The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-12-13
Written fer the Fremont Journal
EUROPE TO-DAY.

/ f
When the merchant prince of New
York confers in the same hour with his
correspondents at London, Paris and
Vienna, and the markets of American
stocks and breadstuffs are regulated by
the reports of prices at all the European
capitals on the same morning, it be-
hooves us all to be well informed as to
foreign politics and affairs generally.
In this article will only be given, a
brief resume of recent events in one of
the leading Nations, of Europe.
Russia, the colossus whose empire
embraces half the area of Europe, sub
sequently to the emancipation of her
serfs suffered from internal convulsions
that threatened the entire overthrow Of
the old social order of things. The
Russian aristocracy, with its vast estates,
in many cases as isolated as independ
ent kingdoms, with great numbers of
serfs, reviving again all the characters
tics of the feudal baronies of the Mid
die Ages, could not give up the power
| that was so dear to them without a
severe struggle. Serfs, in many cases
possessed of less intelligence than the
average of Southern negroges, knew not
how at first to discharge the duties and
appreciate the imperial gifts of freedom.
Fields were deserted, workshops closed,
and misery and discomfort were every
where rife. The nobility saw in the
change the vast shadow of coming
democracy, pauperism for themselves
and the future overthrow of the i'm
perial throne. tn Evr
The Emperor Alexander almost alone
dared to breast the storm and avert its
fury from the Nation. The power he
inherited from the great Nicholas was
almost as absolute as the will of the
deity and the espionage of the Russian
police made the ruler master Of the
most secret thoughts of the people. At
once head of the State and Sovereign
Pontiff of the Church, Alexander had
but to decree the measures of his policy,
and however distasteful it might be, his
command carried with it sacred sane
ton and terrorism that awed all hearts
into at least semblance of submission.
The penalty of violated Russian Law,
that law being the creature of the i'm
perial brain, has always been the knout
with its leathern thongs buried in quiv-
ering human flesh or else the SHOWS and
ice fields of Siberia.
A wise ruler, however, never relies
wholly upon terror and force as execu-
tive agents. So the Czar sought for
the new state of things such vast and
granite foundations evolved from justice
and human rights, as should sustain
,he structure of free society even should
,he strong hand be withdrawn from its
support.
L
1t has been admitted by the greatest
urists Of England and America that
he best government in the world is an
absolute monarchy if administered by a
wise and good man, for the reason that
lnder the lone man power reforms
AN be consumated almost as soon as
damned, and century of agitation
With its innumerable hosts of babbling
Iemagogures is rendered unnecessary.
America agitates the slavery question
or three-fourths of a century through
IL the gamut of partisan, strife and
spends $4,000, 600, ,oG0, and
million of precious lives, loses by as
asination her President, taxes all the !
uture for the expense, frees her slaves,
md yet has more poison left upon the
political stomach than the physic of a
race of Presidential contests can re-
move. Alexander of Russia issues his
Jkase from his Winter Palace appoint
ng the Year of Jubilee, and when the
lour of National new birth comes 49,
10000, .serfs become free. Now for
he wise measures taken to assure to
hem the possession of their rights.
Every effort, of Henry VII. of Eng
snd, and Leuis XI, of France to
lumilate the nobility tended to elevate
be middle and lower classes, to higher
auk in the State and closer relation
o the crown. Peter the Great attempt
ID the same policy in Russia, and the
ierce Tailor Bayards were then first
made to understand their obligation to
ociety, aud to the throne. The Cri-
mean war did more than a hundred
1ears of peace, could have done to un-
te the populations of the vast empire
md bring them into social and COM
nercial communication with each other,
nd the Bayards had to contribute such
'ast sums to the needs of the Govern
nent that they were unable to resist
imperial measures, how
ver distsstefql they might be. h
On his accession to the throne, Alex
Inder made haste to conclude peace
With the allied armies and to develop
n Europe the diplomatic skill in which
tussia has always excelled, and in Asia
he policy of conquest WHICH has al
eady nearly reached the confines of
Persia. Now came Emancipation and
lfter il a forcible division of lands in :
mali farms among all the freedmen, t
hus providing permanently for the In
Iustrial prosperity of the people.
All Europe trembles secretly beneath !
!