Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-15
TWENTY-FIVE TEARS OF EMPIRE.
The Progress Made by Russia since the
Present Czar's Accession TO the Throne
An Interestsng SUMMARY


Present Czar's Accession to the Throne
AN Interesting Summary.
Referring TO the recent twenty fifth
anniversary of the Gar Alexander's ac-
cession TO the throne of Russia, New
York paper says:
The opening of the reign which has
just completed its twenty-ffth year was
the gloomiest period of Russian history;
but it was also the most profitable.
We owe gratitude" says the Moscow
Gazette, "even TO England herself, for
her blows shattered the pernicious syg-
tenn that was destroying us, opened our
eyes 10 the real state Of our internal
strength, and cleared the way for all the
reforms now in progress. This is no
exaggeration. Russia has made more
realprogress since the accession of Alex
ander III. than during the whole preced-
ing century. In 1855 she had only 4I9
miles OF railway; she has now upward
ofl0, 900. In 1855 only three cities in the
whole empire-viz., st. Petersburg.
ably paved or lighted; whereas, now
every leading provincial town is well off
in both respects, and the new st. Peters
burg gas company is one of the most
fourlshing in the empire. In 1855 the
total number Of factories in European
Russia was 1885, representing yearly
value OF 100000, 600 rubles, (S262, 50O,-
000.) By l667-the halfway point of
the present reign-23, 72l factories were
at work, with AN annual yield of 500 ,OOO,-
900 rubles, and both figures are now con-
siderably higher. The iniquities OF the
legal system of that dav, carried on ac-
cording to the obsolete forms of medim-
val law, were almost too monstrous for
belief; whereas. now trial by jury. in
troduced in 1868, is a national institu-
tion. The Russian soldiers term of
service then extended over twenty-five
years, whereas it is now limited TO
seven. Various cruel and degrading
punishments, than in constant use in the
imperial army, are now almost abol-
ished, only one man having run the
gantlet" in st. Petersburg since 1861.
The 23,0O0,0 900 peasants who were slaves
1855 are now freemen, and not a few
OF them have become landowners or
thriving merchants. Even in actual
territory, Russia has gained consider
able. In Europe she has acquired
Southern Bessarabia. In Asia Minor
she has annexed part of Northern Ar.
mepia. In Central Asia she has won a
territory as large rs France, while her
Siberian frontier has been advanced
nearly 1000 miles at the expense of
China, and the important island of Sag
halin, extorted from Japan.
But, apart fcom all this, Russia has
achieved a step which will go far 10
supply her greatest want. She has
formed, not indeed a substantial middle
class, but that which will be the germ
of such a class. and which IS expanding
every year. This is the one thing lack
ing to insure the stability OF the empire.
OF the 5000, 600 inhabitants contained
by Russia proper in 1861. q, 900, 600 were
free peasants and q, 900, 600 serfs, leav-
ing only 1000. 600 mobiles. 1000 600 bur-
gesses, and 100000 priests TO form the
counterbalancing minority. The eman-
cipation of that year, by destroying the
power of the nobility, while that of the
people was still non.existent, placed
Russia in the position of state with it's
upper class gone. its lower class not yet
come and no middle class at all. The
same sluggish ignorance which makes
the Russian "mujik" proof against the
whispers of disaffection, renders him
absolutely useless TO the political life of
his country. What is wanted is a rea-
soning, not reaSonless, obedience.
Russia's safety lies in the creation of a
class OF practical and well-to- do men of
business, for whom order implies pros
perity, and disorder absolute ruin. The
existence of such a class in France made
the commotion of 1880 short and COM
paratively bloodless. rendered abortive
the attempted outbreak of 1882, and
tided over the great political crisis o
1888 without any outbreak at all; and
theTemedy which has succeeded in Paris
may be trusted not to fail in st. Peters
burg.