The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-09

The - cssi Ne tNaSoN IN "Ss1as'
TIE empire which Peter the (Nrest cossoli
dated amcrg the semi-bsrtarcus trih e Of east
err Europe Is experiencing ct the prA sn' time
the effects of an advancing civilization, in the
c!swcTs there for social reform The system OF
the empire was founded upon the old feusA
theories, under which the grta maes Of the
people, though not slaves in the modern sense o!
that term. we're eerfs, transferable with the
elebe, and incapscitated for leaving it of their
oSn vo,iton. Towns grew up whose citl.
zepe were freemen, like those Of many of the
burehs of the middle ages, but if rustic
wished 70 remove to one Of them, 1t must be
With the consent Of his landlord, and cOndi-
tened with the payIren. to him of an annual
fee by his citizen serf Existing under the
rule Of an organized superior government, these
cities could cot, like the free cities of old, de-
fend the liberties of those who might reside in
them year and day against the claim of a
feudal landlord. Thus it happens that come of
the most wealthy and powerful merchants of
Russia are the eerfs Of 3 noble far inferior to
them in worldly possessions.
1t is not in the isolated instances Of the town
serfs but in the rural organization, that this sys
tenn is fourd to be not only in conflict with the
advancing influence of civilization, but in direct
opposition to the great material interests Of
| Ruseia 1t is estimated that the labors of some
| twenty millions Of men are controlled and
| limited by the activity, requirements and capa-
| biiities of only one hundred thousand of the
| eame race. When these are filed, exertion, i'm
proveuent and production cease to receive the
| stimulus of ambition and of emulation. This
has long been felt by the government of Russia
| to exercise an iron influence In REFRESHING its
| national energies for Development, and the
| great problem has been how to change the co.
| ciai system without destroying the empire.
| Civilization had entered through the monarch,
| and had descended to and permeated the class of
| mobiles; but the serfs we're as ignorant and as
| barbarous as of yore. If the interests of the
civilized mobiles were severed from their loyalty
to the empire, the latter might fall, for serfs
| alone could not sustain its weight The great
| problem has been how to elevate and civilize
the serfs without disafecting the class interests
Of the lords. II is the growing problem Of
| to-day.
| IVty JSalc nSV tAC hipt 1AiSAuuoSh otCA
the serfs Of certain Of the Baltic provinces and
now the second emperor ofthat name is entertain-
ing the project Of extending the same measure to
| the whole of European Russia. The mode I'M
der consideration is fully detailed in q Moscow
correspondence of the Nord, q paper in the
Russian interest published at Brussels, which.
we give in another column. The results of the
s;,c4 Eyeva4;op ~ fho carfofr their hNpd n
the eiebe has probably dictated the great re-
strictions contained in the project now being
considered. II is found that the advent of one
generation OF freemen involves the necessity of
a further step in the progress OF reform. BY
tie law OF Alexander L the serfs were freed
from their obligation to the landlord and be-
came manorial tenants Of their farms the fee
of the land, with all its rights and privileges,
remaining with the noble. The second genera
ton of these liberated serfs, continuing to re.
side on and cultivate the lands which had been
improved by their fathers for ages, have be-
come adverse to the payment Of rents and con-
cession Of privileges to the lord Of the manor
! for Improvements which are the works of their
fathers and themselves; and so they have risen
! against the immortal lords in very near
ly the same way that the antirenters
in this State rose against the proprie-
tors few years since. The recent move
ments in Russia that have been called serf
risings, are, in fact the movements Of the Rus
sian anti-renters-
The new projects OF the Russian government
are largely discussed in the letters published in
another column. From these il would seem
that the serf question is fur from being settled.
The mobiles wish to retain . great power over
their former vassals, which is Inconsistent both
with the ideas of the age and the necessities Of
the empire. Russia must march with the rest Of
the world In liz progress towards social reform
and the NATURALIZATION of man. Her national
development, and perhaps even her national
existence requires that her material labors shall
be urged on by the hopes, thoughts and capaci-
ties of twenty millions Of minds instead Of those
Of only one hundred thousand among her sub
iscts. The principle that man is free to labor
for himself alone Is permeating the whole world
with railroad and telegraph speed and if the
mobiles Of Russia refuse to accept this new order
Of things they will necessarily be swept away
with it.
The ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH AND THE IMPORT
TnADE-The effect Of the Atlantic telegraph on
trade is now being discussed in all its pros and