Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1879 — Russian Despotism. [ARTICLE]

Russian Despotism.

It appears from the Russian press that the special reason for tien. Drentelen’s assassination was that he had -himself discovered the printing office of the social-revolutionary Semlja-i-Wolja, or “ Land and Freedom.” An expose by the Charkow Diozesan Nachrichten of the treatment of the inmates of the central prison for politcal offenders, reveals the oftielty still practiced in Russia. Of the 500 people who have been locked up during the last four months 200 have already died of scurvy. A small piece of biscuit, once in twenty-four hours, is atl they get, except a liberal allowance of the whip. No fewer than forty-two months. Six “poUticaf prison to be built in different parts of Russia, each to hold 8,000 prisoners. A nice lookout for the aspirants after liberty—--36,000 politioal prisoners. It is useless to record all tne assassinations and emeutes which daily take place in Ruasife—suffice it to r aay that things are undoubtedly getting much worse, that Nihi|ism cpn number among its members cibploves in tho highest places, and that the. worst means are' beingtaken to combat the enemy—viz., In discriminate arrests and arbitrary banishments. A crisis will soon occur which will attract thri attention of all Europe.— London Qtdbe. :