Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-04
ALEXANDER AND HIS PEOPLE.

From the Washington Post
1t may fairly be questioned If there
Is more unhappy man on earth than
tue Car Of Russia. The poorest
peasant who eats his black bread in
peace, aud sleeps on his pile of straw
without fear, has an enviable existence
compared with that of Alexander.
Even the wretched exile in Siberia
has passed the crisis Of bis fate. has
reached the worst, and hi- dreary davs
are not haunted by the fear Of instant
and horrible death. Almost anv GER
tainty, however cruel, is better than
the awful suspense in which this En-
peror il compelled to endure life.
/ When he eats, there is the fear Of
poison in his food 10 destroy his APP
petite. When he walks abroad, he j.
not sure that a murderer is not point
ing a gun or pistol at him. Hand
, grcnades are liable, at any moment, to
he hurled into the royal carriage.
Dynamite mines blow trains and pal
aces into the air, and all this to de-
strOv his single life
Yet this man whose life j. thus
haunted until every hour Of existence
must seem like an eternity Of torment,
is Alexander, the Liberator. When
he came to the throne he introduced
some Of the greatest reforms of the
age. The abolition Of seridom and
the institution Of trial by jury are
among the blessings which he gave to
his country. But instead of satisfying
his people and securing their support
and affection, he has had a more
troubled reign than he would have
had in following the example Of the
f despots who preceded him. He gave
a taste Of blood to a pack of hungry
wolfes when he decrced portion Of
the natural right. of mankind TO the
/ long-oppre--ed lower clas- or his en-
( pire.
Age, of tyranny had 20 degraded
the lower clas-c, that they were in.
capable of approaching the new re-
forms. In trying TO improve their
condition Alexander was compelled 10
tre>pas- OH what the noble, regarded
a. their divine rights Thu. the
crown l. left between the upper and
the neither millstones. The judges of
the courts sympalhizc with the Nihi-
lists, and often acquu those who are
clearly proven guilty OF crimes against
the government The Nihilisis appear
to have no definite policy except the
destruction Of existing insiiiniion..
They hold that assassination and all
other crimes are ju-iifiable in their
warfare against monarchy.
According to our American idea. il
Is the right Of any people TO decide
their own form OF government aud
name their own rulers. But if Alex
andcrs throne were overturned today.
aud republic set up in Its stead.
there would be another revolution in
three months. Russia Is not prepared
for republican institutions. If Alex
auder were to adopt constitution
similar to that of Great Britain, there
is no reason TO believe that his conccs-
sion would STAY the tide of revolution.
Nihilism would not be placated with
anything short of democracy, and a
democratic government for such u
people would mean anarchy.
We see nothing better than stormy
future before that unhappy country.
The abdication of Alexander, which is
not unlikely to occur at any time, will
not bring peace and order. 1t is not
against him. but the system, that re-
bellion is waged. Any other head of
the same system would be quite as Of
fensiye.