The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-03-18

Nihllism Ii triumphant. Alexander Ii. Is
dead. The most progressive sovereign Of
Of Europe, the first great reformer who has
sat on the throne Of the Cars, who has adj
vanced Russia from fierce despotism to
place among the liberal powers, who disen-
thralled and emaucipated the millions Of
Russian serfs as Lincoln did the millions of
American slaves, who established and built
up great national systems of public improve
ments az Napoleon did in France, who was
developing the industrial and commercial
energies of his people rs Dom Pedro Is do
Ing Ina Brazil, and whose presence on the
throne was perpetual guarantee of power,
prosperity and progress to Russia has died by
the hand of The assassin as did Lincoln. He
is the fourth sovereign Of Russia that In Its
thousand years of existence has died by as
sassination, and this, the successful one, was
the fifth attempt upon his life. The ruler of
the largest connected empire of the world,t the
sovereign of 5000, 900 people, with nearly
million soldiers under his command, has not
known peaceful hour for fifteen years, and
the head of the Greek Church has been slam
almost at the doors Of his palace. Russia,the
land of horrors, where the adopted son Of the
sovereign who introduced Christianity muir
dered his three brothers to make stepping
stone to the throne of his benefactor, has lost
none of Its prestige of blood.
Alexander III. was sixty-three years Of age
and had reigned twenty-six years, having as
sumed the sceptre on the death of his father
near the close Of the Crimean war. Although
the hope Of Russia-control of the Sea of
Marmora-did not have fruition during his
life, the military history of his reign is a
proud one, as England, France and Turkey
can well attest. II Is hard to force exit
through gate with half the guns of Europe
trained behind it. During our civil war the
heart of no sovereign beyond the seas beat in
such warm sympathy with the Union as did
that of Alexander, and i'm the darkest days of
that struggle, when McClellan's army lay
beaten back on the peninsula, when other
powers were doubtful or inimical and Eng
'Sh pt'ahsNso NttI sAohIibB ahV sSast as
imperial Russian squadron rode at anchor in
the Potomac within sight of the Capitol, at
testing with gun and color and friendly cour-
tesies that Russia had no divided sympathies.
Were Lincoln alive to-day there would be no
sadder heart at the tidings from the Neva
than his. But the great emancipators have
met on another shore. and while Nihilism
has accomplished one of Its purposes, we
doubt not Russia Is buried in gloom as pro-
found as that which Swallowed America when
the immortelles lay upon the breast of the
Martyr President.
Alexander III. has succeeded to the throne
at the age of 30, and Alexis, who visited the
United States some years since, Is next in
succession. The change of Cars is not one
of good augury for the people of Russia.
Much Of the enmity toward the dead Gar
existed among the nobility whom he Offend
ed by emancipating their serfs, and IL is be-
lieved the inspiration and force Of Nihilism
was In that class rather than in the poorer
classes. With this element ii is stated Alex
ander LII. is in sympathy, and that it is hos
tile TO the Germans between whom and the
late Gar the warmest friendship existed.
These facts indicate two results-a more
rigorous government Of the Russian people
and trouble with Germany. If, as is pre-
stunned, this murder was the work Of Nihl-
lists, and Nihilism Is of the people, they have
slain their best friend; If ii is Of the nobility
their enmity to Germany will bear bitter
fruits; ifit is of both, Russia will have sad
reason to remember the cause of the assassin
has never yet triumphed. The omens are
not suspicious for Russia under the new re-
gime, but, In remembrance of old friendships
-~reff ~eff--vrnfytrss ~tr-r--fs ~frv' --ynruvny-
with the deed and that the son will emulate
the nobler deeds and better aspirations Of his
father. A@ '@-