, 1879-08-03

~ 4 PLEA FOR TILE EMPEROR, OF RUSSIA.
A person writing to 4 lady in Russia, formerly
q res ident OF Chicago. criticised thu course OF
the Russian Cover nu>ent- The following LITTER
in defense OF the Emperor was received in reply
''1n speaking OF Russia YOU say, The En-
u':ror seems very unwise to u.s. Why don't ho
give the people q share in the Government.
copying institutions similar to the Euglishs'
Ms dear sister, just think how dtftrcut Is tile
growth and DEVELOPMENT Of the two nations.
Think Of Eugland's hissorY,-of her struggles
drrin: long centnries,-of her revolutions, each
one Of which has brought her people O long step
forwards in cducot az, strengthening, aud pre-
pairing them to exercise the faculties OF free
born and thinking: men. Remember, to5, That
rs S nation the English acknowledge the au-
thority OF God,-His Law IS supreme,-and tlat
only such people IS capable OF seifgoyernment,
and people whose acts nre controlled By m
intelligent anti conscientious obedience To
higher law Nth any other se1froyerament
becomes anarc1l II.
"uow is it ia Russia! Forty million OF sub
clothes. Iii not two decades since they were
serfs, chatte'is. How little would English in6ti-
tutions be 2 dapted to their capacities! Step By
step they must learn to walk.
Yet tie danger to tive Empire comes not
from the SC liberated serls. They arc loyal sub
jects. 'fhe danger comes from another source,
from the universities 1t is the reboundis:.r
OF the human mimi from the coerrige force OF
super 1.st5non.-the swinging ot the pendulum
frou4 the one extreme to the other. Would you
ha nls of these Nihjltsts.-meu who would de-
throne God,-who acknowledge no higher au-
'.tority than that Of their own lusts and pas
sions? I am sure you would not
But who. then, are the people, Are they
but ignorant and grossly superstttious peas
ants on the other? Is it sale to curnnlit the
Government into the hands OF these ignorant
1oiiions9 Perhaps it might be safer to do SO
than raise 20 power the Nihilists, who are poth-
horrid Solovicr, passing the night before tha
attentat in house OF prostitution. He is "a
representative map-' Every member Of his
fathers family was generously cared for BY
and educated at the e1pepse Of the Grand
Duchess Helene (the sister-in-law OF the
present Emperor), ),-soloyjcr himself re-
ceiVin.r more richly than any other from
the generosity Of the Grand Duchess, and also
from the Government. He certainly bad no
Instead: had been the recipient all hfs Life long
OF good from the Imperial family Why should
hc slav the Emperora I think he might be CALI
ed another Judas. In him We dod embodied the
principles fcrmentinS IN the nation, especially
among portion OF the educated classes
"You say the world noyes,' sand the En-
peror cannot stay its progress Ton are right
Nor docs the Emperor desire to stay its prog
rcss. His first great act upon ascending the
throne-thc liberation Of the serfs-s evidence
that be docs not. Nor did he stay his progress
upon the consurnmatfon OF this act 50 truly
grand and heEoic- Trial BY jury,' and num-
berless other innovations are proofs to the con-
trary-proofs of his Jealous efforts in behalf OF
the true welfare and progressive Development
of his subjects. Many good and wise people
consider that he has gone too lar 10 oeslo"inS
upon the towns, etc, rights OF self-government
that they do not know how to exercise, aud
often do not care to. The question is how to
reach this desired end by sure and safe road
1t may BE- necessary to make haste more slowly
than accortls with young Americas ideas.
With too great momentum who would have
power to guide! The psedoice may be no lesa
dangerous than the 'smothered Volcano OF
which sou write.
might euide-' Well might the Emperor c1-
claim, Who Is sufficient for these thing5a'
What wisdom may suffice! Only that which
is from above-higher than human reason. IL,
In America, the Government, free and rep.
resentati7c Government, With the combined
wisdom Of its whole people, has not under
stood how to bring order out Of the con-
fusion resulting from the emancipation OF
100000 Of slaves can We wonder that the
Emperor's wisdom should seem insufficient for
the immeasurab!y more gigantic task OF
guiding and moldng the heterogeneous ele-
ments Of an. Empire Of $4,000, 900 soulst
.'These things to be viewed Alright must be
viewed from another standpoint than Young
America Thai OF our fore{athers we're bet
ter one. What Russia needs Is religton,-
FIRST, that educates heart and conscience; sec-
ond' that restraius from deeds Of violence,
from anarchy. Until then how little are her
80, 600 Of subjects, composed chiefly OF ig-
uorapt peasants and lnWls64 Nihilist, p{a>
pared to take share tn government"