The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-21
RUSSIAN DIAMONDS.

The Arrest OF the Grand Duke Nicholas
Importance Of the Act in . Dynastfc
Point OF view-Romano6 Trouble i'm
%. Petersburg and Poland-Why Alex
snder II Consulting with Victoria and
Eagenfe.
There Ii an old saying that whenever anything
IL wrong IN Russia Poland is TO be at the Dot
tom OF It The application OF this axiom to the
arrest of the Grand Duke Nicholas would seem to
point less to the diamond story a. true cause
thereof than the circumstances through which
Constantine, the Emperor's brother and father OF
the incupated Prince, has become q suspected
man, and with him his relatives and retainers.
DYHAsTIC POLICY. a
II Is well known that the present Emperor
Alexander, a. well as his predecessor, Nicholas,
were always anxious to remove q danger that
threatened the Empire BY emancpatng the serfs.
This was not . difncult measure In some parts Of
Russia Already, through the absenteeism and
extravagance OF the mobiles, their estates and
serfs, which were inseparabe, were heavily In
debted 70 the crown for advances OF money.
when the Emancipation act took place the STATE
had already foreclosed these mortgages to the ex.
tent OF Sl52 soc, 600 But In Poland the case was
dinerent There agriculture had advanced rela.
lively much further than In the Eastern provinces
OF the Empire. and che mobiles, who dld not scru
Tor his own benefit and reduce him to the con-
dition Of Q landless bondsman, were themselves
These cruel measures, With the exaction OF some.
times four days, sometimes ave in the week, had
rendered serldom 70 them profitable institution.
10 the condition Of the Polish seris we're made IN
ls4a and 1882, and certain regulations established
sion. But these regulations became dead letter,
and some OF the Polish mobiles having iorestalled
liberate the serfs by praying Tor such measure,
the Crown issued Rescrtpt In 1857, ordering the
appointment. o. 2 committees Of preliminary In:
Grodno, to draught q law with this object.
The Emperor desired that this law should, while
the S Doss oysf s ss
ant the right Of purchasing with his extra LABOR
81 the same sims his pec1niary obligations to the
lord and the state were not to be impaired.
r vas s M
ton from the mobiles, and the so-called Russian
pro-siavery party crystallized itself into shape.
CONSTANTINE,
whose abilities marked MIN for . leader. and
whose sympathies were with the mobiles, was
looked upon ~ its head; and the humane and pro-
Vas Vas ccnte ,n s stigmatIsed as German:
the Russian, the liberal and progressive party
called the German. But though q mild hammered
man the Emperor was none the less resolute con.
corning the great measure In hand, and In 1858 .
Principal Committee composed OF the Ministers OF
ptre was established at st. Petersburg, under his
Majesty's Immediate supervision charged with the
importsn, and delicate duty Of considering an act
OF general emancipation Tor the seris throughout
Russia The Craftsmanship Of this committee was
graclousy conceded BY his Majesty TO his brother
ing ms unfrsternsI inimicallty and bring
ing him 10 see the urgent necessity Ter
that LAY n ~. to no purpose Sss.
Constantine remained steady In the attitude ne
had TAKEN and through his influence = is BE-.
majority OF the members Of the Pienum OF the I'm
perial Council. Ia this emergency the Emperor,
In the exercise OF his legal powers, voted with the
The ACT OF EMANCIPATION
March, 1851, it received the imperial signature and
not only the Polish slaves but 1,oo0ooo Of serfs
sarouxhou, kuss,. became fres TINS greatest ss q
lssA By other Acis which liberated the crown and
appanage peasanu and Russia delivered herself
snurely the great stain and tue great danger Of
pEEyupicKp AND uryrRLDrxo
unchanged rhs Emperor appointed him viceroy
OF Poland when the outoreak occurred In ls02,
hoping. no DOUBT 70 soften ms obduracy BY bring.
ing him face 20 face with the difficuities that
threatened the Empire But he resigned shortly
afterwsrd. and though continually nonored by the
Emperor with marks OF the latters attachment
| ANA trust remains 10 tne same attitude TO-DAY,
and either directly or through ns son Nicholas, an
tlon o. the hopes Indured BY the conservauves
| This party derives much OF its strengtn nom
Poland me expectation o. reinstatlns seridom
\ In Lrhuania and the other Western provinces,
where seridom was most profitable contributes
largely % lend n strength; and " n tnus with the
anAirs and fate OF that unhappy country that the
| late arrest seems connected. Not that the
DfAnOND sroRy
\ n incredible hut simply that 10 hardly affords
sumcient grounds for 30 grave Q step The arrest
Of member OF the Imperial family. while other
and weilsnovn circumstances iprnish more ikely
ones. These circumstances. taken together with
the kmperor's yfsif 10 Germany IA isf7 anc his
recent hurried interview with Victoria aud
Engenle an England. point 20 dynastical troubles
In Russia, rather than 20 the Abstraction OF acme
rumpcry diamonds. AZ the true cause OF the late
high-nanced treatment o. Constantine's eldest son.
1