Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1881 — THE NIHILISTS. [ARTICLE]

THE NIHILISTS.

Declaration of Principle* of the Party. The following is the code of the Nihilists, as promulgated at St Petersburg : A. We are socialists and champions of the people. We hold that socialism alone can insure to humanity the blessings of liberty, equality and fraternity. We hold that the will of the people can alone sanction and achieve the social reforms we contemplate. No idea or social instruction can prosper if it is imposed on the people. B. [ln this paragraph the Bufferings of the Russian working class, resulting from exorbitant taxation and arbitary administration, are exposed. ] C —l. We hold, therefore, the overthrow of the present Government the foremost duty. By this revolution our nation snail attain—l, the faculty of an independent development of all its forces, according to its own will and customs; 2, the possibility of a further growth of the socialistic instructions, forming a part of our national life, such as the artel (workmen associations), the obstchina (land commune), etc. 2. We hold that the will of the people may be clearly expressed in a national assembly, elected by universal suffrage, which, though by not any means an ideal form of expression, is nevertheless the only one possible under the present circumstances. 3. It is, therefore, our intention to take the state power from the hands of the present Government and confer it’on a national assembly, which is to decide as to the future constitution of our country. D.—Therefore we demand ; 1. A regular representative assembly elected by universal suffrage. 2. A full local self-government of all provinces, districts and townships. 3. The commune an independent, economical and administrative unity. 4. The land to be declared state property. 5. A system of measures aiming at the transmission of all factories and workshops to co-operative associations of workingmen. 6. Full liberty of conscience, of speech, of the press, of associations and meetings. 7. Universal suffrage, without limitation as to class or property. 8. Abolition of the standing armies and institution of a national militia. E—ln view of the above stated principles our action comprehends : 1. Propaganda agitation. Our propaganda purposes to diffuse among all classes of our people the idea of a democratic political revolution as the only means for attaining a better social condition. 2. Destructive and terroristic action. Our terroristic action consists in the destruction of the most pernicious agents of the Government, of spies, agents of tbe third section, etc. The purpose of these violent acts is to rob the Government of the Czar of its prestige in the eyes of the people, to show the latter the possibility of a struggle with the Government, and to foment thus the revolutionary spirit in the Banks of the people. 3. Organization of secret societies. 4. Secret agencies in the ministries, in the army, in society, and so forth, have been instituted in all parts empire. New agencies are yet tobe opened. 5. Organizations and outbreak of the revolution. The people being oppressed and the Government yet too strong, the party must take upon itself the initiative of the revolutionary outbreak. When and how can, of course, not be p üblished.