The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-03 00:00:00

StoaritrOge Obstruct',

SATURDAI , MAY 3, 1879.

THE REPUESSIVE MEASURES IN
RUSSIA.

St. Petersburg is a long way from London
and in other respects, besides that (3,.
distance, the eapitats of the two Europeal
countries which so often come into rivalr)

seem to be wide as the poles asunder. In
the possession of political rights the Rusoien
people have not yet even attained to the
position enjoyed by the population of
England more than 600 years ago. Many
a century has rolled by since Simon de
Montfort, Earl of Leicester, sent out writs
for the summoning of the first Parliament;
but to this day there is no Parliament in the
Russian Empire. No other European nation
occupies a similar position, for even Turkey
is now called upon to elect representatives'
to the great Council of the land. It seems
strange to us, after so many hundred of
years of liberty within this realm, that in
the European system there should be a vast
domain ruled despotically by an irrespon-
sible autocrat acting through the channel of
a highly centralised bureaucracy. No one
would of course pretend to put the Russian
peasant on a level with the resident in
England or France, Austria or Germany,
Spain or Portugal, so far as the country in
which he dwells being considered to be ripe
for Parliamentary Government. At the
same time, looking at the gradual march of
intelligence, even over the dreary steppes of
the Russian Empire, it is impossible to look
at the present system of rule there as pos-
sessing the elements of stability or perman-
ence. The Emperor Alexander is without
doubt the most liberal and enlightened
monarch who ever sat upon the Russian
throne; he gave an earnest of the spirit
which animated him when he emancipated
the serfs; and if he is wise he will now
gradually extend public liberties and poli-
tical rights. The Nihilist conspiracy, per-
meating all classes, ought to be a warning.
Governments of the Oriental type have been
defined as despotism tempered by assassin-
ation; and when once the constitutional
remedy ol the East tegins to be freely
adopted, it is a sure sign that the despotism
has outgrown the patience of the people.
Where millitarism rides rampant over the
legitimate wishes and aspirations of a people
it appears inevitable that there should be
plots and secret conspiracies. Germany is
tainted with Socialism, Russia with Nihilism
in both countries every political consideration
is subordinated to the spirit which rules the
camp But if we look at the Austrian
empire, we find that the people are much
more prosperous and contented since the
extension of their civil liberties and the re-
laxation of the martial tyranny which for-
merly reigned throughout those heterogen-
eous dominions. The same may be said of
France The attempts which have been
made to assassinate the Emperors of Ger-
many and Russia within the past few months
suggest some serious reflections. Both
empires have within a few years been suc-
cessful in war, without however apparently
securing content at home. So far as the
Russian Government is concerned, it seems
to have resolved to stamp out the revolu-
tionary spirit now agitating the empire by a
system of wholesale repression. The whole
country is virtually placed under martial law,
and it has been thought necessary to estab-
lish a system of repressive and precautionary
measures more severe than any with which
Europe has been acquainted within living
memory. Such a course of action could be
justified only on the assumption that the
whole fabric of society is menaced with de-
struction. Doubtless if such a peril exists,
the most violent measures may, in the in-
terests of society, be necessary. There has
been a loud outcry. against Russia in conse-
quence of the arbitrary orders issued in the
name of General Gourko ; but the matter is
very difficult for foreigners living at such an
enormous distance to Judge. If in any State
there exists an organised conspiracy for the
wholesale assassination of the officials who
carry out the orders of the Government, it
must be broken up at all costs and all hazards.
The existence of such a state of things is
manifest proof that reforms are needed ; but
the carrying out of reforms must be post-
poned until order is restored. To protect
the lives of its servants in the execution of
their functions is the first duty of a Govern-
ment, responsible as it 's for the lives and
the safety of the people uider its care.
The point which concerns Europe is how
far the Nihilist agitation represents a for-
midable popular movement; and, if so,
whether the system put in force is likely to
effect its suppression. Was the attempted
assassination of the Czar the act of an isolated
fanatic, or the outcome of an organised asso-
ciation, whose object is the establishment of
a reign of terror? There seems little reason
to doubt that very large and influential
secret societies exist in Russia which aim at
the subversion of the Government by violent
means. It will be seen that there are no
open or recognised means for the expression
of public opinion ; and that the energies,
which in other countries find their vent in
political life, are in Russia cramped and
fettered. The mercantile and professimal
classes now rapidly growing in importance,
are debarred from their natural sphere of
action by the system under which all social
honours and official employments are re-
served for the members of the domin-
ant aristocratic class. The country is
burdened by the existence of an enormous
standing army and by excessive taxation;
Russia has, too, fully participated in the
general depression of trade. It is not there-
fore a matter for surprise that secret associ-
ations should flourish there. While there is
little doubt that these will ultimately be
broken up, the restoration of order will not
alone suffice to secure tranquility and con-
tentment. As long as the causes which
brought about the present agitation continue
in force, it may be expected te repeat itself
in different forms.

THE IRON TRADE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.
Pig-iron was a shade easier to-day conse-
quent upon the drop in coal by the Earl of
Dudley, who is following in the wake of the
colliery proprietors in the Cannock Chase
district, by issuing a list of revised prices ;
but no specific sum was mentioned as that
at which pigs might be bought lower than
before. At present the makers declare that
they want more the amount of the drop in
coal to compensate them for the losses inci-
dental to pig making at current rates. Fin-
ished iron was no stronger, and the compe-
tition of the North of England in the same
sorts and of South Wales in others is kept
up. The works are not generally in better
employment upon the week. A good foreign
aid also home trade is kept up in tin-plates,
tnd a few galvanisers are at the moment in
better employment upon urgent orders. But
the market generally did not welcome May
eve with the confidence with which it has
been in some quarters prophetically antici-
pated. The new price list for coal, issued
by the Earl of Dudley, means as to thick
coal a reduction of is per tun upon seconds,
lumps, and steam mined West of Dudley, and
upon furnace, steam, and lumps, mined East
of Dudley. The late rates had ruled for a
year and eight months, as the list issued by
his lordship previous to the one just out is
dated 31st August, 1877. Upon bright
screenings and steam screenings, mined west
of Dudley, the drop is also is per ton. "Best"
tliick coal is not altered in price. Slack,
mined west of Dudley is dropped 6d per ton,
I but east of Dudley it is unaltered. Thick
coal east of Dudley is now :—Best, 14s. 6d. ;
• seconds, 13s; furnace, Bs. ; steam, 7s. ; lumps,
76.; ezi.e6lack, ;36 6d. Ti e prim ot the