The New York herald., 1871-11-17
Our st. Petersburg Corrc pundcuce-
Growth OF Russia in Material Wealth
and polisSruI f,.ace....

In our Issue of this morning we publish
letter from the HERALD's correspondent in st.
petersburg. The correspondence is interest
Ing and instructive, as it will tend to dis
abuse the minds of many persons of the
erroneous views and wrong conceptions they
have formed Of the great empire OF Northern
Europe. Particular attention will now, more
than at any other time, be directed to matters
appertaining to Russia, from the flct that we
will shortly have among us as guesi the son
Of the only European potentate who truly and
openly sympathized with us in our struggle for
the maintenance of the republic oil the United
States under one government and under
one flag. 1t is the recollection Of this
active and undisguised sympathy which
animates the American people at this
time to accord to prince OF tho
Russian empire genuine republican welcome
to our shores. In more respects than one
ID It a fitting occasion for us to give
DO our readers the sketch OF Russia as
Il Is which has been so opportunely for
warded us from our correspondent in St.
Petersburg The empire, it will ba seen, has
not Jagged behind in the progress which in
almost every CLINE marks the age in which we
Live.
Attentive perusal of the brief correspond
ence referred to-brief when we consider the
magnitude Of the subject Observation-Disclosures
the rapid progress which Russia has made
during the las. twenty years. The result of
che Crmean war pointed out to the imperial
government at st. Petersburg the weakness Of
ehe empire in several respects. The lesson was
prefted by; and perhaps to the disasters which
Russia experienced in that memorable campaign
may be credited the vast network OF railroads
which now spreads itself all over the dominions
Of the Gar. For the construction Of these
works foreign labor had to be introduced, and
the comparisons instituted between the work.
tngmen Of other lands and those Of Russia
suggested to the advisers of the Grown, no
doubt, the necessity of greater intellt-
gence among the poor classes The Czar,
alive to the Importance of the subject,
gladly favored the idea of improving the con-
dition OF his subjects, and now almost all Of the
large towas Of the empire can boast of schools
Tor the education of the people. Even In the
villages schools are springing up, and the good
work which emancipation nauguratcd is being
completed. The fruits of this spread Of liber-
alism-for liberalism in a certain sense it
may be cOnsidered-has already exercised
healthy influence over the minds Of the masses.
They are improving, and in no way marked
~ In the treatment Of their women. The wife
OF the scrf was doubly . save-a slave to her
master and worse than slave to her hus-
band but the dawn Of better Intelligence
among them has taught him different line Of
conduct.
While in the directions we have indicated pro-
gression marches on with appreciable strides,
In other respects not more necessary to the
future greatness of the empire are improvements
the less marked. Official corruption, long
standing sgrace to the country, is disappear
ing and giving way to more honest discharge
OF duty by those who hold office. Com
muna institutions in the provnc IS have now
an existence, and the people have voice in
the manag of their local affairs. Trial
by jury at present affords the subject charged
with an offence protection which he was for
merly deprived Of, aud capital punishment will,
ere long, cease to exist. The poor have now
that pro cction by means Of wise and just laws
which formerly was possessed only by the
rich, and the cruclties in former times prac-
Hsed on prisoners have now little or no exist
ono0.
Russia Of the past and tho empire of the
present afford study both interesting and
Instructive. The history of the last twenty
years reveals an Improvement within its
boundaries, the more remarkable because OF
the opposition with which many of them were
met by tho nobility. The liberation Of the
progress; the construction of railroads proved
his appreciation Of the great part which steam
is to play in the developments OF the future /; the
attention given to mining and agriculture points
out that Alexander is not unaware Of the rich
bounties which nature has bestowed upon his
dominions, and his ability to utilize them so
that they may rebound to the benefit Of his
subjects is evidenced in the many works in
progress throughout the country. Under the
rule OF Alexander the press possesses q de-
gree OF freedom not enjoyed by some other
European nations boasting Of greater enlight-
enment Travel is free and unrestricted, and
protection is accorded to the tourist from
no matter what cline he halls. In thus speak
ing Of Russia we do SO with pride, because it
records the elevation of people recently sunk
In state Of social Generalization by ssrfdom
and in the greeting with which toe Grand Duke
Alexis will be welcomed 10 the shores OF free
America we do honor to the potcntate who
has done 50 much towards promoting the
growth OF Russia in material wealth and politi-
cal greatness.
REPUTATION IN SOUTH CARoLINA.-lt is
given on, that the colored legislators oil South