The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-25
RUSSIA.
Commercial Reforms-English Opinion Of the
Alliance with America.
From the London Times, April 1O.1
Eupira af RnaQia ia iugt now na gain fhv

From the London Times April 1Ol
The Empire of Russia IL just now passing through
one of those revolutions OF opinion which determine
the progress OF nations. We are not speaking this
time OF the foreign policy Of the monarchy. It not
a question OF the "acquisit0n Of RussIa,n or the
advances OF Russia In the East or her designs upon
Central Asia. or any other such demonstrations ON
clusivey, and one which, though 1t undoubtedly in.
terests ourselves and other people OF Europe con-
Germs the Russians most of all. Briefly, the
controversy Is between free trade and Pro-
lection. That conflict OF Views which sooner
later arises in every state according to its cnght.
enment has arisen In Russia The most discerning
statesmen Of the empire have long felt the necessity
OF revising Its tariff and, except for peculiar, and
unexpected opposition, their opinions would, in all
probability, have before now prevailed. Most read
ers Will be aware that the accession of the present
Emperor to the throne was signazed by the adop-
ton OF what under the circumstances may be termed
truly liberal policy. The emancipation Of the serfs
was OF Itself enough to Characterize the era but
gradually introduced by which the institutions OF the
country were more or less assmilated to those of
Western Europe. In the track Of these wholesome
innovations IL Is probable that free trade would
have soon followed, when the rising spirit was sud-
denly checked by singular burst Of popular feeling
The Crmean war had left Russia enieebled but not
dismayed, and II can readily be imagined that q
struggle distinguished by so many acts OF hcrosm
had acted powerfully upon the patriotism OF the ma
ton. This spirit became plainly visible during the
last abortive insurrectiOn Of the Poes. England
and France, as VIII be remembered, ventured upon
some mediation IN the question; on. the Russian
claiming for the whole empire an invncible deter
mination TO maintain It's rights and its power. How
this not unnatural ebulition Of sentiment could be
connected with the revision OF the tarifr u may per-
pick the reader TO imagine, but such was the case
Patriotism or NATIONALITY, /" became Q popular cry
aud the spirit which had been evoked In behalf OF
imperial pre.e 1sions was transferred into struggle
for manufacturing monopOlies. Moscow was CEN
TIRE OF industrial enterprises az well as oil afstocratic
opinion and .'naionalityrn industrial well rs In
political institutions became watchwOrd OF the old
Muscove party. The stickiers for the traditional
policy Of Russia were at the same time the protec-
tors oi Russian manufactures Mobiles ana mil own.
ers Joined together TO keep Russia rs she was. Rus
SLAMS were 10 be they had always been-independ.
ent self-supporting free from foreign influence and
Ut liberty TO accomplish their own desncs In their
own way. This curious indentiiication OF political
ard commercial traditions has actually enabled
comparatively small party to oner successful
resistance to free trade A commission which sat
tons OF financial reform within very narrow limits
and II Is now thougM doubtful whether q new com.
mission may not undo some OF the little which had
peen done. Russia for the Russians and Russia Tor
nerseli are the cries which have prevailed against
the interests OF seventy millions OF consumers. The
question: rs son alive, but we fear we cannot say that
II is singular that Russia and the United states
~ tue Two opposite poles OF political organization
snOuu uisplay so many points of resemblance In ma
tional policy. The old exclusive traditions OF The
Muscovlte party are very like the principles protested
civil AZ far the spirit il genuine or unselnsh
IL proceeds upon the assumption that isolation, az
far a. y can be practised Is for the benefit Of
ton or course neither the Russians nor the Ameri-
cans, in 40 iar as they profess to be people with
sdestinies," can shut themselves up like the Japa-
nese; but though they have no objection to growth,
they wish 10 grow Us they are, and without any
recognition OF the mutual dependence OF mn.
tons. We must do the Russians the Justice
to say that they tmpute no seliishness TO our.
selves they do not pretend TO believe that we are
the advocates OF free trade principles solely because
such principles rebound to our commercial profit.
They that we prosper, and, 50 far rs our exam.
pic goes they that free trade IL good: but they
do not choose TO have u for themselves and ths re-
solution. which expresses with certain party n
mistaken idea of nationality IL, naturally enough
adopted by manufacturers who are simply DESTROYS
! Of escaping from the pressure OF competition. He
| tween them these two classes are likely apparently
| q have their wny. q 4 After the close nj tbe
civil war In the United states prominent American
declared that the country could not be considered
prosperous until South Carolina produced her