Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-10-26
EESsssin.

ESktSSAHs
De Tooqueyile, in his Democracy of
America, instituted IL Comparison between
the United States and Russiu, AS new
countries, which had risen to iuiluenoe
and power in distant quarters of the world.
almost before their existence was recog-
nized by the rulers Of the ancient nations.
Recent movements n Russia are attract
ing attention from watchfu eyes in all
parts Of the civilized world, and the social
transformations now in progress in that
vast empire reveal that a new era has be...t
inaugurated which gives promise of great
national progress and development.-
With yilalyigor, says receBt writer.
'the Russian Government has, within the
past six months, taken hold of some of those
mighty problems which the national needs
and aspirations mark out for it. Impor-
tant liberties have been granted the Press;
large educational advances have been
made; series of gigantic political reforms
have been instituted, and career of COM
mercal and industrial exploitation COM
nenced.' ... '-F'''
The movement for the emancipation OF
the serfs-the literary fertility which now
marks the Russian mind-the wide and
increasing popularity of public Journals
and reviews-the remarkable dramatic
development Of the past two years-the
reconstruction of the Russian Bible Society,
by the present Emperor, which was sus-
pended under Nicholas, are SO many III
dications of an awaking to mental and spir-
itual life. The New York Times i'll a ro-
cent able article on this interesting subject
observed: .
1T is the symptoms of mental awaken
ing in Russia that are prophetic. Russia
looks abroad from her desolation. Letters
from st. Petersburg state that the En-
peror is gathering about him every day
men belonging to the progressive party,
and the Cabinet is impressed with the
Importance of approaching western civili-
zation. The railroad and telegraph are
running Russia into the very heart Of
civilization; the new magic words, Pro-
gress, Culture, begin to echo on her
mouth. 10 France and America she
must look as her teachers. Happily, the
best understanding unites all the countries.
For Russia, health is only to be found in
avoiding exclusion, in the full apprecia-
ton of the solidarity that binds together all
peoples-a solidarity that does not prevent
the free development oftheir own national
individualities. We shall watch with IN
creasng interest the advancing solution of
this great problem liz Russia. She carries
great things with her. She carries with
her the immense destinieS of the mighty
Slavic race
NUMBER AND CONDITION OF THE sERFs.
1t appears that there are thirty thou
sand actual slaves in Russia that is, serfs
not attached to the soil. They are called
ludi 6aSSeneIei and the condition Of their
service is, that they pay two-G(ths of their
gains to their owners. The greater num-
Der of this class are females. Of serfs
7 proper:--that is, servants owing labor, at
| tached to and legally irremoVable FROM
their masters estates, there are 742,42o
: belonging to some 1000 owners, each
} having from to 90. The condition of
a this class is extremely wretched, as the
masters are generally OF narrow means, and
exact severe labor. second division OF
the is numbers 3,271 ,648, belonging to
: 46, ,O24 owners, each having from 9 To
: 100. The condition Of this clsss is said TO
] be no better than that of the preceding. q
D third division embraces 19,8O8 proprie-
: tors, owning 7, ,9O7 900 serfs: Jhatis, from
e lOl to 900 apiece A foulth division
:, embraces 2,468 proprietors, owning s.
Z0U,SOo SeflS' InaC IS, from i'OOt W ~
900. A final division includes ,447 pro
= prietors, possessing 6, ,597, ,O6O serfs: that
= is, more than 9, 900 each. More than I3,
It 900 of the serfs in the last three catego
ries are hypoChecated to the Imperial Gov
ernment, for sum total of 397, 1879, ass
roubles.
From these figures it will be seen that
= the servile population Of Rnssia exceeds
e in number the entire population of the Uni
IS ted States; a fact that may induce us L
IS admire the gigantic effort required (
emancipate them, and to pardon any tar
II dlness i'll the process.
q ---.ND.-o