A Herzen Reader

83. A Second Warning and A Second Godunov [1866]

The News from Russia 283 improvements introduced with fake openness and a foul-mouthed police literature. Under Nicholas they tormented and tortured people, threw them into solitary and sent them into exile silently. There was no insult. Now there is no punishment, no hard labor that can protect a person from the abuse and slander of the official howling dogs. Shameless, nasty, and base, they beat people lying on the ground, they insult corpses… for them there are no limits … once again it is our “riff-raff” put to the use of the police… From people they move on to ideas and institutions… and nothing can stand up to these nihilists of conservatism… Haven’t we heard the cry raised against the education of the poor, against a too easy access to higher learning?.. Haven’t we read the denunciations over the graves where the dead are buried, and over graves where they have buried the living?.. 2 Don’t they lead shadows in chains from hard labor and the mines?.. They wish to judge history and tie it to the pillory, like they tied Chernyshevsky… Notes Source: “Novosti iz Rossii,” Kolokol, l. 220, May 15, 1866; 19:69–70, 386–87. 1. Mikhail Magnitsky served under Alexander I. 2. This is a reference to a criticism of authorities in Tobolsk for a slackening of their vigilance toward Mikhailov, who was already dead by the time the accusatory materials were released by the Senate.  83  The Bell, No. 220, May 15, 1866. The Moscow Gazette was issued a warning on March 26, 1866, and Katkov paid a fine, but he preferred to cease publication rather than publish the warning as instructed, as a result of which a second warning was proposed. This decision was overturned by Minister of the Interior Valuev, who saw a need for the newspaper in the wake of Karakozov’s act. However, once Katkov began to vigorously attack the committee on the press, Valuev agreed to second and third warnings, followed by suspension of the paper for two months. Before the assassin’s identity was released, Katkov insisted that it had to be a Pole. Even after the name became public, the press insisted that “Karakozov” was not from a Russian family registered with the Saratov nobility, but a Tatar agent of exiled Russian revolutionaries, acting in concert with Poles. Some Petersburg newspapers muted their comments, fearing the final triumph of reactionary forces in Russia, which led Katkov to ask “Since when does liberal politics mean allowing the terrorization of society by evildoers aiming at the destruction of the state?” (Verhoeven, The Odd Man Karakozov, 45–47).  284 A Herzen Reader A Second Warning and a Second Godunov [1866] The chief directorate for press affairs has received a second warning from Katkov. With its head hanging down it awaits a third warning and then a dismissal. The thoroughly frightened Valuev, who became so eloquent that the “halls of the noble assembly” call him “le prince de la parole,”1 hurried to propitiate the ruling editor with humility and disparagement—and with a praiseworthy meekness. But that is insufficient for their agent, and, if the repentant administration fails to strike itself in the chest and on the cheek because of its warning, he threatens to give up his regency. We foresee a great light, which will eclipse Komissarov. Noblemen, self-selected, will come from all corners of Russia on long-distance carriages and postchaises to pay obeisance to the father-editor and autocrat… local police and gendarmes, agents of the secret police, priests, and opponents of reform will send telegrams… Russia will emerge exhausted by such addresses, as it was exhausted a few years back by jubilees. Katkov will refuse, like Boris Godunov, like Ioann in Alexandrovsk, and the nobility will pay his fine and bring him another inkwell2 … The sovereign will be forgotten and Karakozov (a Tatar) will be executed3 … Muravyov will soothe the heart of the editor-regent. And it will be soothed, but on what conditions? They shouldn’t stint on paying him for the second salvation of Russia: Konstantin Nikolaevich in retirement, all those connected to the warning in Siberia, the destruction of the entire Korsh family, Kraevsky to the gold mines in Kamchatka, SkedoFerroti to hard labor, the death penalty for three Poles of his choosing; finally , he should be mentioned during Orthodox services: “Let us pray for the savior of Russia’s unity, the warrior-journalist and arch-strategist...