Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-05


having maintained popular form Of govern
ment during a period of 53j years. Since
Russian history begins with Noygorod, the
greatest Of the ancient commonwealths Of
Russia, aud the mother Of the other two,
shall begin with a sketch Of Novgorod, and
then touch upon Pskoif and Natka, her colo
nial descendants Before doing this, however,
I think IL worth while to tell who the Rus.
sians arc and 10 call attention to their kins-
men In Europe The Russian arc the most nu-
merous branch Of the great 5layonic race, which
at the present time numbers about one hundred
million Of souls, and inhabits, besides Russia
the greater part Of Turkey in Europe, very
considerable portion Of the Austro Hungarian
empire, and the province Of Posen in Prussia.
Russia Slayonic relatives living 10 the coun-
tries have just mentioned are known as Bul-
garians, Serbs, Montcnegrins, Croats, Dalma-
tan', Slovaks, Chckhs or Bohomiaus, and
Poles. OF these the first two live IN Turkey.
The Bulgarians are the most numerous and
are nearest Of all to tho Russians, their lan-
cuago being almost identical with the Russian
The Serbs and Montoucgrns speak the same
language (the Serbian) and are in fact The
same people. The Montenegrins are inde-
pendent and arc the descendants OF Serbs who
lcd from their country at the tmo Of the Turk
i.h conquest aud settled in the almost mac
ces-lole mountains near the Adrat'c. Ihe
Dalmatians and the Croats are Serbs, both in
race and language. Their country forms a
part oil the Austrian empire. The Sloyaks IN
haoit .'he grearor part oil northern Hungary.
hossuih' whom every one IN America remem-
persi was oil SloVak origin, as Is Andrassyi the
present Chancellor OF the Austrian empire.
Inc Chckhs or Bohemlans iorm three-hiths oi
inc population oil tue kingdom OF Bohemia
Inc foie' are louhu IN fosen' "alicia ana the
kInglom oil fo'anli when ~ now part oi
Nussla' lhe lRnguases spoken Dy All these
SUBDIVISIONS oi the Sia'onic raceare descended
from a common stock and are merely varia'
tons on one theme Ihey may bearranged into
two groups. The Russian, Bulgarian and Ser
ban into one, and the Polish and Bohemian
into the other Any one acquainted with one
of these languages may very soon becom,
master Of the others
The Russians. theref,re. are not without
near kindred in Europe The race to which
tbey belong shows the greatest numeriea
strength Of apv on this continent Tben
bretbren in Au.tria are in n resnectable major
itv in European Turkey tbey form at leas
tbree.burths Of the population. while in Russi,
itself ont or a nonnlation or A. 600 600. sew
ep,v millions are slavopie This imnens,
number Of people. Of the same blood and Ian
yuare. and nearly all Of the same religion
makes Russia remarkable amongst the civil
led nations of the Eastern hemisphere 70
bomogeneousness of eomnosition. which ia TN
chief amongst It's many elements Of strength
This slayonie race. which in prehistoric time
was scattered over the east If Eurone. extende,
is settlements far to the northeast during tn
earlier centuries Of the Christian era. 80 tba
in the beginning of the ninth century We fin
IL as far north as Lake Iadoqa. not far fror
the site Of the present city Of st. Petersburg
The first settlement that gained historica
position was N1Tgorod, built on the river Vol
koI, near the point where it flows out Of lax
= linen. Judging by the accounts Of the Garlic
chronielers, Noygorod was in the first stages {
) its existence an independent community
Z choosing rulers from amongst its own inhab
ants. Situated, however as Noygorod was, O
the road between Scandinavia and Constant
nople. it was 70 be expected that the Viking
Of Norway and Sweden, who were continual
going hack and forth in search Of power
plunder, would not leave it long in pcac
The new town was subjected 20 foreign rul
and obliged to pay tribute After time tn
condition Of things became So dsagrccablc
the inhabitants that they reyolted and drl'
out their selfimposed rulers After this eve
We gather from the somewhat hazy accou
handed down TO u.s. that the people goyern'
themselves in rather a turbulent and rrcgul
way till the year sG4, when the President,
4. AZ least the most influential man Of this infa
g state-a certain Gostomisl-told the inhab
ants assembled in council, that owing to 1
rivalry of factions tbey would be sure 10 fall
m nrev 70 foreign conquest. He therefore adyis
x them IN seok for n Cbiertan. or Prince ootsi
a a or their own territory. who might come a
rnle over them This nerson. he said. tei
o,r,lIy ronovea from nll narties would
ahie 10 bola tho rcins of mower with n s,ea
and imnar,ial hand. Gostomisl died. a
some time after. in accordance with his adyi
deputation was chosen to seek for Prin
and offer him the vacant place. The represe
ativcs of Novgorod soon ACCOMPLISHED the IA
ye imnosed nnon them. Their choice fell ur
RrRIx who. according to some accounts, v
a. a Scandinavian. while others assert that he v
chief from some of the kindred tribes west
by Noveorod. near the southern coast of the b
tio. This is still n moot question in Russ
p history. which will probably never be settl
5 for the reason that there is not sufficient {
dence to decide the question either wa,
though 80 far. the balance seems 10 be on
80 Scandinavian side. The words of the invl
tion extended to Rurik are still preserved
the chronicler, and are characteristic enor
To be repeated here "Our land is broad I
,ea rich, but there Is no order therein; do Il
md come and rule over it and govern us" Run
in of course, accepted, as ninety-nine hundred
cry of all the able-bodied male members Of the
y's man race would have done in his place.
T. 1t is quite remarkable whata number Of 1
-- arc willing 10 serve the world, il they can O
, do so by receiving places Of command and pre-