The New York herald., 1871-11-17
r u S S ] A
Growth Of Russia in Material Wealn
and Political Greatness.
THE EMPIRE AS IT Is.
>>-~~-~>-~->->,~~0>~y>>
Eighty Millions Of People Steadily Myant-
ing in Progressive Strides
REFORMS INTRODUCED EVERYWHERE.
Free Trade, Universal Suffrage and
the Spread Of Education.
RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURV.
REFORMS INTRODUCED EVERYWHERE
RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JUR1
The Visit Of the Grand Duke Alexis to
the United States.
sr. PETERSBURG. Oc. 20,

oI EEJhncnuu0s OCe ~, hoth
The knowledge at the disposal OF the reader con-
.cerning the Russia Of the present day Is only
very limited. Dut principally untrue. that ideas
are disseminated concerning these eighty millions
/. Of people wRlch unjust and erroneous. IL may
be therefore, interesting TO lay before your readers
Q short and concise account OF that empire as It
really exists.
No more fttng time more able ambassador
could have been CHOSEN by the Emperor Alexander
Alexis. A tine Anglo-Saxon rocking representative
or MS nation as much renowned for his bravery as
ne rs Tor nls intelligence and Kndlness or heart he
VIII he received by the great American people as
representative OF a mighty empire which Is really
moving ahead. He will be able TO tell his brethren
side OF the Atlantic the gorous reforms
which MS imperial father has been able to carry
out; he wl point with satisfaction to the glOrious
result; Of that most glorious event--the emancipa-
non oil twenty-five millions of human beings, who
for upwards OF two hundred and lIty years have
been bound down 10 state OF serf-
dom misery unequalled In the annals
OF history; he win prove to you how
those Ioor seEs with natural intelligence not ex-
,ceeded by any people in the world, are now gradu-
ally becoming a solid, SOUND, useful body OF men;
how many OF them have become small manufac-
turers many more small farmers-all move on, how
ever, laying the foundation OF Industrious
lower class without wnom nations never can be-
come great He vii, tell you, moreover, how In
their social position also the late serf is improving,
that he now treats his women folk with more re-
spect and attention, aud hos ceased to look upon
his wife as q beast Of burden. lie Will tell You
with truth that schools are now springing up in
villages, where before the voice OF education was
never heard, and ne will tell you Of the reform and
improvement among the ministers Of religion.
Unrl lately the priests otice hereditary; none
a IN 10 sOu nj a
quently the ignorance among them proverDial.
ROW, on the contrary, anybody willing and able TO
pase the necessary examination Is elected men,
Der OF The prlestly circle and Instances are no
longer seen OF Pope reading the services with his
prayer book turned upside down, his limited
amount OF learning not allowing him 10
distinguish which was the beginning and
which the end Of the book. But many
more reforms win you be told OF than these. The
Grand Duke VIII tell you OF the new law which his
satner has been able TO Introduce; that now Justice
n administered publicly ana orally against pri.
vacly written so called justice which used 10 be ad
ministercd. lie will tell you that that great
safeguard OF the liberty OF the subject-"trfal by
turyn-is now In operation the major part OF
his fathers domlnions, tnat every man accused OF
IN offence must be brought before hIs judge within
twenty Tour hours that capital punishment does not
exist and tnat the judges are now well paid indc-
scDf: and he with Justice tell you that there
is no longer one law for the rich and another
for the poor; but that rich and poor, gentle
man and peasant, are equal on the floor OF the
court You viii nave proven to your satisfaction
that the reports OF the cruel Treatment Of prisoners
In siberia are all hunibug, gotten up 10y people who
know nothing ana talking OF the traditions OF
she past The worst kind Of criminals only are
treated with hard labor, such as murderers &c,
those convicted OF tighter offences being absolutely
free men, and receive land, &c, upon which they
can can I've ana by Hing !! can earn thsH own means
" ~ a1sss. asu1ossIe..s~s. shown that the spec
tacuiar reports OF gangs OF chained convicts, at
tended with soldiers armed with "knouts,n are all
moonshine, and that the present transition to
siberia Is made by railway, steamboats, and car
riages
THE RAILROAD SYSTEM OF THE EXPIRE.
The Grand Duke can point ont with pride that
during tie last sen years his father has with the aid
Of one OF The most liberal and honest ministers that
ne has surrounded himself with II speak OF NJ. de
Rcuern the present Minister OF Flnance, built and
Cpenea ten thousand versts OF railways. when only
ten years ago railways were hardly known IN Rus
sta. You will be shown by the railway map that
the roads from ST. Petersburg TO Odessa from Mos
COW TO Rostov from all the other central points OF
commercial interest, now covered with the iron
merce and the increased ocomotlon which neccs-
sarily must have followed the Introduction Of these
necessary means or locomOtlon.
Even you Americans may learn with some aston
ishmeni that the water communication or this
large empire OF Russia Is perfect tnat goods can
DC embarked IN Siberia TO be delivered IN the
same bottoms al Asiraknan or ST. Petersburg You
may, II you like 10 take journey TO such distant
spot, contemplate from the banks OF the Oka and
a chu tart.a
side, some OF which are vending their way
slowly jet, sarely 10 the desoate wilds
OF northern snow-clad Siberia, while others will
ere long be IN the sunny region oil the vne.clad
boats naive bullt, are now pioneering the far dis
SanI river OF Eastern Siberia, and that 1T only
waer sws Q, no Sreas tengtn 70 loa .ne
lural, across The Ural slopes, to make II possible
70 distribute goods over every portion Of the en-
pre-, where yon VIII be in one continuous water
communication ron st. petersburg 10 the Sea OF
japan rom Siberia 10 Persia--in Iact where you
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
You VIII have explained TO you the introduction
INTO Russia OF conimuna Institutions OF the esJab
lisnmeni Of 1esScois, or local assemblies, 10y which
that great incentive 10 peoples King care OF them
selyes-vn., local sel-governnient-is NOW pos
sessed ny the people, III all districts these election
AsseMbles-iR the election of inemueis TO which all
have ,oice-now look alter the Distribution Of tax
alton, The erection and Keeping In repair
Dndges, making roads attending 10 The local nos
The local Institutions, ana mus as Should be the
case, giving every man voice in the spending OF
money which lie mas helped ~ pay. You will hear
that every village has lis own republic, the president
OF which s elected by what IS as near universal suL
rage az possible; and II yoo do not hear IL / can
voucn Tor the iact tbat IN these republics you see
matters Carried out and qnesi ons argued IN a man.
ncr that would astonsD you, aud with decorun
which, ALLOW NE To say rs not seen IN your Ameri.
can municipal meetings. In Russian town councils
one never sees lnhstsnds thrown al the mayors
head or plstois introduced instead OF tax.
OPTICAL CoRRrPTlOH DIsAPfEARiS9.
Tie Grand Duke can tell you Of The anclent
ruption IN o1iclal matters being raplaly swept
away; that at tins moment OI1clal pecuiauon is
hunted down and punished wtb an nnsparing
hand, never mind who ibe delinquent may be and
now high or great his rank, lie VIII tell sou that
the oid.Iashioned IrhiEO'1tih or government EN-.
pIoye--namely bullet. headed ignorant, fyranncai
cheat--is now becoming thing OF the past, that
fhe animal VINO ~ old tunes made bls income out
OF thc misfortunes and pockeis 0f those deiuiel