A Herzen Reader

The Bell, No. 220, May i5, i866. The Moscow Gazette was issued a warning on March 26, i866, 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).

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 post- chaises 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 Kara- kozov (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, Skedo- Ferroti 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 of Moscow and all Russia, the boyar Mikhail and his spouse."

If he holds out he will get it all. Fear is very gracious and generous.

And as a matter of fact, if he left The Gazette, what would happen to Russia, to whom would the tsar be abandoned, to Muravyov alone? Anyone would be terrified to be left in a room alone with him.

Notes

Source: "Vtoroe predosterezhenie i vtoroi Godunov," Kolokol, l. 220, May i5, i866; i9:76-77, 389-90.

i. Herzen read an account of Valuev's speech at the April i0, i866, gathering of the St. Petersburg Noble Assembly in the April i3 issue of The News. He comments that while the minister's speech was empty, unclear, and full of cliches, Valuev knew how to flatter the audience by speaking in a style familiar and dear to them from their nannies and servants.

"Ioann" refers to Ivan the Terrible, who removed his family to Alexandrovsk in 1564 to await a delegation of Muscovites begging him to return to Moscow and rule and punish treason as he saw fit. Katkov was presented with an inkwell by the Moscow Noble Assembly.

Herzen has noted before the absurdity of referring to Karakozov as a non-Russian, because his surname, like that of many prominent families, was of Tatar origin.

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