NIHILISM RAMPANT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1, 8 May 1885, Page 2

NIHILISM RAMPANT.

'_' Stepniak," the famous Nihilist who writes for various English periodicals, m a letter bearing date Feb. the 4th last, states that the Nihilists m Russia are quietly working to bring about a coup d' etat which will overthrow the Government by open, though unexpected assaults on it m the capital, and then m the principal centres of. administration. They will do so by means of a military conspiracy, which is represented at having spread with remarkable velocity. Some idea of its strength may be formed from the number of arrests which have been made of officers implicated m treasonable practices during the last three years. These have comprised 41 m the infantry, 27 m the artillery, and 14 m the navy. "Stepniak 11 adds that the military officers arrested have bsen the flower of the army, and he enumerates, for example, Lieutenant-colonel Aschenbrenner who is covered with orders; Captain Pochetonov, who has six decorations of valour m action ; and Stromberg Tichonovtk and others. Military adherents are being gained daily, and "Stepniak " regards the overthrow of the Government as being "within reach." An unscrupulous politican opposed to Russia just now ought not to find much difiiculty m disorganisiug the army. A little English gold quietly sent to the Nihilists, would go a long way to solving the Afghan difiiculty. (at ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.) SPECIAL TO UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. London, May 6. It is reported that Lord Dufferin has resigned his position of Viceroy of India. Stocks have fallen. The opinion on the Continent m regard to the Afghan difficulty is that Russia has gained a diplomatic victory over England.