The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-03-19
WRETCHED RUSSIA.

1t has long been probable that Aexan-
der H.. Car of Russia, would die by as
Sassinaton. SO persistent have attempts
upon his life been for some years that he
himself must have expected to die by
violence, Notwithstanding the marvellous
military power with which his movements
were constantly guarded. His death on
sunday was horrible as in his most appre-
hensive moments he could have imagined
it. The nitro glycerine bomb which shat
tered the vehicle IN which he was riding
toward the Winter Palace from parade.
bout 9 o'clock Sunday afternoon. must
rave caused him al agony of apprchen-
sion, and the bomb which fell at his feet
rs he stepped to the street shattered his
,gs and tore open the lower part o. his
prly, causing him the intensest suffering
until his death in the Winter Palace.
SHORTLY before 4 o'clock. When karaka-
.oifmade an attempt to destroy the Gar S
life in 1866 Russia was filled with wrath
tul Indignation; but when the student
Sulowjaif made made similar attempt
TWO years ago on the fourteenth anniver-
slry of Abraham Lineoln's assassination
the indifference t. the Car $ fate on the
,art of his subjects was remarkable.
Since 1879 tue mass of the Russian PEG
lie have seemed to feel little aversion to
he murdersus plots of the Nihilists. The
iercc excitement which now fills St.
Petersburg and shakes the whole empire
nay be the expression of desire to
,venge the monarch's death, on the part
If the soldiers. but on the pant of the
,eople it is little more than the result OF
apprehension as to what Woes may fall
rpon the nation in the frcnzied confusion
which followed Sundays tragedy.
Since Solowjeif's assault the Gar has
undoubtedly seriously meditated abdca-
ion. and it would have been well for him
lad he abandoned his throne and passed
peaceful Old age in quiet retirement
Nevertheless. now that he is dead. the
uonstrous crime Of assassination may
produce reaction of feeling toward him.
mi restore him in memory to the place
Of affection in the hearts of his people
which he had lived long enough to have
ost. The Supreme act of his life. that
W which he celebrated the sixth anuiver-
,ary of his accession to the throne, the
decree of March 2, 1861, which provided
FOR the gradual emancipation of twenty
three million serfs, will stand forth above
I'll the faults OF his career and cntitle him
to recognition as Emancipator. 1t must
b. remembered that his father. Nicholas
l., devised scheme of emancipation in
1852, three years before the end of his
long reign of thirty years, but lacked the
courage to execute it. Although of II
gentler spirit than his predecessors Of the
House of Romano!f, Alexander II. resp
lutely executed what his father had not
been bold enough to push in opposition
to his mobiles, and for that courageous
deed history will accord him honorable
md death!ess fame. After comforting
liberty upon moe than one onc-fnurth Of
his subjects, and winning glory in the
Crimea an territory i'll Armenia and
CENTRAL Asia, it would seem that he
,hould have had too much of affection
rom his people to be cut of by asSassin>
living at the early age of 63 years, twelve
d lys after the completion Of the twenty
sixth year Of his reign. But the best of
m )narchs are exposed to the assaults of
ass lssils. The good Emperor William
of Germany has narrowly escaped assas-
sins, and even the gentle queen and noble
woman. Victoria, must be constantly
guarded against deadly assaults. Griev-
us faults the slain Alexander dou btless
uad, and his ens mics remember the san