The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-14

60 on IN the way In which they have been act
ing for some time they must certainly be
tabooed.
Political Changes In Russis.-wiI that
Empire be evolutfonfzed!
One of the most intricate political problems
in Europe, and perhaps in the world, is the
present situation and future prospects of the
Russian empire.
A military despotism of the most complete
character in its form of government, Russia
proper has extended its sway from the Black
Sea to the Frozen Ocean, from the Baltic to the
Pacific, covering greater extent of contigu-
GUS territory than any other Power, and COM
prising greater variety of nations and races
than has been witnessed in the world since the
palmy days of the Roman empire. The pro-
cess of its growth has been one Of conquest,
and this very fact has given to it the unavailable
law Of its policy. As nation after nation has
been brought, by force Of arms, into obedience
to the White Gar, the necessity has arisen of
turning the activity and energies of the con-
quered people to schemes of further conquest,
in order to divert them from the contemplation
of, and resistance to, their own domestic evils.
Hence have sprung two immense dangers which
to-day attend the Russian empire. It's domestic
administration has sunk into the most corrupt
system of government practiced by any people
claiming to be civilized; and its vicinity is con-
templated by every Power as a standing me-
mace of hostility and invasion. This sentiment
we find pervading alike Sweden, Austria and
Turkey in Europe, and the trans Caucasian
tribes, Persia, China, and japan in Asia.
While the excitement of conquest and terri
toral extension animated the heart Of the en-
pire domestic evils were overlooked; but as
the scene of Asiatic war removed to the distant
regions of the Amoor, and the policy of West
ern Europe showed itself determined to defeat
the designs of Russia in Turkey, domestic ques-
tons forced themselves upon the consideration
of the government, and to-day they are APP
preaching crisis. The letter of our ST. Peters
burg correspondent, published elsewhere in our
columns this morning, presents curious and
an instructive view of the changes that are ac-
companying the measures recently introduced
in the domestic economy Of the Russian
empire. The emancipation Of the serfs had
become great political necessity, and as this
measure is approaching to completion, it is
urging the mobiles into new demands in their
own behalf They claim that the internal ad-
ministration of the empire shall be reorganized,
and the local authority placed in the hands of
locally elected magistrates. This involy0 a
complete revolution in the system of govern
ment in Russia, and forms one of the most per-
picking problems of the future Development
of that empire.
It is admitted that if the selection of the
local magistrates is committed in any form to
the people, these, under the influence of past
education and present ideas, would choose
their officers from the nobility they have 50
long been accustomed to look up to with re-
spect, and this would place the power, in fact,
in the hands of the aristocracy. The question
then comes up, how so many and so distinct
nations and tribes can be kept together in po-
litical union. Our correspondent details the
idea OF constitutional monarchy, such
as it is supposed might be created,
composed of numerous semi-independcnt king
doms or vice-royalties, under the immediate
control and supervision of the Car. Such a
plan, ii is believed, would be very attractive to
the Sclavonic nations of Europe, but how ii
would operate among the rowing Tartars, the
Mahometans and the Buddhist nations, now sub
ject TO the rule of the Car, is extremely
doubtful.
The present government of Russia has been
characterized as ga despotism limited by assas-
sination," and its system Of internal administra-
ton has become 30 corrupt and vicious that
the late Emperor Nicholas has been known to
exclaim that he could find but one honest man
in the government and he was the Car Such
a state of things cannot last for any long pc
Rod of time, in an age when so many opposing
elements are at work as in the present century.
But how ii il 10 be remedied has been the puz-
zlc of more Emperors than Nicholas. The po-
litcal impulse of the age is towards an aban-
donment Of the old ideas Of small nationaltics,
and tendency TO large confederacies. This is
the work Of commerce, which attacks custom
house lines, and other impediments to trade
everywhere, and shows by the irrefutable
logic OF the merchants ledger the folly of
maintaining many kings and expensive courts.
Commerce has not yet penetrated the Russian
empire TO any great extent, and the logic of the
ledger is hardly known there 1t is advancing,
however, and will bring in lis train extensive
changes. but the territorial extension policy of
Russia has not yet lost It's vitality, and until
this occurs we do not conceive that questions Of
a domestic nature can command the supreme
attention OF the Emperor and the nation.
Hox. Su.As SErMouR's VIEWS OF THE E.Ec-
Silas Seymour, late State En-
~u1