The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-12-09

8 ID }DNDet0U4 0W4 ADS00VCf0GJs 8t re-
Il is we'll known that Alexander /. Of Russia
and his brother Nicholas contemplated the eman-
cipation Of the serfs Of the Empire. Neither,
however, succeeded in accomplishing his pur
pose. The FIRST died comparatively young, not
without suspicion that the Russian nobility
aided his exit from the world from the appre-
hension OF his retOrmatory tendencies; the lat
ter was believed to have clung to the project to
the day Of his death, but he was too MUCK 0c.
.cupied With other things, perhaps feared the
nobles or believed the time had not come to
move in the matter. Be this as It may, 1t was
reserved for Alexander H., the young sovereign
who nov Yields the Russian sceptre. to accom-
plish the glorious work.
vas chosen as the head of q commission to
elaborate project which should be equitable
TO both masters and serfs. Proposals. and sug-
eestions were invited from all sides, In order
70 conciliate conflicting interests. Tho pro-
blem to be solved was mot only to restore hu.
man rights 70 the serfs, but to endow them 81
once With homssteads, which, Of course, we're
20 be cut out of che land owned hitherto ex
cluaiyely by their masters. The honesteads
we're 70 consist Of between thirty.fve and forty
acres and for the loss Of both land and labor
70 the masters, the peasants we're 70 make suit
ahis cempsnsation, to be agreed upon between
the interested parties II they could NOT
agree. then . government commission WAS TO
oct as umpire.
Such is . brief outline of the plan finally
adopted BY the commission. The preliminaries
are complete, and on the 18th proximo, a. we
ara advised by an item in the Africa's news,
riyen ON Saturday morning, the decree abolish
inr serfdom throughous the Empire Of Russia
IL TO be proclaimed. It will be one Of the most
remarkable events Of the age. II will be the
commenc cement Of grand era Of human devel-
| oppaent and freedom hardly second " lmPos-
| lance to that which dates from the 40 OF July,
l776. We may say that on that day more than
thirty millions Of people. hitherto slaves, ana
/ hound Ia the soil, will have risen to the condi.
ton Of freemeu and become freeholders. They
viii not of coarse rise up ON tue instant to the
| tnll drnity Of manhood. 1t will take tine To
rid themselves of slayish ideas and habits; edu.
cation must come TO dissipate the mists Of ig-
i norance : Tree. spontaneous energy TO replace
the stolid inertia born Of seryitude.5 But when
80 remember that until the time Of Peter the
/ Great the entire Russian people were barba'
rians, not even excepting the mobiles. and con
sider the wonderful advances they have made
in civilisasion since. the Imagination can hardly
ses limits to their progress when the iron bond
! I ~ :srfAesa shsll have been struck on True
Russia A. eeill despotism, but II is despotism
imnelled BY . benevolent purpose towards u
own people, and 10 doubtless better for them
nreaent than would be more popular form
| royernmept Its directness and energy, whei
moving. a. new. in . right direction, are . com
nepaatiop for many Of ita evils and u is graf
| iyipg 70 reilect that - The people change an
| rise 10 : higher plane Of deyelopmept she gov
. ernment must change also, until hnaiiy u vi
pass substantially into the peoples hands, Or :
!. least be administered with direct reference
| the general welfare.
\ Rnt while Despotism Il accomplishing Z
much for mans elevation in Russia, Il 10 painf
q think that the hoasted Democracy OF Oh
United.Statss, seven ysass past the middle
: the nineteenth century, occupies itself almo
exclusively in forging new fetters for slave
and in seeking 70 subjngate new terfitefy 70 q
= hateful dominica of bondage. While Rnsaia-
/ despotic. barbarous Rusaia--is just about
! enter upon . grand career Of freedom, and
reap I'll The glorious results OF civilization vhlt
freedom can give, the National DemocEacy
q Of The United States Of America y desperate
exerting eli its energies and employing an
resoufcss of ehicsnery end hands % make e. q
> vary The pssamoent lAw of the Republic. VIII
d she aat az ehe Russian 0ovesumeas goss for
= nest m>eth % peoelaim s1DancipAtiou 70 thir
= uilliops of peCple, oar Demecsaais lsgislato
y IN IS contending = ths patisnal Capitol
- enlv for new sa1sGuards for the slavery thas
4, -. Int fpe saha piGhe Of the dasehoadess
earrv ~ inseisneieo inee svsRy State = Z
= Ijaion. eAlae 5oe DemeoeAcy, - be thus rsbnk
II ~ Aespotic exanplel Alas foe the Repuh
- fs.nded ~ Washingtep, uhea 9ssesodapt
q p6ter tka Great y { heaeee De0pcf4s thaA
y eeelpe9e n ~ Rtpdsstial CAaaFl-Chasa
~ tpD. -sss -. 81. ID ---... IL - ns5ss
u yvAsxse eunass AarvS AsAin.- - seoek !
IesQlhfl s6sNeH - srt>c'nR eeaNy oEn1D