New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-12
RUSSIA IN TRANSITION.


The issue of the Polish war and the relation
of Russia to Poland ceased somo time since To
occupy much attention and interest. FeoblC
remnants Of the National party of Poland ore
still keeping uIAan unequal struggle with the
overwhelming forces Of Russia, but with nc
prospect whatever Of success, except in the
event of generalrevolution throughout Europe
and reconstruction of its entire map.
Meanwhile, Russia herself is in transition
condition. Opinions may differ as to how much
credit should be given for this to the present
Emperor; but certain it is, that in the history
of Russia and of the world the roign of Alex
ander IL. will stand forth as the beginning of
new era in an empire destined to be among the
foremost nations of the earth. Hitherto We
have heard, on international questions, the voice
of the Russian Government only; ere long it
will be that Of tho Russian Nation-thc voice OF
people already the most numerous of any
nationality, either European or American.
The first great measure in tho reign of Alex
ander III. is now in the fullest sense Of the word
an accomplished, unalterable fact. lnyolun-
tary servitudo has ceased throughout the En-
pire, and population almost as large as that
of any of the other great States of Europe have
learned to think and act as freemen, and to take
personal interest in the future Of their country
Whether this grand revolution. will only result
in promoting the peaceable progress Of ciyiliza-
ton, or whether it is likely, as many contend,
to lead to grave social complications, we do not
stop now to examine; but some most cheering
consequences have already followed it. From
an English missionary, the Rev. j. Long, who
recently spent five months in Russia, seeking for
information connected with the serf emancipa-
ton movement, we learn that to carry out the
Emancipation act fifteen hundred unpaid JUS
tees of the Peace were nominated by ile Gov
eminent. The administration of these men,
who were selected for their character and public
spirit, has generally given satisfacioni and it is
intended that they shall discharge duties
similar to those Of County Magistrates in En-
gland. Eight thousand new schools have
sprung into existence within two years among
the peasantry. and they are rapidly on the III
crease. One million Of peasants have bought
up the land on which they lived. The price o.
land is rising all through Russia, and more
houses have been built within the last two
years than during the previous six.
At the beginning Of the present year, th'
Emancipation ordinance was followed by IN
other, whose influence viii be even more marked
--.---a-- .,---. ttes or the uboiition or rcrf
dom. We refer to the ukase decreeDg the intro
duction Of representative form Of Government.
The representative assemblies viii be twofold--
district assemblies and provincial assemblies.
The former will be composed Of three classes OF
delegates, chosen respectively by the landed
proprietors, by tho rural communities, and by
the towns. The two former classes will send "a
nearly equal number Of delegates, the towns a
smaller one. Thus, in the District of Tambov
there will be 40 delegates Of the proprietors, 81
Of the rural communities, and 10 Of the towns.
The district assemblies will be presided over by
the Marshals Of the Nobility, and meet every
year for ten days. They will elect permanent
executive committee, consisting Of three men,
bers. The district assemblies will elect a certain
number of their members delegates TO the
provincial (Government) assemblies, which will
be in session every year for twenty days, and
will be represented for tho remainder Of the
year by permanent executive committee Of
six members. Both classes Of assemblies will
have the right of petitions their budgets and
proceedings will DO published, and it is ex-
pected that the sessions will b. public. Though
the right Of suffrage is not yet general, the
mass Of the population will be entitled TO take
an active part in the election OF the assemblies
A glance at the parliamentary history of the
other European States and at the progress Of
representative government throughout the civ.
ilzed world, must dispcrse every doubt as to
the electric impulse which the election of the
first representative assemblies in Russia must
give to the political education Of the people.
With the establishment Of representative
form Of government in Russia the freedom of
the press will be assured. In Finland, the draft
Of o new Press law has already been laid before
the Diet, by which the censorship is abolished,
and every citizen who is twenty-one years old
obtains the right to establish paper in tho
Swedish or Finnish language, upon depositing
sum not exceeding 1000 francs. Violations
of the law through the press, as well as CON-
plants against the Superior Administration,
will be tried before the regular courts. A SINH
lar reform Of the Press law has been prepared
for Russia in general, and ia now under final
examination in the Council of the Empire.
The Russian parers are highly alated at this