The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-16
EnanoinatiOn Of Russian Serfs.


The world moves, and the progress of Free
dom is onward and upward. Ere long our
own country win be free and the clanking of
slave chains win no longer be heard Russia
too is going ahead in the glorious work OF
emancipation. Tie Emperor of that great
country is keeping even pace with President
Lincoln in the progress towards liberty for all
Yes, the world is moving, and our Soutnern
Shareholders have been the unwilling instru-
ments in helping to give it a fresh impetus.-
Almighty Power does educe good from evil,
and makes the wrath of man to praise Hlm.-
How striking the contrast between the au-
tocrat of all the Rassias and our "Old Public
..Functionaryl, But we are not disposed to
run the parallel and bring disgrace upon our
nation. We believe, if the Emperor Alexan-
der had occupied our Presidential chair when
the rebellion first broke out, he would have
nipped it in the bud, and hung some OF the
leading traitors. Its hard indeed to confess
to such fact, but truth compels u.s. While
Mr.. Buchanan winlged at the rebellion and Low.
ingly patted Slavery on the head, the Emper-
or of Russia was earnestly engaged in the glo-
rious work of emancipating his serfs, spe-
cies of slavery much less obnoxious in many
of its features than Southern bondage.
Dropping the parallel, we ask, what has the
despotic Government of Russia done in be-
half of Liberty9 More than two million of
people. have come into complete possession of
their plots of land, and over four hundred
thousand of these have required no assistance
from the State. In the nine western provin-
ces all the country people, without exception,
have become proprietors and live independent.
OF the rest of Russia, the province of Khark-
of holds the first rank as regards the progress
OF reform. The number Of its country peop-
lie entirely freed, and to whom lands have
been given, represents " per cent of the to-
tai of its former serfs. In the governments of
st. Petersburg and Moscow 1t varies between
10 and II per cent. This is considered to be
a very satisfactory result after three years.
trial of the system.
The anxiety shown by the two classes in
terested fully to liquidate their servants with
out passing through the transitory stage is
such as to give rise to the hope that within a
very short period the greater portion OF the
provinces Of Russia will find themselves in as
satisfactory acondition with regard to eman-
cipation as that of the western provinces
The serfs in the provinces of Moscow and St.
Petersburg are artisans rather than cultivators
OF the soil, and this fact somewhat changes or
modi6es the transitory condition. They have
not the same interest in becoming freed from
their transitory and temporal obligations to-
wards their former masters. They can afford
to wait better than those who live farther back
in the country.
Up to August last there were only eight
regulating charters" still uhcompleted, while
Ill ,568 have already been executed, and these
refer to estates on which reside over ten mil
lion of country people. The changes wrought
in the conditions of SO many millions of Poop
lie, and the progress made towards liberty
within few years past, are truly wonderful
in this despotic government and speak vol
umes in favor of the Emperor who has set his
heart on this noble work. It seems to us that
many OF even our Northern statesmen might
learn some valuable lessons from this crowned
head.
What must be the feelings of Alexander
when he hears that many members of our Con-
gress have recently refused to give the people
an opportunity, through their Legislatures, to
say whether slavery shall be abolished in free
republican America? Such course must be
marvelousin his eyes, as well as in the eyes oil
many Russian noblemen who have cheerfully
given their assistance to the Emperor in his
work OF emancipation. But he will be re-
joiced to know that our Constitution will be
amended and slavery forever wiped out from
this fair land in spite of the opposition of
some of our Congressman who have by their
acts on this great question, called down upon
their heads the contempt and scorn of the
Liberals the world over.
That they will be marked men SO long as
they live, and their memories despised after
they are dead, there can not be shadow of
doubt. To fight for, and vote for human bon
dage in this enlightened age and by Northern
citizens of the American Republic, is one of
the great wonders of the world Men who
do such deeds cannot expect to escape the fin
ger of scorn. 1t will be pointed at them by
an indignant people. There is no corner in
the universe where they can hide such crime
against God and Humanity.
Mr.. Tinnoln Gan Safalv ho Trrs+aJ