„daß 15. (oder Ende) Oktober die Rheinische Zeitung Bakunin verteidigte gegen das preußische Ministerium, das ihn auswies;
„daß im Februar (1849) die Rheinische Zeitung einen leading[12] Artikel über Bakunin brachte, beginnend mit den Worten: Bakunin ist unser Freund! usw.;
„daß ich in der New Yorker Tribune Bakunin paid the tribute due to him for his participation in our movements etc.“[13]
Meine Erklärung schließt mit den Worten:
„As to F. M. proceeding as he does from the fixed idea that continental revolutions are fostering the secret plans of Russia, he must, if to pretend to anything like consistency, condemn not only Bakunin but every continental Revolutionist, as a russian agent. In his eyes Revolution itself is a russian agent. Why not Bakunin?“[14]
Nun in der heutigen Nummer wagt sich der Lump Golowine nicht zu nennen, sondern unter dem Titel „from a foreign Correspondent“[15] bringt der Morning Advertiser das Folgende von ihm:
How to write History.
(From a foreign Correspondent.)[16]
Bakunin is a Russian agent – Bakunin is not a Russian agent. Bakunin died in the prison of Schluesselburg, after having endured much ill treatment – Bakunin is not dead: he still lives. He is made a soldier, and sent to the Caucasus – no, he is not made a soldier: he remains detained in the citadel of St. Peter and St. Paul. Such are the contradictory news which the press has given in turn, concerning Michael Bakunin. In these days of extensive publicity we only arrive at the true by affirming the false; but, has it at least been proved that Bakunin has not been in the military pay of Russia?
There are people who do not know that humanity makes men mutually responsible – that in extricating Germany from the influence which Russia exercises over it, we re-act upon the latter country, and plunge it anew into its despotism, until it becomes vulnerable to revolution. Such people it would be idle to attempt to persuade that Bakunin is one of the purest and most generous representatives of progressive cosmopolitism.
„Calumniate, calumniate,“ says a French proverb, „and something will always remain.“ The calumny against Bakunin, countenanced in 1848 by one of his friends, has been reproduced in 1853 by an unknown person. „One is never betrayed but by one’s own connexion“ says another proverb; „and it is better to deal with a wise enemy than with a stupid friend.“ The Conservative journals have not become the organ of the calumny insinuated against Bakunin. A friendly journal undertook that care.