The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-07
Emancipation IN Russia and Slavery in
Americn-The Results OF the Rulc Oi
(oInr rec.

Amertcn-Vhe Results OF the Rulc Of
Commerce.
In another column will be found the DEGREES of
the Emperor of Russia granting certain civil and
social rights to the scris of that empire and
directing the mode in which they can pass from
the servile condition to that of the mercantile
and property holding classes.
1t is a curious social anomaly, and one well
worthy of study by thinking men. that precisely
the same cause is operating to free the scrfs in
Russia and to perpetuate the slavery of the ne
groes in America. This cause is the extension
OF the sway OF commerce, and of the rule Of the
commercial idea; by it men are measured ac-
cordng to the profit they can bring to the COM
munity; and wherever the commercial idea pre-
walls they are classed accordingly The move
ment may be said to have commenced with the
Hanse Towns. about the twelfth century, and to
have gone on increasing from that time. These
cities protected their citizens against the exac-
tons Of the feudal lords, and as commerce grew
feeling the want of men, they extended their pro-
lection TO serfs, who, taking refuge in them, re-
NAMED there a year and day. In this way
commerce attacked the feudal system, and every
where throughout Europe the cities made war
on the social organization of the Northern ma
tons, which were the ones that classed men as
sergs, military vassals and lords.
Kings soon learned the value Of the CONNER
cal idea, and brought it to bear in depressing
the insolence of the feudal lords, and con-
solidating in the crown the representative charac
ter of the nation. 1t was found that the Euro
pean man produced more in every way when
left to employ his labor at his own discretion,
and the employer found it cheaper to hire labor
when he required it than to own the laborer. In
this way the promptings of interest have over
thrown seridom or villainage in all the countries
of central and western Europe, and it is the
same power which is attacking the existing
feudal system Of Russia. The present interests
of a few mobiles may seem to be opposed to it,
but the true interests of the community, and
even of the mobiles themselves, lie in its ultimate
triumph. Philanthropy and the prevalence of
moral right are adjunct arguments in favor of
the movement, but they have not now, and
never have had, any preponderating influence in
bringing about the emancipation of the serfs in
Europe.
The operation Of emancipation in Europe has
proved vastly beneficial to the community as a
social organization, aud to the State as politi-
cal one BY extending to every one the stimu-
lus of personal profit from his labor, exertion
both mental and physical has been vastly in
creased. The increase of individual production
and labor constitutes the increased power and
n he IL ,, 81 49,
columns of the merchants ledger, presenting
the aggregates of that labor, have been the most
powerful advocates of human freedom.
1t is by the same process that the institution
Of domestic slavery for the African on this con-
tinent has been rendered more stable within the
last thirty years than ever it was before. When
the Revolution conferred the right Of selfgo-
vernment upon the States of this Union, those of
the North abolished slavery, because society
being mainly constituted upon the European
plan, it was found more profitable to hire labor
than TO own it, and the white man would labor
under the stimulus Of wages. Then came the
French revolution, with its fanaticism Of moral
rights and immoral results. The warm hearted,
the enthusiastic and the generous spirits Of the
world were carried away with the idea Of uni
versal freedom and equality without reference
TO the question Of profit and loss. Washington,
Jefferson, and many others Of the patriotic spirits
of the time. bowed before the tendencies Of the
age, aud advocated the emancipation Of the
slaves. They believed that such a course would
rebound to the advantage Of the State Here
the experiment has not been tried in any com
munity containing large proportion Of Africans
in lie population. The actual contact with the
negroes awakened the sense of social danger.
But the European governments, reasoning upon
the subject from the practical knowledge Of the
effects Of European emancipation only, applied
it, laws TO their colonies in tropical America,
and the practical results have been the reverse Of
what was anticipated.
II was found that the negro, unlike the white
man, would not work under the stimulus Of
wages. lie was satisfied with obtaining sufficient
for bis present physical wants, and consequently
an increase of wages diminished instead Of in
creased. the amount Of labor he would perform
The result was an immediate decay Of the wealth
and power of those communities where society
was constituted by the union Of the white
and black races. The ledger Of the merchant
showed at once, in its diminished aggregates,
that emancipation of the blacks was a failure.
Even the moralist has been compelled to admit
the iact for il il found that the material inte-
rests Of man must be developed before his moral
interests can be improved. Hunger for
bread must be satisfied before the thirst
for knowledge can be awakened. But with the
African race II has been found that desire for
moral development does not exist, simply be-
cause he docs not possess the capacity for II.
Hayti has now seen two generations Of men since
she became free, and in every way her condition
Is worse than II was under the rule Of those who
had been brought up in the service and with the
| example Of whites.