The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-29
R U STA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of the HERALD.

7
Political Conversion of n Red Republicans
Exile-His Surrender and Pardon by the
Emperor-PrOaress OF Reform and National
Unity-Whut the Native Radicals LEARN
from the Abolition Of Serfiom.
ST. PETERSBURG, Oct %, 1851.
For three or four weeks past daily press notwth
standing tho tide Of exciting foreign Intelligence that
pouring In with every mail putting editors and
newspaper writer's state OF unwonted agitation and
activity is In continual and joyful furry about
event. which would have formed the subject OF my last
letter but for the important and unexpected docuen.
brought by the Berlin National zctag This event.
which the public and press justly congratulate them
selves is By no ordinary political nine days
WONDER but one Of those momcntous occurrences which
mark an in nations life and by yielding il living
Of tha way that has been made the progress
that has beon achieved. raises it, spirits and
courage for the toll and Ftx!le that q y 10 come The
fact il ths:-one Of principal because most active
and talented aeisators, Mr. KelsieM cmigrant and
disciple OF that school Of Russian socialists and repub
cans, who for many years. with tho well known polu-
cal cxiles- Mr.. Herzen taas Tskander and Mr. Ogari
their head have Kept UP Their headquarters in Lon
don thence piled their revolutionary propaganda
having come the conclusion that he, along with his
brother exlcs, had been laborpg under mistake and
strayed from the right way Of serving his country pre-
scented himself It the Russian frontier and yielded him.
self up voluntarily 70 the authorities asking 10 be
brought trial and casting himself the Enperors
mercy He was accordingly conveyed 81. Petersburg
aud kept Close confinement for about three months
and a half. when the Emperor having been made
quain,ed meanwhile with all the circumstances
OF tho case, and without bringing Il TO trial,
granted h,m free pardon with RESTRICTIONS condh
tons Of any sort This summary exposition Of bare
facts already tells eloquent tale; for any who
boast superficial acquaintance with modern Rus
sian history and politics gathered from general hearsay and
newspaper reading will easily agree that such step. dar
ing almost to foolhardiness appears now, is
that any in has senses would have dared 10 con-
template much lsss execute In the Emperor Nicholas
lifetime for whatever the ccmpunction which high
minded man may feel for past ERRORS, apd whatever
his willingness 70 atone he could scarcely be ofpcted
rush certain fate, and, 70 AMBITION such very
Is NJ sos
en;erprisns rs no proved himself In Abe cause with
which he Identified himself. least likely 70 suffer
tho hoosck longing that embstersd the latter part Of
his voluntary exile. 10 urge him 20 what would have
been than morbid act Of ocoess self.dsstruc-
That he acted as he did afforded strong proof that
times have changed that the Asatic despot rod
are mora sides than Cns - ny
aud the occasion for exuliaon would indeed be slight
comparatively small, If II amounted but 10 . solitary
part Of kind hearted sovereign. The reason OF the
great and general rciorciuE With which Mr. KeisieTs
sought much deeper and fsrsber First Of ali
let 10 be borne 10 mind thar Mr. kcisicn 10 not
commonplace conspiraior OF the vulgar stamp,
nor recantation 70 be considered 10 tight Of
shallow return TO the comforts OF ordinary routine
than u Ia denial Of his former convictions or
undong OF hts LIES work; be denies nothing reuounces
no portion Of his former sslt but ong uadwgses .
logical transformation, such ~ every thinking man -
% Who !. d s.s .Ss a ia
aud stubborn defiance 10 tho modifying influence OF
and thought rrcned BY observation and expe-
very young man-iudecd mere boy-iresh from school
and abstract world Of ardent speculation, fumng and
yoush Of Russia Vas At TIA. ised psrS ws Inc
modification Inflicted our country, fonciy deemed all
bat nsinciblc by tho dshearteniny results Of the as
maiadu Illustration which opened before their startled
| s'Fht, he did nos 50 In 1T Of peevish ~
dsise in seriss o. idle fsars 20 return
and st down contested and dutfa subject. hav-
he wild o' 70 r pSSs *. q , e sa1 s our
laborng for what he considered his coantys good In
the way which he thought MOS, cordoc 70 70 taway
native isad. aud now that he Is returned OF his
free will and the secret hope which made MIN decide
flied he nas not come 70 make BIS peace witn and serve
the governmea bat 70 put hs hard earned experiences
and sound knowledge V account on behalf or ais conn
try ~ directing 70 healthy and practical purposes those
energies and valuable gfs which been wHstcd
years passionate bat mIsappiied efforts towards
e1I NhVh w ut ~ pTcstEt .taNc "
i public NE to which Russia has a. YET arrived and, II
partially attained. wound have ensaed the poo
pie n0taing but intestine lrouo.e aud niserys
Ia the long and weary wandsrilss whca Mr. Kelsief
undertook for The purposes of political agitation he
nto most neqgen4conct With psopls Of the Scls
vonic Provinces OF Austria and European Turkey and
through ihou he gained deep and insight into tbs
prohable political destiny Of the Russian nation 10 con
necsOu 70 its own government aud The other Scavon
rActs such bis book lore and abstract theories
never yieded He saw that these disseminated aud op-
pressed members Of one great national family 81 a&ing
slight varieties OF common mother tongue looked
~ 10 heir povsrfu blood ally aussiA ME one source
from which thor hoped for assistance and sympathy
she struggle for bsrsy and fs whicn lay before them
be the ties az kindred tghsenng and strengthening
unta hostile Europa, marking tho OF elements nn-
known 70 her but nisn;trpreng The bearing and real
ugdncaiion on the growing attraction that rsa exer
Gsnd her fellow saycs rccofsd 10 toiror before The
ael.cfcaiei pAnslavisnaud hc fet that tho
titrs wa coninS an wnen fuSs tls Ion suui.d bar-