Smyrna times., 1881-03-23
The Gear of Russia.

The Nihilists have at length been sue
cessful in their attempts on the life of
Alexander the H., the late Gar Of Russia.
This last and successful attempt was the
sixth attempt that has been made TO take
his life.
Under the late Car the Serfs were libe.
rated in 1861. His reign has been noted
for other measures, that gave merely
enough liberty to the people, to make them
dangerous. For the last ten years, Russia
has been in y state Of internal commotion,
that was and is liable at any time 10 break
out into bloody strife. The Russian people
as whole, are perhaps the most ignorant,
the most corrupt, and the most conscience
less people in the world,-at least among
nations that pretend to any degree of civ
ilization. The Nihlistic societies, which
have grown to be stronger than the govern.
ment itself, are seeking change, without
knowing or caring what they going to
change to. Their object seems only to tear
down and destroy existing forms of govern
ment and society. They have no definite
or intelligent plan marked out for the es.
ta6lishmtnt Of future government. They
are not tit for RepublitUnism. More than
twO'thirds the population are mere ignUr.
ant than the negroes of our own couRtry.
1t looks as though within the next ten
years, Russia is destined to pass through a
season Of internal blood shed. 1t looks as
though there were dark day of horror
close at hand. 1t may be that when the
dark day has passed, the Russian people
will be stronger, wiser and happier than
they now are.
The new czar is reputsd to be strongly
anti German in sentiment. Russia has in
the direction of Riga strong German
population, and her German citizens have
pushed themselves into military and politi
cal Offices. Against these the prrjudices o.
the czar are said to be strongly excited
he is strongly Russian in feeling, and al
his ideas of reform are in harmony witt
the young Russian, and not the German
element. The influence of all this may l.,
very great on the future of Russia Th,
dead czar was friendly to the G-rman MS
When, on several occasions, Bismarck am
| GOrtscbakof were at swords points, an,
ready to involve the two nations in wal
the friendliness of tue TWO emperors pre-
vented it. This influence is now gone,
the new czar shall carry his personal pre- I
dices inte the political administration c
his country. 1t is stated that he will MOI
do this but Germany is evidently trouble,
over the possibility that he will. VERY re
Gently there appeared pamphlet in Berli
discussing the increased strength and OIL
gsnizatisn Of the French army, as comp a
ed with the German army. 1t gives pre-
cedence to that Of France. II also argue
that in case of war Germany must coun
on Russia as foe. France. Russia, Ital
and Schleswig are regarded as probable Al
tsgonists OF Germany, and Austria as he
only ally. II is also well known that Bi
marck regards the predictions of the ne
czar as likely to be influential in the futur
policy of his government. OF course Tia
German element, entrenched in Office
Russia, will struggle hard to maintain i
supremacy but war with Germany wi
be very popular in Russia, and once pr
cipitated will cempel the German Russian
to join in or be expelled the coun tr
While Alexander II lived there was r
real danger of such a war; but with Franc
eager to paw off old scores, and a new en-
{ peror in Russia hostile to Germany, it
easy to see that complications which shu
t lead to war are entirely possible. Thus ii
+: political results of the czars death may
' of the very gravsst character.