A correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, in whom that journal
places confidence, gives a somewhat novel account of the situation in Russia. The grand ceremonial, held on New Year's Day in St. Petersburg, has this year been suddenly countermanded, and the incident has given rise to reports of a recrudescence of Nihilism. The correspondent says these are unfounded. Nihilism is dead ; and although the Czar is in the greatest danger, the attacks on him come from other conspiracies, provoked by the terrible distress prevailing in Russia. He thinks this distress so great, that insurrections will occur among the peasantry, who in some districts cannot obtain food to support life. We question the accuracy of this view. The Russian peasants did not rise even during the famine, and should they do so, would rather threaten the local officials and the rich than the distant Czar. While the Army remains faithful, moreover, no insurrection can attain great dimensions, the people being too scattered, and the troops too numerous. We should rather believe, if the person of the Emperor is really threatened by new foes—as is said to be proved by some correspondence recently seized—that they are either a branch of the Continental Anarchists, or religionists —Jews, Catholics, or Stundists—driven crazy by recent per- secutions. The desire of the Government to " unify " all creeds in Russia—that is, in reality, to swamp all in the Orthodox faith—has become so strong, and is manifested with such cruelty, that an outburst of murderous fanaticism would surprise no one, and would as likely as not be directed against the Czar personally, instead of the Head of the Synod, who, on that matter, directs the Emperor's conscience.
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