THE RED SPECTRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6966, 15 March 1884, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE RED SPECTRE.

Gloomy forebodings for the current year are. heard on every side throughout Eurppcv It. is not the financial situation, although that is bad, that inspires the Kuropean press with misgivings, but the revival of Nihilism and the unmitigated failure of the repressive measures,,adopted by the Russian 'Government to keep it in check. The murder of Cplpnel Sudeikin, the rumored assiuation of., a still higher official, and the strange reports connected with tho Czar's recent accident are not the only ominpus symptpma pf. apprpaching trouble in Russia. The Wiener Allgenieine Zoitune, which is often remarkably well informed on the revolutionary movement, states that intelligence l of a most serious character has lately reached St; Petersburg from London. The Russian authorites it asserts have obtained possession of a cipher letter found at the lodgings of a Nihilist refugee in London. This letter-has been: deciphered at St Petersburg and contains a passage to the effect that a revolver. 1 /can be more safely used than dynamite, and that it will be best to wait for an opportunity: when, the Emperor and the Czarevich can be attacked together, so that anarchy, may set in at once. A simultaneous warning is/said to have been sent to St. Petersburg from. Paris. Meanwhile, whereas .only, a few months ago a member of the Russian Government loudly proclaimed that Nihilism had been finally disposed of, another Russian, official gives similar publicity to a statement that nothing effectual on be done against, the Nihilists until England shall agree-to join an international conventien./againßt the revolutionary reprobates of all nations. . An international convention of the kind was informally proposed by the Russian -Govern-, ment not very lpng agp, and it was nnt only England that refused to take it-into consideration. The idea met with no favour iu Austria, the authorities being then of opinion tbat the existing laws of the country provide: them with ampin power for dealing with,all revolutionary agitation. In reality the same view, was only one month agp taken in Austria as everywhere else outside of, Russia concerning the only effectual means of putting an end to Nihilism. A complete/reform ofthe administration and the concession of: public liberties were then regarded ;as 1 the only antidotes that would counteract Nihilist conspiracy in Prussia. Now, having: had its : Nihilist scare in Vienna/Austria resorts to' repressive measures, the Government completely changing its attitude .within six weeks.