Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-22

lent restrictions, and the local production
has not been iniuriously affected, while the
revenue has b,cn handsomely augmented.
Two American vessels have been Lost with
in the past two MOUTHS, Iust opposite 70 this
consular district. 10 passing TO and from
Cronstadt through the difficult channel Of
the Finnish Gulf This is 8 severe tax upon
the amount OF our commerce in the Baltic
the present season, and II Is earnestly To- be
hoped that the time j. not far distant when
He shall be relieved from those dangers by
having the capital Of Russia opened % the
commercial world through port Of safe ap-
proach. which is accessible to vessels of the
largest class nearly or quite the whole year.
This will he accomplished by the construc-
ton OF railroad from Petersburg to Reyel
and Port Baltic. This subject has already
fixed the attention Of government. The route
il now being explored, and the logic Of events
seems to have decreed its construction. Russia
has now some twelve or fifteen hundred miles
Of railroad, which open an important and
productive interior to her two great north
ern cities of Petersburg and Riga; but
how can these cities deal with the trade of a
vast interior while their harbOTs are closed
from six TO eight months in each year2 The
idea of piling up and holding for One-halt or
twO-thirds Of a year the products OF an en-
pire is simply absurd. To attempt 1t Is 70
Withhold from agriculture Its legitimate re-
ward, 10 deny To railroads their special mis-
sion in northern ATTITUDES, and 70 dwarf COM
mercial enterprise \ vigorous naval arm
and an extended commerce seem 10 he the
necessary complement OF extended possess
ions and vast natural resources, and think
ing men here are considering the problem
whether Russia can maintain heaithiul ma
val establishment without a sound CONNER
cial marine AZ a basis, and whether she can
build up successful commerce without open
ports The experience Of the world Is full OF
Instances on tins subject, and there seems
little room for difference Of opinion.
To the inquiry "Where eau the corner
stone of such a commerce he planted?' there
l. but one answer, 80 tar o. the Baltic Il
concerned. Revel seems to be the point
that meets the required conditions. Sltua-
ted nearly midway between the two great
ciries Of Petersburg and Rss, with cilac-
ious landlocked hsrbor, easy Of acccss, with
good anchorage, ample depth OF water, and
open many seasons the eutlrc winter. che p0-
sessce the natural facIli,ic, tor great com
mercr That these are shortly 10 Ice called
in rcquisitiOu seems hardly doubtful. One
hundred aad fifty miles Of railroad IS all that
is required. When thIs is accomplished our
vessels will escape the dangers OF the gulf
and the coast OF Finland. They can then ac-
complish twice a. much o. they now DO in
the course Of the wear. and our commercial
intercourse will be vitaiiIed and guicSened
by saving profits and new developments
Russia has inst celebrated with cnthusia--
tic pomp the fhousGRdfh snHircTSsry of hsr
,1ri-e. and enters upon another cycle with
new zeal and large hope. Her diverse Tto-
ple are well cumpactcd and natIonailzci,
and generally satisfied with compensatiye
present prosperity which promises 80 well for
the future. The local policy OF the govern
ment Is eaighted. liberal, and ennenuv
Maternal The ruling idea of the gay seems
TO he to elevate and improve her people. and
develop her natural resources. To this end
her schools, her colleges, and hcr scientific
institutions are more literally endowed and
encouraged, new rights ami privileges are
conferred upon the people. new System OF
Jurisprudence has Just been established. which
secures TO every citizen public bearing and
trial bv Jury, the revenue system Il beng
remodelled. hecause ii l. found o. bear dis
proportionally upon the poorer classes, hsr
/ svstem Of railroads and internal improvement
/ i urged judicio1sly forward, her extensive
/ mineral resources, her manufacturers, even
/ her commerce are receiving increased stten-
I ton. and, more important stlll, the great IN
/ terest OF agriculture and It's million masses
seems TO be the speciality OF the present En-
/ peror. In their behalf, at single dash o
I the rsn. the shackles fall. and twenty mil
/ lions Of b5ndmen exchanged the heritage Of
/ slavery tor individual liberty and happy
/ homes. To the working out and realization
/ Of this grand idea of Advancement the high-
/ est intellect Of the nation stands committed
/ and the result Is not doubtful. To the phil
/ anthropist, then, the statesman, aud the
/ business man. Russia presents an interesting
| field Of observation. and the philosopher Of
our day even may he compelled 70 admit that
there was much OF suggestive truth IN tho
idea that "that : tbc best form OF govern
mcnt that Is administered by a wise and VIZ
tuous prince.
But II j. mainly 70 the new state OF thing
growing out Of the emancipation OF the seri'
that would call the attention ot the manu-
facturers and business men OF the Unltet
7 States. That great net OF state policy D
realizing all that was claimed for it, and la
thus far proved a perfect success. - ia
from resulting IN the anarchy and confusion
predicted by some, the transition has beer
peaceful and benign; and one Of its trs
fruits i the organization Of numerous rri
mary schools by the peasants Themselves
They are very generally coming forward an'
accepting not only their liberty. but also TN
little homestead which the government ha
secured for them. aud the renovation Ot OLE
and the commencement Of new buildings
marks everywhere the progress Of enamel
patton
In some Of the districts it Is said ever
fifth house i a new one, complete or in prl
gress. Meanwhile, in the log cabin, by th
wayside. and at public gatherings, are mos
grateful benedictous everywhere showere'
onithe Emperor. II patriotism be indee'
but the love OF home, expanded over Who'll
country. that is surely stately wisdom whlc
gives twenty millions of additional citizen
homes to love and fight for; that open
TO them the way to respectable competence
that kindlcs the desire for additional know
eise; that secures TO them the present, an
lights up the future. That this must tc
most .ensibly upon the moral aud physica
power of the Russian empire no man ca
+ doubt, and IL it does not reflect benignl
upon the commerce oi the nations the tau
must he their own. Every individual {
these millions has now new hopes. new nj
, ce-sities. These must make him hereafter
customer to the trade of the world for moi
of the necessities, many Of the comforts, an
some of the Injuries of life. To meet ii
increased expenditure be has got to earn,
produce, three, FIVE, or ten times as muc
: as be has done heretofore. The stimulus
ambition may now prompt him 70 the extel
of his physical power, and his now relatic
, TO his late master will secure 20 him bett'
compensation but 1t is mainly by avallIr
himself of improved implements and iabo
, saving machinery in the cultivation OF h
2 own land that be Is 20 realize the fruits
! his new position He must now become
. guiding intelligence TO mechanicei agencl
, conceived and adapted by an intelligence
> advance of his own.
: On the other hand, the landed propriet
!, feels the same necessity. He has now
cultivate MS estate oy voluntary labor,
4 greatly increased compensation, and re
= forced 10 seek for improved machinery, al
10 nut into tine hands OF his workmen su
= imrIements as will enable them 10 Produ