THE NIHILHISTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1699, 31 July 1879, Page 3

THE NIHILHISTS.

I wbb talking the other day, says a correspondent of " Truth," to a Kussian about the fltate of affairs in Russia. He said : " The Nihilists are not numerous, but the danger lies in the covert support which they receive from many who ore not their adherents, because almost all, with the exception of tho entourage of tho Emperor, are sick of the present regime." "Of what do you specifically complain, and what do you specifically want?" I ashed. "The abolition of the ♦third section,' "ho replied. "We have now HO guarantee for liberty. A man, without trial, may bu sent off to Sibaria, and nothing more is heard of him. We require some sort of habeas corpus which would secure to all those arrested an opjn trial within a short period after their arrest." "And a representative system ? " I suid. " Not absolutely," he replied ; " but the Provincial Assemblies • should be allowed to send delegates to a consultative As?nrnbly which wculd meet each year at St. Petersburg. Tho Budget would ho submitted to this Assembly, and it would convey to the Czar tho views of the provinces. Little bv little it would become a Parliament." "Is the array dis-jffectod ? " I asked. "Some of the regiments of the guard are devotedly attnehed to the Emperor, but if a • popular general were to put himself at tho head of a military insurrection in favour of moderate reform, he would bs supported by most of the regiments of tho Hue." "And ■what of tho Emperor ? " "He is not quits so well-meaning as is supposed, for he is excessively vindictive ; but his great failing is that he is entirely in the hands of a clique, ■who use him for their own purposes." "And the Czarevitch?" "He has been badly educated, and is an urdicked cub. It is a mistake to suppose that he ia imbued with liberal ideas. Were he to ascend the throne, however, prob ibly there would be far less •■waste than at present, for ho 13 excessivoly economical."