Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-19


the la,o's Of the first period, in systemn,ic and
statisucai point of view. After this delay the
peasants will obtain all the rights of the other
toxpaying classes, remaining, how ever, adsc,ipf,
IgteCoe-Dound to their ostates--until they shall
have purchased themselves freedom.
! Reforms more radical than these, inaugurated in
SO brief space Of time, would be the height o
folly, and would alike i'm peril their own consrma
tion ana the safety Of the government. AS it is
the peasantry OF the empire hardly compre
hend the nature of the Empcror's projects and
the popular ignorance will form. aud plaiulJ does
form. one OF the chief obstacles to their success
NOR Is this to be wondered at The burghers
and Tree peasants have hitherto found insurmcunt
able obstacles in acquiring education, while the
seri Is wholly abandoned, aud cannot participate
even IN the wretehed allow ed to the 9TH
efs. 80 that one Of the best informed writer's on
Russia has characterized the name Of the minis.
try OF fopulir Education" as "bearless irony"
In this absence of intellectual social and moral
culture, 1t has been easy for agitators to misrepre-
sent the nature of the Emperor's emancipation
scheme, and to excite the serfs against the landed
proprletors, by representing them as the only i'm
pediment to its immediate operation. The Vi
emma correspondent Of the London Times alleges
that the ignorant Greek priests have greatly con.
triputeo TO the alarming ferment among the serfs
by representing the kind intentions of the Empe.
ror as accomplished facts. Indeed it may be said
without tear of mistake, that the social condition
OF the lower orders will form the greatest obstacle
70 the hmperor's efforts. 1t may not have that
power wholly to prevent their realization. which
the resistance of large numbers of the nobility
would have, but nothing will be SO productive OF
delay as the ignorance Of tlfe inert masses.
Ibe nobility have it in their power, and are us.
ing their power, to oppose the Emperor in many
ways--by proposing schemes which shall hettrai.
ize the reforms. and by the most opposite plans
ior their working, drawing them on to their own
destruction. The bulk of the nobility are shresd
intent upon their own interest and as the powet OF
emancipating the serts rests absolutely in their
hands, OF course their influence upon the reform
Is immense. If their patriotism does not securc
their cooperation, self preservation may; for The
recent outbreaks show plainly that even if the
seris do not wholly comprehend the Cars purpo
ses,they at east know enough TO resist to the last
any intermediate power which may delay their
assumption of promised political and social fran.
chise. 1t is worthy of mention that the Grand
Duke Constantine goes hand in hand with the
Emperor in all his reforms. so that after all the
Obstacles in the way Of emancipation ara really
not so many or go efectual as might have been
anticipated.
Alexander, with the assistance of his newly
appointed ministers, is exhibiting both tact and
wisdom IN the accomplishment of his plans-plans
when 1t not carried out wisely and adroitly could
result only 10 national ferment likely to end in the
worst excesses century of delay to the progress
Va peOTleAJ tDe lnteSt accounts twenty
ninc governments among them some of the largest
ana most populCus. and together containing con
siderab!y more than half the population of the
omp're. had officially announced their intention of
appointing committees to act upon the emancipa-
tion scheme. On their activity and on the viii, |
ingness and energy of the Governors, depends
the success of the undertaking. 1t is not i'm
possible that trial by jury will be among the i'm.
proyements of the new regime. he old Minister
'f Justice will probably be replaced by some one
more capable of satisfy ing the demands of the 4
people, and the Minister of Finance who nigh.
,ave interpOse1 successful resistance to this and
'ther measures for the improvement of Justice has
'lready resigned and given place to an adherent
If the reform ideas.
The ST. Petersburgh correspondent of the Inde
'endence Beige gives the rumor of forthcoming
lkase by which emancipation is to be made pune
md simple, though for three years the peasants
re not allowed to leave their estates, but during
hat time the propretors are to make with them
he necessary arrangements for their emancipa-
ion. AT the end of that period government is to t
intervene. This report lacks confirmation, though 4
may be true.
In few weeks we shall have the news of the :
lcetlng Of the Moscow Committee of Mobiles,
those example and decisions on the Eman cipation
uence upon the other governments. 1t is the CEN
ghtcned plans of the Emperor will receive from 4,
loscow, kiev and Novogorod a vigorous support,
nd there obtain that first and decisive impetus 2
'hich will render immediate and safe their uti'
latc and inevitable success.