Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-18

In February, 1864, the Polish srr!s were
also emancpaied Alexander made great Ell
forts to improve the State colleges and place
them on an equal footing with the best insti-
tutlons of Europe Another great reform
introduced by him WAS the creation, IN lS6o,
of representative assemblies i'll all the pro-
vinces Alexander also reformed the sy5-
TEN of military consciiption, and introduced
the practice OF trial by Jury. In lS6O he
commenced the series OF his Central Aslatic
conquests by Il war against the Amcer OF Box
hara After fierce and bloody contest, at
great expense of life and treasure, the Amer
was subducd, his troops dispersed and Inc
city Of Samarcand with all its stores OF rich
goods fell into the hands Of the Russians IN
May, 1868. In the previous year Alexander
had sold Russian America, now known as
Alaska, to the United States for $1,000, 900.
In 1878 khiva was conquered 10y n Russian
expedition, under General Kaufman, por-
ton of its territory was annexed ana the
suzerainty of the Car over the khanate was
recognized. III Ioao NHohdii' was ''''i'N'
cd and annexed by General Kaufman,
measure which resulted in the permanent eS-
Establishment of Russian power in all the re-
gion north of the OXus. In the warbetweon
Turkey and Servia (lS1G) Russia bore no os-
tensiblc part, though her sympathles were
evident, and many Russian soldiers and OIL
GERS took service under the Servian banner.
After the defeat OF the Servians the Russian
ambassador at Constantinope presented to
the Porte an ultimatum demanding SIN
weeks armsticc, which the Sultan granted
November, 1876, and subsequently, treaty
of peace was concluded on the basis of the
''status quo antc-bellum," March, 1877. a
conference of the representative powers OF
Europe which was proposed TO meet at Con
stantinople, was refused by the Porte, where
upon Alexander declared war against Turkey
April "a, 1871 Into the details of that war
it is not necessary here TO enter. The Rus
SLAMS were victorious in Bulgaria and Arme-
mia, and penetrated almost to the gates OF
Constantinople. A treaty of peace was
signed at St Stefano, March ., 1878.
In the meantime Nihiism had thrown It's
gigantic shadow over the Empire. vast
secret society was formed, in comparison
with which the greatest medieval organiza
ton shrinks into insigniiicance having for its
chiefest object the killing of the Car. The
dread of assassination which has disturbed
the slumber of many an European monarch
was not new terror to Alexander. The
first attempt upon his life was made in
April, 1866, by young assassin, karakozoii
by name, who fired shot at the Emperor
as he was stepping into his carriage after
walk in the summer garden. To this act
and to the fears which it caused in AlcNan-
anders mind have been attributed great
change in the liberal tendencies of the Gar.
Immediately after 1t he entrusted to Count
Schouvaloff the task of crushing out the rev
dictionary party In Russia and many re-
pressiyc measures were instituted against tie
press, the provincial elective assemblies, tie
universities and other representative institu-
tons.
In December, 1879, notable attempt was
made TO kill the Gar by blowing up, by a
concealed mine near Moscow, a train of cars,
on which he was supposed TO be passenger,
but which only contained his baggage ard
officers of his household. In February, 1889,
mine was exploded under his dining room
in the winter palace at st. Petersburg, kill
ing ten soldiers of his body guard ard
wounding forty five others. 1t has been DE-
MED, however, that this was the work of the
Nihilists, who assert that it was an attempt
of the Princess Dolgorouski, the Cars mis-
tress, upon the life of the Empress, and that
it was carefully planned to take place
when the Gar was not i'll the palace.
A week later, March /, 1850, General
Loris Melkofr was formally appointed Die
tator of St. Petersburg, with powers extend
ing throughout the Empire authorizing him to
provide for the security of the Imperial fam
ily, throne and institutions. Alexander became
little more than State prisoner. The pal
ace was guarded with minute precaution.
The Gar, who before used, like his father
TO walk in the streets of the capital without
any escort, or ride in a sleigh drawn by a
single horse, now when he went out hurried
through the city at full speed in closed car
riage, amid the silent and terrified crowds.
Cossacks surrounded him like moving for
trcss, clearing the route by their shouts to
make way Meanwhile the conspirators,
battling every effort, slipped even into the
palace, where alone the Emperor thought
himself safe, and at last have comprised
their object in his destruction.
Americans have reason to remember the
late Car gratefully, for in 1861, shortly
after the breaking out of the rebellion, he
sent a letter to our government expressing
his sympathy for the Union cause. At the
time all Europe was against us, and the
kindly sentiments advanced by the Czar
were most cordially received.
The Cars heir bears his fathers name
and is 80 years old, having been born in
1913, in March, notable month in the FAM
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