Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-17
AT Last.

throughout Il vast whose
will was law to 90,000,0 900 of subjects,
was pursued with unrelenting ferocity
by the demons of destruction who had
marked him for death, and the won
der is that the fatal day did not come
sooner. Five previous attacks had
been made upon his life the sixth,
which occurred on last Sunday, was
successful. Personally there is little
reason why Alexander II should fall
victim to the vengeance of the Nj.
hlllsts rather than Others Of the reign.
ing monarchs Of Europe; but for twenty
years he lived in constant dread of a
violent end. No one can imagine the
mental anxiety and the dread tor.
ments of those years TO the great Gar.
He must often most painfully have
realized the truth of the trite apo
thegm that uneasy lies the head that
wears a crown"
The late Emperor came TO the
throne after the death Of his father,
the Emperor Nicholas, in 1855. lie
was at that time supposed to entertain
views of public policy much more lib.
eral than those held by his father, and
he did institute many reforms and i'm.
proyements in the government Of his
country that were to the oppressed and
downtrodden masses in pleasing and
hopeful contrast to the de-potic rule Of
the preceding reign. First among
these was the emancipation Of the
serfs. He clearly saw and understood
that the system Of serfdom was a curse
and hindrance to the progress aud
prosperity of the country, He de.
termined upon its destruction and &C.
cordingly, after much opposition from
the noble and ruling classes, issued
the famous ukase of March .. 1861,
declaring the gradual emancipation Of
the 20,0O0,0O0 serfs. Had Alexander
then closed his earthly career, his
fame would have gone down the CORR.
dors of time to the latest posteri,y a.
that of one of the great bcneiactors Of
mankind. The good promises Of his
early days, however, were not in all
respects fulfilled in the later periods Of
his reign. lie no doubt meant well,
but in many respects he became re.
dictionary, and finally to be regarded as
little less arbitrary and despotic than
the stern aud unbending Nicholas.
What effect will this murder have
upon the future of Russia II is diff.
fcult to foresee. Upon this point we
adopt the opinions of another. One
of our exchanges with great force re.
marks that "the mere death of the
Emperor would be in itself small
matter, so far as the State is concern
cd. however much we might regret the
fate of an amiable prince. When
Mr.. Lincoln was murdered, although
We we're at the close of a terrible war,
the machinery of the government
went on without a jar. Can we hope
as much for Russial Has the con-
spiracy which has struck down the
mighty sovereign permeated the Em.
pire2 Is it revolution in another
fcrmf Does it represent merely the
wild fanaticism Of enthusiasts, or is il
the demand of the people for change
of dynasty We hardly hope to find
in Russia that educated and develop
ed public opinion which would be
content with a republican or even
a constitutional form of govern
ment. But no republican and no
friend of constitutional liberty would
be willing to accept the change as
the outcome of assassination. As
sassination never affects the destinies
of States or of peoples On the con-
trary, those who believe in liberty
are the first to deplore any attempt
TO achieve it by murder. Nihilism or
revolution, or whatever we may call it,
will receive no sevcrer blow in the
public esteem of mankind than the
murder of this noble and high minded
sovereign. These attempts to change