The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-10-26
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iMr. Prssdeat, Ladies' and 0ssslsnsn.- = a
The triumphs of free principles are not
confined to the Western World. The voice
of liberty, aroused by tho American Revo-
luton, has reached the Old World, and
walked up those nations, whose people have
wished to speak, but dare not. The re-
cent triumph Of humanity in Persia is a
Loble monument Of the historical develop
ment of practical Christianity. BY statis-
tical returns lately presented to the Emper
ror Alexander, We find the numbers Of
families which are landholders, amount to
$4,000. Out of these, 1000 possess
from 1000 TO 10000 serfs; 2 900 from
500 to 1000; 1900 from 100 10 800; 3d.
600 from 2l TO 100; and $4,000 have
lees than 2l. TIE total number Of peas
ant serfs of the nobility, amount to H.
760, 900, and those Of the crown to 9,00O,-
600. There are, therefore, 20,750, 900
persons to be released from bondage. So
we find a.mighty Empire leaping with ono
bound from barbarism to civilization, and
bowiug before the spirit of the gospel, by
investing with the dignity of human rights,
those who have been heretofore treated
like dumb brutes. The Emperor Nicholas
was great man in his day and generation,
but bis greatness was that Of the soldier
and that Of the despot. The present EN-
peror, Alexander, proves far greater man.
His greatness is that of the statesman
and molal reformer. The one aimed at
glory by the sword and ruled his empire
by fear The other is bent on achieving
far more divine glory. His exalted ambi-
ton is to inaugurate new era for Russia
by proclaiming a supremacy of moral over
material considerations-by making the
law of love tho law of the land. Nicholas
held the potentates Of Europe crouching
at his feet by out despotising the worst
forms of dcspotism. He filled them with
sense of majesty and awe. Alexsnder's
plan of action is Of another kind. He is
intent on shamng the other ruling powers
Of the world out Of their abuse Of power
or inhumanity. Eo too, inspires them
with sense Of awe. Rut it is the awe
which wrong doer feels at the sight Of an
honest nan. 1t is the awe which unscru-
pulous injustice feels at the sight of tri-
umphanl justice. 1t is the awful sense of
admiration which scizes the universal mind
on seeing power, generally noted for the
heat henism Of its institutions, suddenly
turning out to be inspired with the holiest
aspirations Of Christianity. The injunc-
tion Of the Great Master. "Be ms wise as
serpcnts, and as harmless as doves" has
never before received such application on
the broad fields Of history as this instance
of the emancipation of Russian scrfdom.
The wisdom of the measure is worldwide
In Its consequences.
Behold here new empire struggling
into existence, and holding sway over an
immense tract Of territory. Hitherto there
was but q small proportion of the sixty
millions Of inhabitants, practiced even in
those rudiments Of knowledge, which form
the landmark between civilization and bar.
barism. Over q third of the whole popu
lation, if not rendered callous and naughty
10y tho august privileges which thy enjoy
cd, were allurcd to arrogance and selfish
ness 10y all the overshadowing, all blight
ing influence Of serfdom. One heading
cup detat has now changed all this. A
moral radiance is spread all over the land,
by the spontaneous and spirited overthrow
of the CALLING fcttcrs. The law of love,
Of humanity, is made to take precedence
over the law of hcathenism, of selfshness
Of property. The twenty millions Of serfs,
restored to their iaa'icnablc rights, will
gradually be elevated, and their natural
powers once developed, will become like
the humble settlers of our country, the
pioneers of a new industry, and new civ
ilization; their former masters may grum-
ble at first, but will gradually congratulate
themse' yes on being released from bur-
den of iniquity, which albeit profitable
and favoring happy life, paralyzes the
noblest faculties Of their natures, making
her unwttiugly insensible to those blessed
emotions which follow in the train Of man
ly exeItion, and Of conscience free from
the reproach Of expressing and crushing
fellow beings for selfish and mercenary ends.
We are not dealing with vague sentimen-
tai gencralities. The event to which we
refer las actually taken place; and altho'
not duly appreciated in the excitement of
tho hour, it is destined to receive justice
at the hands Of history; and already at
the present day It stands out from the
breakers Of our civil cation, as the great
Humanitarian beacon Of the nineteenth
century.
The serpent like wisdom of this act is
also apparent in another direction. The
meanest Bomha of Naples, and the most
abject satellite of popery, may outwit the
mightiest Cars, in low cunning and truck
ling lust Of power, But in the perfor-
nance Of magnanimous acts Of justice, no
such rivalry is to be feared. England and
France may, at any day, see fit to cut
each others throat. Italy is in state Of
fever and agony, Austria and Germany
standing by as usual, trembling, present
ing to the enemy fair array Of bayonets
aud university professors. Whatever indi-
rect moral causes may be applied in the
struggle of Britain and The Continent, they
are unredcemed by any great tonch Of HUI
manitarian movement, and even England's
victories in India and China, are well
known to be only ruthless struggles for
wealth and power, not merciful exertions
in behalf Of moral triumphs. Seeing the
chaotic moral condition Of the European