Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-06

years, was succeeded by Peter H., grand
son of Peter the Great, who, after three
years, was succeeded by Anne, half-sister
to Peter the Great Anne died in 1740,
after having bequeathed the succession
to her granddaughter, Ivan, mere in
rant; but IN consequence Of revolt the
bequest was disregarded, and Elizabeth,
Peter the Greats daughter, was called
to the throne. During her reign, Rus
STA tor the first time took
direct share in European politics, and
sent an army westward beyond her own
frontiers. She died in 1852, and was
succeeded by her nephew, Peter Ill,
whose reign and life were terminated six
months after by conspiracy, to which
his wife is believed to have been PRIV!
She, by the acclamation of the army and
people, mounted the throne, under the
title OF Catherine H., and pursued
course of policy remarkable alike for
it's unscrupulousness and it's success.
The most important events of her reign
are the wars with the Turks Catherine
was succeeded in 1896 by her son Paul,
who was deprived Of his life by conspira-
tors In 1901. He was succeeded by his
son Alexander. who died in 1926, without
issue, and, in consequence of an arrange
ment by which his second brother, Con-
stantlne, renounced the succession, was
succeeded by his third brother, Nicholas,
who, IN turn, was succeeded by the pres
ent Gar, Alexander, under whom Russia
has acquired more commanding infu-
ence IN European politics than ever be-
fore.
GROWTH OF RUSSIAN POWER.
The growth of Russia in area may be
thus summarized: Under Ivan the Ter
r1ble, In 1885, 81 200 geographical square
miles; 1925, at the death of Peter the
Great, 20O,OOO geographical square miles;
IN 1880, at the accession of Alexander
H., 370,24O geographical square miles,
without Russian North America After
the Crimean war, in which Russia was
beaten for want of roads alone, the Rus
sian government devoted itself to in
ternal Improvements. The want of COM
munication over the vast distances of the
empire, and the social and political disad-
vantages arising from an immense serf
population, were prominent in the con-
slderatiod Of her statesmen. The total
population of the Empire, which in 1862
had been but 19,000,000 in 1872 was
nearly 100000. There were in 1862
not less than a, 900, 900 of serfs belong
ing to the crown, to mobiles, and private
persons. The serfs, indeed, had rights;
they belonged to the land, which had
originally belonged to their ancestors, and
were transferred with the land; but this
thin wall against personal slavery did lit
tie to protect them against tyranny and
oppression, and nothing to strengthen
the nation. In 1863 the serfs were
emancipated ON a basis of money
compensation to the proprietors.
The crown serfs received land, subject to
an annual payment for fifty years, after
which period they will become land
owners. In 1866 serfdom ceased to exist
in Russia. Contemporaneously with the
emancipation of the serf an enormous
activity had been shown in the construc-
ton Of railways. The north and the
south Of the Empire, the Baltic and the
Black Seas, are now connected by a con-
tinuous chain of railways, and the steam
engine can now bring the Cossacks of the
Volga to the frontiers Of Germany.