The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1880. NIHILISM : WHAT IS IT ?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 52, 1 March 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1880. NIHILISM : WHAT IS IT ?

This is a question to which recent events in llussia have frequently given rise, and we have met with no better answer to it than that furnished by an article in the January number of the Nineteenth Century, some of the information to be derived from whioh will, we believe, prove acceptable to our readers. The founder of the doctrines of Nihilism was Michael Bakunin, born in 1814, who belonged to a rich family favorably known both at Court and in the army, one of his nearest relations being now an aide-de-camp of the Czar, while another cousin was recently Governor General of Eastern Siberia Destined for a military career, Bakunin at an early age showed signs of discontent aod insubordination, and consequently was re fused admittance into the Guards aud appointed to a line regiment, at which he was so disgusted that he became a complete misanthrope and neglected his military duties to sucb an extent that he was obliged to leave the army. He then began to turn his attention to the study of the new German social philosophy at that time so greatly in vogue* l and shortly after, he left Russia and was for years wandering about Europe taking part in anyjrevolt and revolution at which he could be present, and urging, whenever the opportunity offered, the overthrow of the Czar's Government and the establishment of a confederate republic in its place. Twice was he sentenced to death by the Austrian Govern'* 1 ment, but had the sentence commuted, and returning to Russia he was banished for life to Siberia, but made his escape in an American schooner t to Japan. Thence he went to the United Stateß, England, and back to Europe, and in 1870 he again turned up in Prance where he published a pamphlet advocating the dis missal of nil landed proprietors, capitalists, andpri'-hi**, Un- di uibution of Government and private property, and concluding by recommending that all Bonapartists be transported for life. The remainder of his life was spent between Berne, Zurich, and Geneva, and was actively employed in directing the revolutionary work in Russia. Having thus summarised the somewhat lengthy sketch of this man's life given iv the article before us, we will now proceed to show what are the doctrines of that society of which he was the founder. " The revolutionary party in Russia " we are told, 'has no definite aims of reorganisation or improvement in view. In its sight everything as it great attraction. There is a very large i now exists is rotten, and before anything new and good can be created, all existing institutions must be utterly destroyed. Religion, the State, the family, laws, property, j morality — all are equally odious and must be rooted out and abolished. Ie is because ' nothing ' as it exists at present finds favor in their eyes that they have been called ' Nihilists. 5 They desire to break up the actual social organisation into mere individualism, with entire independence for each separate person. They maintain that no one should be bound by laws or even '

