SERGEI STEPNIAK

• AUTHOR: Peter Kropotkin
• DATE: 1917
• ORIGINAL PUBLICATION: Introduction to The New Convert: A Drama in Four Acts by Sergei Stepniak
• SOURCE: N/A
• NOTE: N/A

Sergei Stepniak occupies one of the most prominent places among the heroes that the Russian Revolutionary movement has produced.

He was only 20 years old when he resigned from his position as an artillery officer in the Russian army. At that time he already took an active part in the Tchaikofsky group; and there I met him for the first time in 1872, together with Sophia Perofskaya and others who have since then either been executed or have died in the prisons or in exile. At that time Stepniak was already well loved by everybody in the group for his bravery and his fidelity to the cause, as well as for his wonderfully simple and clean character.

He was one of the pioneers who decided to "go to the people." Disguised as a laborer, he mingled among the peasants in the villages. At the beginning of the so-called "terrorist" movement he was one of its pioneers and heroes.

His English essays about Russia -- and there are seven volumes of them -- are full of intense love for the peasantry and hatred for its oppressors. His "Underground Russia", a book describing the revolutionary propaganda amongst the Russian peasants, made a great impression in the world of literature. He was an ardent believer in the revolutionary movement among the masses; and while the submissive servility of the people at times drove him to despair, he would leap for joy at the news of a revolt. He also believed in the necessity of a movement amongst the intelligent classes, which should go hand in hand with the people's movement. To accomplish this was his main object. At the uprising in the Balkans and the rebellion at Benevente, Italy, he joined the rebels with gun in hand. Only a few days before his death, he was ready to join the Armenian uprising. He hated oppression in any of its forms, -- be it in the life of a nation or family or party.

In England his writings had a great influence. He succeeded in creating a deep sympathy for the Russian revolutionist, and for the Russian woman and peasant. His life companion, who for many years shared with him all his sufferings, knew better than anyone else that he lived for his convictions only. Just before his death, he said: "To live for the cause is harder than to die for it."

He was a stranger to the feeling of fear; it was as foreign to him as colors are to a person born blind. He was ready to risk his life every moment.

Egotism as well as narrow partisanship was unknown to him; he believed that in a movement to defeat oppression there are always parties and factions with differences of opinion, -- "but let every party do its share in the work for the common good, the best it knows how" -- he used to say -- "and the result will be much greater for the cause, than the centralized sheep-like unity that paralyzes the initiative powers of others through its own strict orders." He also could not understand why there should be strife among the various parties, since all are involved in the struggle against a common enemy.

This was the result of his inborn instinct for justice. I have known but few people who have possessed this instinct developed to such a degree. He could make a mistake when all the circumstances of an act were not known to him; but just as soon as he knew the motives of this or that act, he understood it and realized it in all its noble beauty. In such cases he was as emotional as the greatest poets are.

When he heard someone relating about an injustice, he was at once ready to annihilate the oppressor. I shall never forget the expression of his face, when I related to him the treatment our comrades had received in France and Italy. And yet he was kindness personified.

Whoever knew him loved him.

The children in Russia worshipped him. He spent some of the most enjoyable moments of his life in America where, surrounded by bright black faces, he taught in a negro school.

Sergei Stepniak was killed by a train, about three-hundred feet away from his house. He left his house about 10.30 in the morning, in order to visit a gathering of friends and comrades in Shepherd's Bush (London). A few bricklayers who knew him well saw him go by. He was absorbed in a book, which he read while walking. He had to cross a single track of a branch line, between Hammersmith and South Acton. The place was very dangerous; one has to cross the track hastily and very carefully. At first glance one would think he could make it in a single leap, but in reality one has to make about seven steps across the track, in order to be out of danger. The sharp turn prevents the pedestrian from noticing the oncoming of a train. When the engineer saw Stepniak crossing the track, he sounded the whistle; but before Stepniak had time to turn his head, the train knocked him down, killing him instantly. One of the bricklayers who saw the accident ran to Stepniak's house and informed his wife of the sad news.

The following Saturday the cremation of his body took place. Hundreds of his friends came to his house and walked to the Ravenscourt Park cemetary. At the Waterloo station, from where the train leaves for Wauking, thousands of workingmen assembled with their banners, representing the societies and Labor Unions of various parts of London. Opposite the station, in a downpour of rain, speeches were held by English, Russian, Italian, German and Armenian friends, who were often interrupted by the loud sobs of the assembled. The manifestation was both magnificent and heart-breaking.

I have seen funerals large in numbers, but I have never seen a funeral with so much deep grief and sorrow as was manifested by the mourners at the funeral of Sergei Stepniak.

When the terrible accident happened, he was only 43 years of age, full of strength and courage, full of hope and belief in the future. On the very day of the accident his long wished-for desire was to be accomplished, a desire to establish a Review, which should be a literary meeting place for all Russian Revolutionists. He had a complete program article, which was to go to press that day. Hundreds of letters and telegrams received at his funeral, attested to his value to the Russian Revolutionary movement. He was its central figure.

The time will come, when history will tell what Sergei Stepniak did for the Revolutionary movement in Russia!

Posted 2008.06.09