Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1881..

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 156, 2 July 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1881..

The cable haskept us pretty well advised from '.ime to time of the thwarted attempts of the Nihilists to destroy the present Czar as they murdered his father before him, but theße brkf messages fail to convey anything like a. correct idea cf "the actual state of affairs in Russia, and it is only after a perusal of the fuller information contained in the English popsrs just received that One can in any degree appreciate the absolute state of terrorism which exists there, apt ailing, as it doe?, not only the Emperor binißelf, but all who are around him, and, mo&t of all. his wife, the gentle, amiable Dagmar of Danmark, who, tl>e idol as she was of her own people, must indeed be terrified by the frequent discoveries of plots to take her husband's life, and driven to distraction by the ever-haunting dread that before the day is over his implacable enemies may have accomplished their design upon his life. Since the previous mail left England, the Emperor has issued a manifesto reminding his subjects of the glorious government of his father and of the great reforms inaugurated and carried cut by him. and speaking in strong terms of indignation cf his abominable murder. The Manifesto concludes thus :— « In the midst of oar profound grief the voice of God commands us to courageously assume the government of the country Confiding in Divine Providence, and having faith iD the power of autocracy, which, for the welfare cf the people, we are called upon to consolidate and defend against all attacks, we, in devoting ourselves to our high task] appeal to all our faithful subjects to serve us and the State faithfully and sincerely in order to txsirpate the horribly rebellious spirit which covers Russia with shame, to strengthen faith and morals, to place the education of youth upon a sound foundation, to eradicate all that is contrary to a senso of tight and integrity, and everywhere establish order and justice." Brave worda these, but mere words and nothing more. It is one thing to talk, but another to act, and the same mail which conveys to us this manifesto brings the news tnat he by whom it was issued has been compelled to seek safety in flight. No longer daring to remain in St Petersburg he has, probably in compliance with the solicitations of his distressed wife, absolutely fled from the capital to Qatschina, some thirty-five miles distant. We use the word "fled" advisedly, for it was beyond all question a veritable flight. He did not dare to undertake the journey openly, for the chances were great that if he did so he would never reach «he end of it, but he, who a few days previouely had avowed his "faith in the power of autocracy," had to resort to stratngem in order to eosure his covering these few miles in safety. No less than four special trains with all ihe surroundings that mark the movements of royalty were prepared at different times in order to throw the uncompromising bioadhounds who are on tho trail off the scent, and meanwhile be contrived to slip away unseen and unsuspected in one of the ordinary trains. And now he is dragging out a wretched existence in a gloomy palace where, as the Spectator says, " the precautions taken for his safety are of the most careful kind, including, it ia said, an arrangement which renders his bsdroom inaccessible from the rest of the palace." To deal with the Nihilist* who have now so thoroughly succeeded in establishing a reign cf terror is an impossibility, for-their canning is equal to their determination. They have now taken to acting in very small bodies, and in the event of one of their number being absent from his home or bis accustomed haunts for twenty-four hours one of his comrades visits his rooms and takes the precaution of destroviDg the whole of bis papers. At present the Czar is Bnrrounded by a faithful body guard, but it is impossible to say how soon even those who seem most loyal may be affected by the subtle influence of Nihilism which like a malaria hangs over the country and apparently pervades all classes, and traitors may be found amongst the most trusted. £Ie must be an imaginative man indeed who can picture to himself a more miserable existence than that now being dragged out by Alexander 111, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Ruseias.