moral obligations of any kind, but that everybody should be allowed to do exactly as he pleases. Their object is anarchy in the Very truest sense of the work." The foregoing is tbe interpretation of Nihilism as given by the writer of the article, and probably many will conhider it an exaggerated statement, but in order to shdw that it is not So we will quote from certain extracts he giVes from the speeches and writings of Nihilists themselves. In 1868, Michael Bakunin made a speech at GeneVa in the course of whioh he said :— "Brethren, I come to announce unto you a new gospel, which must penetrate to the very ends of the world. This gospel admits of no half-measures and hesi'ations. The old wbrld must be destroyed and replaced by a new one. The Lie must be stamped out and give way to Truth. It is our mission to destroy the Lie, and to effect tbis we must begin at the very commencement. Now the beginning of all those lies which have ground down this poor world in slavery is God, * * * Teat out of your hearts the belief in the existence of God, for as long as an atom of that silly superstition remains ih your minds you will never know what freedom is. When you have got rid oi the belief in God, and when, moreover, you are convinced that your existence, and that of the surrounding world, is due tb the conglomeration of atoms, in accordance with the laws of gravity and attraction, then, and then Only, you will hive accomplished the first Step towards liberty, and you will experience less difficulty in ridding your minds of that second lie which tyrany has invented. The first lie is God. The second lie is Right. Might invented the fiction of Right in order to ensure and strengthen her reign : that right which she herself does not heed, and which only serves as a barrier against any attacks which may be made by the trembling and stupid masses of mankind. Might, my friends, forms the sole grouudwork of society. * * * Once penetrated with a clear conviction of your own might, you will be able to destroy this mere notion of Right. And when you have freed your minds from the fear of God, and from that childish respect for the fiction of Right, then all the remaining chains which bind you, and which are called science, civilization, property, marriage, morality, and justice, will snap asunder like threads. Let your own happiness be your only law. * * Onr first work must be the destruction and annihilation of everything as it now exists. LYou must accustom yourself to destroy everything, the good with the bad ; for if but an atom of this old World remains, the new will never be created." After proceeding to advocate the abolition of marriage, which he condemns as a mere political and religious institution, he goes on to say : — " Conscience is a mere matter of education. A Christian living in Europe, who has murdered anybody with cunning and premeditation, usually experiences a certain kind of remorse. But a Red Indian, who is every bit as much a man of flesh and blood, rejoices when he is able to surprise and slay a defenceless enemy. His conscience in no way suffers from the act, for he has been taught from earliest youth that the more scalps he possesses, the better he will be received in the happy hunting grounds of the great Mamtou." So much for Michael Bakunin. In the speech of another Nihilist, expression is given to tha following sentiments: — "Now we Nihilists say, No law, no religion — Nihil ! * * * Let us cast off this garment of law, for it has not been made according to our measure, and it impedes our free movements. Hither with the axe, and let us demolish everything. Those who come after us will know how to rebuild an edifice quite as solid as that which we now feel trembling ' over our heads. * * * And thus, from struggle to struggle, and after centuries of combat, mankind will finally attain perfection,, and become what is called God. To arms, then, brethren, and follow me to the conquest of Godhead." The above are selections from Nihilist speeches. We will conclude with quotiug oue or two paragraphs from Nihilist proclamations. The following are from documents seized by the Prussian authorities at Konigsberg: — Paragraph 16— "You should only allow yourselves to be influenced (in the selection of your victims) by the relative ust> which the Revolution would derive from the death of any particular person. In the foremost rank of such cases stand those people who are most dangerous and injurious to our organisation, aud whose sudden and violent death would have the effect of terrifyiug the Government, and shaking its power by robbing it of energetic aod intelligent servants." (23.) "The only revolution which can remedy the ills of the people is that which will tear up every notion of Government by its very roots, and which will upset all ranks of the Russian Empire with all their traditions." (24.) " Having this object in view, the Revolutionary Committee does not propose to subject the people to any directing organisation. The future order of things will doubtless originate with the people themselves ; bufc we must leave that to future generations. Our mission is only one of universal, relentless, and terror striking destruction. (20.) " The object of our 1 organisation and of our conspiracy is to concentrate the forces of this world into an invincible and all-destroying power." However much we may be disposed to wish well to those who are struggling to obtain that amount of political liberty which is enjoyed to so large an extent by Englishmen, it is impossible to sympathise with men who promulgate such doc rines as those shadowed forth in the foiegoing extracts. Mr W. Powley, who again attracted a large congregation to the Masonic Hall last night will deliver auother address there this even ing commencing at 7 30. A cricket match was played at Bright water on Saturday between the Wakefield and Brightwater clubs, the result beiug a victory for the former by ten runs, the scores being, Wakefield 57 and 37; Bright water 38 and 46. The railway traffic returns for the four weeks ending January 10 are published, and ou almost every line they show a slight falling off as compared with the corresponding period of last year, the Nelson returns being £614 16s 6d against £661 17s sd. The number of miles of railway now open for traffic is 1171; the total receipts for the four weekly period named was £64,913 19s 7d, aud the total expenditure £39,528 6s lid. Mk Stanton, being desirous of closing his musical and art union as soon as possible, hopes that all who purpose taking tickets will do so without delny in order that the distribution of prizes may take place as soon as possible. There was a large attendance on Saturday evening at the room near the Colonial Bank, where Mr Stanton is showing his valuable collection of books and pictures, the inspection of which, combined with occasional musical performances formed a assortment of books ou almost every subject, which are to be disposed of at very reasonable rates, and all who are desirous of obtaining good standard works, books of reference, or of fiction should make a point of attending. For representatives of schools and to the trade the room is open in the morning, and to the public from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. A cokrespond-nt writing from Motueka says :— As the Road Board members assume supreme power in disposing of people's property on their own terms, and, among

other vagaries, divert watercourses to the injury of adjoining properties, perhaps the ] accompanying extract from a letter from a < member of tbe British Parliament may in- i duce them to hesitate before assuming 1 powers that even the Czar of Russia would 1 not be allowed to arrogate. I'he letter is i addressed by Mr d'Shaughnessy, M.P. for ■ Limerick, to the Times of December 9th, 1 1879, and in it he says :—" Besides the mode * of carrying out these drainage work? is not 1 inviting. Our expensive system in Linieriok i county, after inflicting a ruinous overflow : on the tenants it waa intended to serve, has i deluged a district lower down on its stream. < A riparian dwner has recovered^ heavy i damages against a member of the Drainage Committee that supervised the works. Several similar actions are pending, or are i about to be brought, and it is intended to begin afresh after every rainy season." Messrs Sharp and Pickering call atten- i tion to a choice selection of pictures now on view at their rooms, and which will be shortly offered by auction if not sold privatply. They are part of the private collection of a gentleman about to leave the Colony. There is one proof engraving, " Christ Teaching Humility,'' to which special attention is directed. The following London telegrams dated 26th inst., appear in the Post"'. — it is announced that General Malakoff .will replace Count Godrko as Governor of St. Petersburg. "Various other changes are believed to be in contemplation, with the view of redoubling the precautions of Securing the safety of the Czar. Count Gourko is of Polish origin, but fought with great bravery for the Russians duriug the Russo-Turkish war.— Great dissatisfaction prevails in Constantinople owing to the disorganised condition of the Government. A plot to murder the Sultan has been discovered, and considerable excitement prevails in the City.— 'Renewed dissensions have occurred at Herat 1 between the Heralee and Cabulee soldiers, and fresh fighting is reported between the parties.