New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-01
RUSSIA.

The vast world of Russia is again ATTRACTING
the attention of both hemispheres. Baffied b
united England and France in its effort to O.
cape from its inland confinement through The
Dardaneles, it is steadily pushing Its way out
toward the Indian Ocean by way OF TOorkistn.
Already il has reached Bokhara, the chief city
of the independent State OF that name, tho
populatiOn of which numbers more than
million on an. area of 235,000 square miles,
living directly between the Russian dominiORs
and Southern Asia. The City of BOkhara has
completely dwarfed its old rival, the famous
Samarcand, whose great colleges are ruins. Whose
public edifces are in decay, whose ancient walh
inclose gardens instead of marts, and mosques
instead of civiizing institutions; whose streeh
are trOdden 10y the wOrshippers of a glOp
departed, not by merchants or traders, save
when an occasional caravan startles the quiet
around TimOur's grave. Bokhara is great
city of some 100000 Inhabitants. 1t has hun
dreds Of mosques, but also hundreds OF schools
and colleges. 1t is a celebrated seat OF lean
ing. 1t is the center Of 1ourishing and In
creasing traffic. Merchants from Russia and
Tartary, from Persia and Turkey, from India
China, and CabOol, crowd its twelve gates and
make busy its numerous markets. The posses
sion of that city and region is of immense n
poltance to Russia. From that point to the St
board, where the Arabian opens into the lndai
Sea, the road for such a power would be shot
and easy, but for the neighbOrhood of linda
where jealous England crouches ready to spnns
nc any competitor for the spoils of the East
But England is far away from India, wf
would be costly and precarious, the memory OF
the Crimea is fresh, and even to that naughty
Power prudence may suggest the policy OIL
allowing the Titan to march unmolested TO
the ocean. For Russia herself is not what shs
was. The Titan is brute no longer. he
interesting and important letter from our speca
correspondent, written month ago at
Petersburg, conveyed information respecting
the social changes that are going on Their
which gives assurance of the presence OF LIVING
soul in that enormous bulk of dominion-a soul
worthy of the body, and capable of animatng
it all through with human energy. In resped
of vital power that organizes and impels an
empire, there is no comparison whatever BE-
tween the Russia of to-day and the Russh Oh
even ten years ago. The emancipation Of hs
peasantry from the bondage to the SOIL
which fatal state policy doomed them tw
centuries and half ago, has let the regeDd'
ating currents of social reform flowing throass
all possible channels toward the general we
fare, as the loosening of ice in the Sprfns-flnas
sets the brooklets scampering over VIC
fields. Education is becoming dinllS'
among all classes. The common Snc"
system, maintained for the people
themselves, finds favor in all the communists
the peasantry literally contributing to It's sup
port. The great landholders talked about N
structing the peasantry as our own saw
holders talked about educating the Sa'ss
knowing it would cause revolution. keVos
ton was effected by other means; but '@
rapdity with which education followed It Jus
titled their apprehensions. Intelligence Is '.
literating distinctions, and making of separas
populations people. Uniformity of justice y
another consequence of uniformity OF condi.V1
No more Serfs, no more arbitrary local 'li0D
mails. but equal laws for all men, trial oy july
of peers, honest magistrates, judges OF V"
peace representing the rights of the people
These reforms suggest representative go'0'-
ments-and representative government Is NV.
than dream i'm Russia. The communities a''
learning what it is to live under selt-cnoS's
officials, instead of under officials placed o'e,
them by an authority that was intere' ~
merely In keeping them down. SO pcwerlue
our correspondent informs us, are these Nv
DIVISIONAL Parlaments,' that the Supreme 0v y;
emment is careful to avoid unnecessary CIV"
sion with them.
| Can these changes take place IN the io'n'
of social and political existence wlthous
volving changes of most radical descnp~
in the moral constitution of the higher el's'
also 1t is impossible. The holders OIL ri,
estates must either cultivate OF sell them. -.
young mobiles must leave the country ~ ;s..
take themselves TO some useful occypa''s
Cities change their character lines oil con,I -.
nication are opened for the convenience " "