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Show THE NIHILIST DEMON iTKATIOHS. The late Moscow riots, though I insignificant demonstrations in themselves, them-selves, indicate a serious emeute ot the people against Russian illiberally and oppression. Tbe great empire ot the north is full ot "isms" and ! schisms, more or less revolutionary in tneir character and tendencies; and while the ancient Moscow is the bead-quarters bead-quarters of these liberalizing and anti royalist societies, every vilUge and hamlet, and almost every workshop work-shop and home in the empire, is cultivating and propagatiug the seeds ofdissen3ion. Russia is, to-day, and has ever been one ot the most oppressive governments on the globe. Cruelty to subjects is characteristic of the nation. This has only tended to increase the dissatisfaction of the people who are fast drifting to that point when a great social revolution will be necessary and cannot be escaped. That such a revolution must come about is guaranteed by the history of the world. Excesses and abuses of power iu every land have brought their punishment. It is an inevitable law of social re-action, and the consequences are terrible in proportion as the tyranny which led to them w.is extreme. A few days ago the woman Vara Sussutlitch Qred a bullet at the St. Petersburg chief of police. She did so, not for the purpose of killing him, but as a warning to him and government to be less severe and strict in the punishment punish-ment of socialists and reformers. The woman was tried, and though her guilt was known to all and acknowledged acknowl-edged by heraolf, she was promptly acquitted amid wild rejoicing of the people of the imperial capital. Immediately Im-mediately fallowing this event came tbe Moscow riots caused by the marching through the city of students, en route ior Siberia, the colony to which political criminals and agitators agita-tors are banished. Tbe populace of Moscow is so impregnated witb Nihilism that the authorities could not control them, and government has dispatched a portion of the standing army to enforce a quiet which can only be temporary. Heretofore Here-tofore government has openly met and.combitted tkese secret influences, and witb a harsh hand dealt not enly justice, but oppression to- all who could be Bbown to be in active sympathy with the movement. Now, however, the national authorities discover that tbe influence has grown too powerful to admit of imperious treatment. Last year, and in fact for many years, hundred of tbe more outspoken of the agi tutors wire bitnisbed; but like the martyr's blood they are proving the seed of tbe church. 1 Oat man banished gains two to the! causa. Tbe government observes tbio and as a result of the late threatening riots promises greater liberality; but with mobs Buch promises only increase in-crease fury by showing the weakness of tbe conceding pirty. The reformers re-formers abate none of their zsal, which i'a rather intensified by toe promised triumph. Aside from the political dissatisfaction dissatisfac-tion prevailing throughout Russia, there is another cause impelling the masses to a wild revolution. Tbe war has demoralized the iuduatriea of the empire, which in a measure has been shat out from the rest of the world. Trade is prostrate, the immense volume of paper currency put in circulation to carry on the contest has ereatly depreciated in value, people are out of employment and provisions are increasing in price as tbe production produc-tion decreases. Add to this the uncertainty un-certainty as regards the future, and there is presented enough to make a less discontented people than the op pressed Russian niasees, liae in their majesty and attempt a reformation and revolution. Tbe mighty monarch of the north may well tremble. Hie empire is threatened from withou' and within; but tbe danger most to be dreaded by him is at borne iu the form of internal dissension and popular popu-lar discontent. |