The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-28
The Russian Peasantry and Southern
Slaves. .sssa 9 3ah

The Russian Peasantry and Southern
Slaves.
Some twenty-three millions of serfs nave
been emancipated in Russia within a few years.
under the wise and humane reign OIL inc pres
ent Emperor 1t has been great anu giori,
Gus work. and carried through IN spite Oh az
opposition. Such demonstration Is enough
to mark an epoch in the history of the world.
The condition and prospects of these emanci-
pated serfs have been inquired into by Rev.
James Long, who has spent FIVE months in that
vast country, seeking information and gather
ing up facts in relation to these people. He
states that great change has taken place in
the empire since the intellect and social ener-
gies of this large class of the population have
been made free. All over the country munich
pal institutions have followed in the train Of
freedom. Such are the legitimate results Of
emancipation. These peasants have village
councils in which their own affairs are regu-
lated. They elect their own chiefs in each
village and have regular meetings Tor the
transaction of necessary business. These vii
lags councils bear some resemblance to New
England town meetings. Even the citizens OF
Moscow and st. Petersburg have for the last
@two years elected their Mayor without the
control of the Government. These elections
are NO more interfered with by the Emperor
than our city elections are by Gov. Cony or
President Lincoln In these meetings the
peasants can resist the oppression of the no
bles and government employees, and protect
themselves against legal wrongs.
The cause of education is identified with
emancipation Previous to emancipation the re
was scarcely day-school among the peassr-
try. Now there are more than eight thousand.
They are anxious to read the laws by which
they are to be. governed, and these schools
have been established by themselves and not
by the Government. True, they have been
assisted by the clergy and the gentry. What
striking parallel between these emaneipated
seris and Southern slaves whom this war has
liberated! Southern negroes are now learn
ing to read the laws by which they are to be
governed, and the time is coming when they
will be elevated to some of the privileges the
Russian peasants now enjoy, aud that too in
spite Of Southern chiyalry and aristccracy.
We hope to be able to keep even pace with
the Autocrat of all the Russias in the march
of liberty. He has set US good example,
and we are beginning to follow it in good
faith. great change has come over the
spirit Of our people both North and South,
and the natural rights of humanity are begin
ming to be respected. Our colored popula-
ton as we'll as the serfs Of Russia will soon be
raised to an elevation which OF right belongs
to them. A desire for religious instruction
follows in the wake of emancipation in our
country as well as in Russia. The serfs now
emancipated, show their interest in religion
by purchase of the Scriptures. The Greek
Church Is publishing the Russian New Tesla
ment at d. copy.
The desire manifested to read the New
Testament in which we are taught the lessons
OF liberty and equal rights must necessarily
improve the social conditions of this class Of
Russian society. Such is the natural and lie.
climate result or the fead1ng oItHe s~.aps.....
And in addition to all this, the desire to pur-
chase and own lands by the peasantry leads
to habits of industry and economy. When a
man, black or white, cultivates his own land
and reaps the fruits of his own labor, he is in
a fair way to become valuable citizen OF any
country. The children of such are fit deposit
tories of political power, and especially is
this the case when the parents are not only
able, but anxious to read the instructive and
humanizing pages of Holy Writ.
One million Of Russian peasants have al.
ready purchased lands on which they we're
/. formerly slaves, and industry is fast taking
the place of incidence and serfdom. "Money
isno longer hidden in earthen pots = says one
writer. Houscs are made more comfortable
than before emancipation, and hundreds of
new ones erected. Peace and prosperity
prevail among the emancipated, and moral
Improvement and religious instruction are
the order ofthe day. What glorious change
has come over millions of the Russian people!
Thanks, thousand thanks to the Emperor
and to those Russian mobiles who have assis-
ted him in this great work.
< We cannot close this article without again
referring to the colored population of the
South. A glorious change awaits them in the
order of good Providence. We shall YET
witness great results Of this war to the negio
He will come out OF it with brighter prospects
than ever dawned upon him before. Even
Shareholders themselves win become his best
friends and most noble benefactors. Like the
Emperor and the Russian mobiles, many ofthose
who have held the negroes IN bondage will
become their most generous friends and liberia.
tors. Some have already become So. Ex-Gov.
Aiken of South Carollna, one the largestif cot
the largest Shareholder In our country has re-
ported all the names of his slaves. $50 In
number, and given each a family firm on the
most fertile and productive is AIDS On the
coast. Who can estimate all thu good effects
upon the negro population which this noble
and generous and Christian act will produce ?
. Others will be induced ia do the same, but
perhaps on smaller scHle. Ta5og 59
The work of emanc. patton has had elori,
Gus beginning and will proceed. Such rev.
olution' in the social condition of a people
cannot go back0ards. 1t is not in the nature of
things that it should be so. The time, perhaps
has seemed slow to the African race, but how
patiently have they waited? We believe
from what we have learned of the negro
Character, they will make greater progress in
M 1nat makes human life dear and valuable
'nan many have dreamed of in their philoso-
e pny' nele are some traits in their eharac-
I, yer, some elements in their composition. which
have notrbeen duly appreciated These trait.
these elements, will ere long become devoIon'
ed, and some white phiosouhers
learn that many OF their doctrines and snecn
iatlons nave been false. Time will show nv
believe there is glorious future for tSa we
Ethiopia will yet stretch out her hand and sl
nauo9s Of the earth will grasp it in love and