The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3732, 8 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1875.

Telegraphic communication, which gives us the earliest information of passingevents in Europe, tends also to arouse curiosity. Time after time it was announced in terse telegraphic sentences that a wide-spread conspiracy has been discovered in Russia. Next came the news that many persons had been arrested and sent to Siberia. Our connections with Russia are not very intimate, and therefore very few have felt personally interested in the matter; but yet it was very tantalising that the nature of the alleged conspiracy, its scope and object wei© never included in the news,. The files received by the last jpail throw some little light on the subject but very little. The Prussian corres-? pendent of the * Tones ’ supplies thd meagre information, and does not appear to think the matter nearly po serious ad on© might be led to suspect, Tim actfoujnt hV» of We alfikir tnfert&fy aaubhnbi

to saying that a number of young men, students at the U Diversities and other eductional establishments of a high order, having become enthusiastic in favor of democratic government, formed themselves into a secret society for the purpose of propagating their ideas. Secret societies are the terror of absolutism, and just as the society of Freemasons has excited ecclesiastical denunciation, the secret society in Russia has incurrsd the imperial anger of the Czar. No doubt freedom of thought is very distasteful to emperors and hierarchs, and where it has begun to work within their real or supposed jurisdiction, attempts are invariably made to crush it in the bud. Autocrats never seem to learn from experience. The world’s history should teach them that persecution never yet succeeded in preventing the spread of truth, or destroying the natural aspirations of mankind after freedom. The ‘ Times’s ’ correspondent considers the affair trifling, and writes concerning it that it is “ a facsimile of previous boyish freaks.” He then gives a sort of analysis of Russian national character, which he describes as “ ignoring the happy medium,” and knowing “only extremes.” There may be something in such a description. The state of society in Russia warrants the assumption that those who reflect upon what he terms “ the propriety of improving -he condition of the lower classes,” are very likely to become enthusiasts if they learn to sympathise with their humbler fellow-countrymen ; and as open discussion of the means of gaining their object is denied them, the only method they can adopt is by working together in secret. But in the eyes of despots, secresy is a sin which cannot be forgiven. Probably in such countries as Russia the young enthusiasts, taught by the example of the Government, have no other idea of effecting their object than by physical force. The Government, afraid of change, uses physical means to stamp out a moral principle ; the conspirators unfortunately, having no experience of the superior effect of moral force to that of physical, also seek to attain their ends by violence. No doubt their plans, immature and most probably chimerical, have been betrayed to the Emperor by traitors or spies, and thus they have become victims to their desire to benefit their countrymen. “In the present instance,” says the ‘Times” correspondent, “Socialism and Radicalism seem to have combined to lure their victims to perdition.” It may be that their ideas are fallacious, and that the two theories described as “ socialism and radicalism ” may have been based on false principles. This is not likely to be known, at least for generations to come ; but it cannot be in the language of the letter, that “ the poor boy reformers ” will “ vanish into oblivion, without leaving a trace behind.” If there be a germ of truth, social or political, in the theories for which they suffer, they haye sown the seed, and the Government bv their persecution has made them martyrs to its value. Their testimony to their convictions is now before the world. They may have been wrong, but their very errors will be regarded as virtues by those for whom they have suffered; and the cause that has evoked Imperial vengeance has gained by the very measures intended to defeat it. In all countries, our own not excepted, governments are conservative, and will not move until circumstances reveal wide-spread discontent. With free institutions, the remedy is soon applied, for the means are at hand to obtain it * but under despotisms matters move more slowly. Yet no government can afford to neglect a widespread desire for change. If what is sought to he secured is good, in the end it will be concede!, and all the sooner through national attention being drawn to it through the means taken to suppress it. The effect of persecution is ably stated by a compiler of the biography of the martyr John Hubs, who, prior to bis execution, was suspended from his sacerdotal functions. The effect was that “ the people were thus invited and encouraged < o exa,w£ne doctrines, which, till then, had been considered the sole province of the clergy: the humblest among them, women, as well as men, began to discuss the mysteries of grace, predestination, and justification.” And in the same way the Russians will inquire into questions bitberio .unthought of, and whatever is applicable to th«ir condition in the “ socialism and radicalism,” so called, will become understood and determinately sought after.