New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-10

A report has been started, and is repeated In
many of the European papers, that among other
extraordinary measures to which the Emperor OF
Russia intends to resort by way of supporting him
self against the Western Alliance is the emancipa-
ton of the sers This report seems to have no other
foundation beyond mere conjecture, and we have
no idea that it is true; yet it is far from being so
wild or impossible ~ many other rurnors to which
the pending war has given rise.
There is one undeniabe advantage in the
one-msn power of the Russian Government
q sort of power which our Mayor Wood so greatly
admires, and is so anxious to apply to the govern
ment of this city. 1t makes the most astOnlsh-
ing reforms possible and practicable wherever
the autOcrat happens 10 be reformer either
by temperament or by policy. What did not Peter
the Great effect toward bring his barbarOus ORR.
entail subjects within the pale Of European civiiza
ton And what might not another Emperor effect
endowed with the courage and inspired by the
gacty Of Peter or even acting under an impulse Of
necessity that might supply the lack of courage
and sagacityl We may observe that in the Grecian
fable, wheH the Augean stable is to be ceansed, it
is not done BY the combined efforts of ten thousand,
more or less, of common shovelers, but BY the
energetic will and stalwart arm of a single Her
cules Ii, therefore, would not be surprising IT, in
throwing OFF the heavy burden Of Slavery physical
and moral by which Russia aud the United States
are both alike impeded in the race Of civilized pre-
eminence, despOtic Russia should get the start of
our American, hybrid. slave-breeding and slave
trading democracy.
1t ia also to be observed that the emancipation of
the enslaved races of Europe, aud the elevation
generally of the industrious and productive classes
Us against the arist0cracy OF blood, has been for
the most part the work Of tho Kings, who have
sought in this way 10 make friends of the masses,
and thus to strengthen themselves against foreign
domestic foes. Take for instance, the most
recent movements of that sort in the countries
bordering directly upon Russia. The emsncipa-
ton of the Prussian peasantry took place during
the humiliation Of that kingdom by Napoleon l.,
and was one Of the means 10 which the Prus-
struggle to regain what it had lost. SO the recent
emancipation Of the Hungarian and generally Of
the Austrian peasantry--almOst the only net gain
for liberty resulting from the late German strug-
ge-was measure not originating indeed with
the Austrian Government, but adopted BY it as a
measure Of political necessity, without which the
internal resistance TO the Imperial regime would
have become too powerful to be at all withstoOd.
Nor has thc rule above stated, that in Western
Europe the monarchical power has been the friend
OF the people as against the sristOcracy Of caste,
failed to hold good in Russia alsO. The many i'm
pOrtant steps taking in that country by the crown
toward the liberation and elevation OF the serfs
naturally suggest rhe idea of their total emsncpa-
ton by the same authority. Like Ill great and
beneficial changes, the emancipation Of the Russian
serfs would doubtless be attended By some tempo
rary Inconvenience OF more or less serious
character; but in its ultimate results, it could hard
" fail in that great struggle with the Western
Powers of which the present war is one Of the in
cidents, to give Russia twofod victory.
At present there are two points--and most essen
tisl points toO-n hch the Allies have the advant
age Of Russia, namely, intelligence and money, SUI.
periory in the latter being indeed almost the direct
consequence of the former. Russia in respect
Of general intelligence and industry is in much
the condition in which Western Europe vas three
hundred years ago; and the relative position in the
social scale Of her laboring population. at this
mcnt Is much the same with the position held at