, 1877-09-14


experience which had been denied to Paul
He also had his fathers example and mis-
ersble death as warning. Young, hand
some. beloved, he made it the rule of his
reign to welcome the light, to spread
abroad learning, and to pursue, in all re-
spects, policy as different as possible
from that of his predecessor. He began
by declaring to his people that he would
exercise no authority except incontormity
with the law. He abolished the devices
of tyranny which his father had estab-
lished, such as secret tribunals and the
censorship of books. He restored good
institutions abolished by his predecessor,
and renewed Catharine's decree against
the system of torture.
At that time could be read in Russian
gazettes advertisements offering serfs for
sale. Here is one such, translated from
the Moscow Gazette Of 1901, the first year
of Alexander's reign: .
ITO BE SoLD.-Three coachmen, we'll
trained and handsome; and two girls,one
eighteen, and the other fifteen years of
age, both of them good-looking, and well
acquainted with various kinds Of handi-
work. In the same house there are for
sale two hair-dressers: One, twenty-one
years of age, can read, write, play on a
musical instrument and act as huntsman ;
the other can dress ladies' and gentle
mems hair. In the same house are sold
pianos and organs" -
One of the first acts of Alexander was
to forbid the insertion of such announce
ments. He founded three universities,
and entered upon the formation of two
hundred and four preparatory schools.
He favored art, encouraged commerce and
manufactures, aud, although he was him
dered in his attempts to improve his
country by his wars with Napoleon, we
may say Of his reign that it was vast
good to Russia, and prepared the way for
those more radical changes which have
signalized the reign of his nephew and
namesake, the present emperor.
The new reign and its reforms, which
drew upon Russia the attention of the
world, were especially interesting to the
president Of the United States. If ever
there was a man who loved his species,
and desired its welfare, it was Thomas
Jefferson, democrat and president. Demo-
crat though he was, he was no bigot of
democracy, and knew very well that de-
mocratic institutions are only fit for
races of certain maturity, a majority of
whom are accustomed to read, discuss
and reflect. Mr.. Jefferson hailed the pro-
ceedings of this autocrat with two fold
delight; first, as human being interested
in the welfare of human beings, and
secondly, as president of new, Uniformed
country, which desired to keep out of the
broil of the wars between Napoleon and
the king of England, and to see the prin-
ciple established that ship on the ocean
is part and parcel of the country whose
flag it bears, as much so as if It were
mo0red in the harbor where it was
launched. Russia had the same interest.
Russia, like the United States, depended
at that time for its prosperity upon free
outlet of its raw products, and was little
inclined to submit to the hindrances
placed upon that outlet for the cOnven-
fence of the belligerents.
Here was the origin of the friendship of
Russia and the United States. It began in
the sympathy of the American people
with the beuev olent and wise designs of
the Emperor Alexander, and in the COM
mon interest of the two countries against
the English and French embargoes. Mr..
Jefferson, with that far-reaching wisdom
which marked nearly every act of his presi-
dency, cultivated this friendship by every
means in his power. He cOrresponded with
the emperor from time to time during the
whole period of his administration, dwell
ing much upon the great points ofthe free
dom of commerce and the rights of
neutrals. For twenty years the United
States had no representative at the Rus
sian capital, owing chiefly to thepolicy of
Catherine H., who looked coldly upon
the rebellion Of the colonies against the
mother country, she being an empress by
profession. Mr.. Jefferson nominated a
minister to Russia in 1907, and he en-
deavored to soften public prejudice
against this act by communicating pri-
vate information concerning the reasons
of it to William Duane, the chief demo-
crat editor of that day:
"a more virtuous man, | believe, does
not exist than the Emperor Of Russia" !"
wrote the President to Duane. "He has
taken peculiar affection to this country
and its government, Of which he has given
me public as well as personal proofs"
The Senate, however, would not copfirm
the nomination, and the United States re-
msined without minister at st. Peters
burg until 1909, when James Madison, on
one Of the first days ofhis administration,
nominated John Quincy Adams, who had
just failed OF reelection to the Senate.
He was confirmed, and resided m any years
in Russia, where be lived on excellent
terms with the emperor, and rendered
good service 10 his country in many
ways. From that day to this, the Rus
sian government has never omitted any
fair opportunity Of showing particular
gnni will IN cha I1ntfad Sfataa and I he.