From the history of Russian journalism post-reform period: S.S. Gromeka''s program of "peaceful progress"
This article analyzes the motives, means and results of participation of S.S. Gromeka in Russian social and political movement in the second half of the 1850's and early 1860's. The author discusses his articles in M.N. Katkov's journal «Russkiy Vestnik», chronicles in «Domestic Notes» of A.A. Kraevsky. Gromeka's journalism was not «liberal», an accusation he was reproached by his contemporaries. Its objective is to support reformist Government and to convince readers of the need for fundamental change of forensic police system, the situation of the press in Russia following the example of «enlightened States» of the Western Europe and especially England. The essence of these changes was the division of the police investigation and trial, the establishment of the World Court and the jury, in the abolition of censorship. Gromeka discussed with his opponents, who were defending “routine and ignorance of the past” and protecting the erosion of the authority of the police and the administrative control over the press at the time of the peasant reform. Not less sharp were his objections to «Sovremennik» and «The Russian Word» for advocating social utopias and criticism of liberal reforms. Gromeka's journalism reflects his commitment to the ideas of individual liberty, the rule of law and the principle of legal equality. He viewed transparency provided by the law on freedom of expressionas the only effective means of social control over the behavior of officials. On this ground, he established close contacts with Herzen. Gromeka's correspondence sent to the «Bell» provided «publicity» of many dramatic facts of political life in Russia. Gromeka remained a monarchist, trusting «top-down» reforms who believed in people's love for «the source» of power in Russia, in the peace progress, which, in his view, prevented the division of society into «parties».