es has already spread far beyond the boundaries of our
unfortunate fatherland. Modest and bashful far beyond all measure of
her virtues, Russia would sincerely wish to forego this honor, but
unfortunately the free press of America and Europe has not spared her
modesty, and has given a sufficiently clear picture of her glorious
activities. Perhaps I am wrong in this: it is possible that many honest
people in America believe in the purity of the Russian Government's
intentions--but this question is of such importance that it requires a
special treatment, for which it is necessary to have both time and calm
of soul. But there is no calm soul in Russia.

My task was to point out the horror and the iniquity of capital
punishment under any circumstances. The horror of capital punishment
is great when it falls to the lot of courageous and honest people whose
only guilt is their excess of love and the sense of righteousness--in
such instances, conscience revolts. But the rope is still more horrible
when it forms the noose around the necks of weak and ignorant people.
And however strange it may appear, I look with a lesser grief and
suffering upon the execution of the revolutionists, such as Werner and
Musya, than upon the strangling of ignorant murderers, miserable in
mind and heart, like Yanson and Tsiganok. Even the last mad horror of
inevitably approaching execution Werner can offset by his enlightened
mind and his iron will, and Musya, by her purity and her innocence. ***

But how are the weak and the sinful to face it if not in madness, with
the most violent shock to the very foundation of their souls? And these
people, now that the Government has steadied its hands through its
experience with the revolutionists, are being hanged throughout
Russia--in some places one at a time, in others, ten at once. Children
at play come upon badly buried bodies, and the crowds which gather
look with horror upon the peasants' boots that are sticking out of the
ground; prosecutors who have witnessed these executions are becoming
insane and are taken away to hospitals--while the people are being
hanged--being hanged.

I am deeply grateful to you for the task you have undertaken in
translating this sad story. Knowing the sensitiveness of the American
people, who at one time sent across the ocean, steamers full of bread
for famine-stricken Russia, I am convinced that in this case our
people in their misery and bitterness will also find und