Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-04
REFORM MOVEMENTS In RUSSIA,

REFORM MOVEMENTS In RUSSIA,
The recent accounts ofthe great eman-
cipation movement in Russia, with its at
tendant incidents, are exceedingly inter-
esting. 1t is not merely that the under
taking is on so gigantic a scale, but that
OF all the countries it, or anything like it
should appear in Russia. She has been,
in the popular estimate, the Nazareth of
nations, out of which no good thing could
come, at least in the shape Of social and
political reform. Republican demonstra-
tions in Austria, or evangelical move
ments in Rome, were quite as generally
expected. But if any man could sway
Russia from the track of consistent des-
lpotiSm it was thought to be Nicholas, who
had vast personal, as well as political
power. His son Alexander was suppos-
ed to be fit only to fill the place of a mod
el Gar, as it was shaped by traditional
usages and by the obvious requirements
of a system thoroughly despotic from CEN
ter to circumference. But year or two
has changed all this, and has shown Rus
sia embarking upon a reformitory move
ment which, whether it succeed or fail,
must inevitably lead to important results.
The magnitude of the effort, now be-
gun, for the emancipation Of the serfs,
will be seen from the inspection of few
figures derived from authoritative sources.
Thus the number of families who are
landowners amounts to 127 7,000 Out of
these 2000 possess from 1000 to 10000
serfs 2000 from 500 to 1000; $4,000
from 100 to 500; 10000 from 81 to 100;
and 10000 have less than 81. The to-
tai number of peasant serfS of the nobil-
ity amounts to II 100000, and those of
fore 20, 100000 persons anxlously wait
ing for an improvement in their condi-
ton. These twenty millions of men
have no power to assist in their own ele-
walton, but they are so ignorant and eX-
posed to the wiles of mischievous per-
sons, that they can greatly retard it
Thus in some cases they have been SO ex-
cited with unreasonable expectations re-
garding the movement, that their impa-
; tience has burst out into outrages, OF
which many of the land owners are not
slow to take advantage. But the latter
aside from this, have a mighty ability, as
we'll as incentives, to resist, delay and
embarrass the movement. They do moi
dare openly to contend against the de-
crees of the Emperor, but their covert
methods of resistance are innumerable
, and strenuously applied.
But still, no signs Of wavering are
: thus far detected in the conduct of Alex
ander. With the aid oil, many of the no
. bility and of the most competent officer;
in the empire, he is pushing his investi
cations in the most careful but resolute
= manner. Favorite ministers, who do no
enter into the work with zeal, are quiet
ly dismissed, it may be with handsome
r. pensions, and their vacancies filled by
II men known to be of the right stamp. A
the same time public education, and the
= administration of justice, are pat upon {
" new footing, and committed to the care o
men of ability and executive energy, re
= gardless of their social origin. Among
i the new appointees the proportion of CT
villains shows that the old prediction il
= favor of military men, has been entirely
= discarded. But what is mostremarkable
is that the press is allowed to speak with
out restraint Of the administrative sys
,. tenn pursued under the late Emperor, ant
TO publish and condemn its faults. Th'
:. impulse given by these heralds of neV
: era in Russia can easily be imagined il
: its nature, if not in its extent. The bes
elements of a mighty empire-the en-
= lightened merchants, the patriotic publ
= servants, and the young men-are full c
=" gladdened spirits and determined effort
The nation is not what it was five year
ago. What is to come Of all this, canno
be foreseen. It remains to be decides
whether Alexander Ii. is philanthropi
=. dreamer, patriot Of good intentions an
= weak nerve, or, on the other hand, ru
Ter well-informed, with hand to carr
= through what his wisdom has devised
= Thus far, certainly, he seems to have civ
:, en- away to no mere theories OF close
- spectators. As an instance OF his goo
- sense in this respect, we may cite hi
- - confidence in protective duties. He doe
!. not mean, while elevating the social ran
- - of his poorer subjects, to make them tn
's virtual slaves of other countries, by criE
~ pling all their departments OF skilled ii
- dustry and confning them to the mer
y production of raw material. If he ha
the same foresight in other respects, /
must sooner OF later attain to subsLanti;
- success.-Bost0n Journal.
Ist
ri Gy "Jury," said an Arkansas Judg