The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01
Berlin Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

BERLIN, sept. 12, 1881
1t appears now certain that the long.pro-
jected meeting of the Emperors of Germany
and Russia will, within day or two actually
take place. Rumors to the same effect have
several times been current since the accession
of Alexander Ill., but hitherto they have all
turned out to be groundless
| To those who can see In the interviews of
kings some better motive than a desire to con-
spire against other rulers the present clrcum-
stances of Russia afford abundant explanation
of the Cars desire to benefit by the friendly
counsel Of his Imperial relative. The young
Monarch, whom the Assassn's hand unex-
pectedly raised 10 position of scarcely par.
ul!eled power and responsibility, has of late
been convenient to life Of positive torture.
He knows that an innumerable host of his
subjects are his implacable enemies. At any
moment he may meet the same fate which be-
tell his father; and the knowledge that con-
siderable portion OF his people would rejoice
to learn of his violent and cruel death is alone
sufficient to embitter every hour of his life
The mere precautions which are required to
preserve him from unknown but everpresent
dangers are in tn emseves enough to rob him
of happiness, either Imperial or domestic.
Nor is il possible for HIM to shut his eyes to
the fact that with all the means at his CON-
mand he cannot repress and stamp out all the
Nlhillst propaganda, which threatens not only
the dynasty but the very existence of the en-
pire. Despite the utmost vigilance of the po-
lice authorities, and the wholesale deportation
to Siberia of every suspected person, the rev.
olutionists 90 steadily on with their work of
sapping the foundation of the civil power.
Undiscovcrable printing presses continue to
issue broadcast appeals to the people, remind
ing them of the bitter oppression under which
they miserably live, and squirting them on TO
take terrible revenge. Nor can 1t be doubt
ed that this teaching 10 set before minds only
too willing and well prepared to receive it.
Each time batch of reasonable papers Is dis
covered q list OF Incrlminated persons grows
more alarming. 1t is found that not only the
wretched peasants, whose want of shelter and
a crust is left unsupplled; not only the clever
young students, whose liberties are curtailed,
whose energies are cramped, whose intellect
ual aspirations can find no honest outlet in
the light of day-it Is not only such as these
that are numbered with the revolutionary
brotherhood. Politicians of eminence, mobiles
of ancient lineage, professors of commanding
ability officers in the army, ecclesiastics, and
even officials of the imperial household are
found amongst those who compare the down.
fall, if not the destruction, of the emperor
With the dlsaffection of the lower class is as.
ISOLATED the DISCRIMINATION and growing dis
content OF the middle class and the wide,
spread corruption of the aristocracy. In
word, the Russian Empire, as a whole, is ad
vancing on the path neither Of civilization nor
Of material prosperity. What wonder then,
that the young monarch called upon to bear
the weight OF such sovereignty as this should
seek IN friendly relations abroad some CON-
pensation from the accumulated misery which |
is the normal condition Of his existence as the ,
Gar Of all the RussIas?
---a.s.--