringency of police
regulations, but this failed to come, and by his moderation and coolness
in this affair he became extremely popular with the Russian population,
and called forth from the executive committee of the Nihilism the
assurance that the endmvor to kill was not made by order of the com<
mittee, who would gladly give him an opportunity to show the gloved
hand if it was his intention to do so.
This was the ray of light that Melikoff, by his mild and sensible meas-
ures, had cast over the situation,and he immediately becamequite popular
with all classes, who now hope that the solution of the terrible problem
may be at hand. His demeanor towards the Nihilists, as well as his posi-
tion towards the officials of the land, are both popular with the people.
They understand him to be determined to pave the way for liberal
reform in the management of 'the government. It is clear that he in-
tends to pursue the Nihilists where they indulge in violenm, but he is
also intent on paying the greatest attention to the operation of the civil
commission. He has divided this body into two chambers, one to be
the consultative and the other the executive power; the latter is to man-
age the conflict with the Nihilists, while the former will assume the
character ofa court of inquiry, by which may be ferrctcd out the evils
of the Russian administration, and means may be secured to cure the
evil under which the state is groaning.
Melikoff has not, therefore, accepted the position, and the sole task of
annihilator of the Nihilists. He proposes to see where they are wronged,
and, if possible, to redress their wrongs ; and great expectations are
now placed in the activity of this “ consulting commission” throughout
Russia. Many regard Melikof’f as the man who will take the position
of reformer and will, perhaps, be inclined to produce a complete revo-
lution in the mode of government, changing it from an absolute to a
constitutional power. This is too much to expect at once, for the Rus-
sians are not ready for' constitutional rule; but they are prepared, at
least, to have some little control over the civil officers of the state, to the
end that there may be a great reform in the present condition of things,
for this want of “control” is the greatest evil of the present-adminis-
tration of the Russian realm. The greatest curse of Russia is the dis-
honesty and corruptibility of the officials in all departments, and this
universal depravity 1s largely the cause of the discontent that has en-
gendered Nihilism. A few months ago no met a very intelligent
American engineer, just returned from St. Petersburg, where he had
been engaged for some time on some of the national works. “ What 1s
the matter,” said we, “ in Russia? that has produced the fearful
condition of things resulting in Nihilism ?” And we received the fol-
lowing reply:
“It 'is the unbounded dissatisfaction of all intelligent classes in
Russia‘ with the present mode of government, and the absolute want of
control over officials of all classes-from the highest to the lowest. There
is nojustice to be obtained from them that is not bought; bribery holds
the reins everywhere and steps in the way of every man, so that he is
forced to be dishonest if he will succeed against competition; it is
nothing but corruption on all sides. Russia has the most corrupt offi-
cials in the world.”
N0w this is the cause of the widespread discontent that makes loyal
men look on the movement of the Nihilists with indifference, at least,
and gives them access to all classes of society. And, therefore, all of
the nation that 15 intelligent enough to comprehend this evil is crying
out. for reform, either by a purer and more edicient control or by some
sort of constitutional government that will effect a change. In the plain
words of the people, they demand that there shall be a stop put to,stcal-
ing in the public ofiicos, and that it shall be rendered impossible for a
small number of men selfishly to exploit the great mass.
It is very difficult to say what reforms mu succeed in mating out an
ill so deeply situated in the body politic as the corruption and dishonesty
by which the public money is so lavishly poured into the hands of un-
worthy men. The cancer has already eaten so deeply, and has taken
possession of so wide a circle of employes, that. it absolutely fails of
means whereby to extirpate it, and it is not easy to imagine a process
whereby the great harvest of discontent that covers the land may be
removed-from it. It is certain that one man mnnotcure the evil, though
he may possess the most dictatorial powers ; but he may cast a ray of
light into the obscurity that others may see and take up the work.
People are unanimous in acknowledging that to produce reform in this
field is a harder task than the suppression of the Nihilists, and they are
looking on with interest to see what measures Melikoff may adopt.
Thus far he has shrunk from no responsibilit '; but only the future can
tell whether he can partially succeed in convincing the imperial house
and the nation that this is the only safe way out of their fearful troubles.
In military and political circles he will doubtless meet with fearful op-
position, for those who have fattened on the spoils will be loath to give
up their opportunities, and some will hate, some envy, and others fear
him.
It 15 rather singular that this man, who was regarded by all as the
