Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-14
Death Of the Gar Of Russia.

Death Of the Car Of Russia
Our dispatches this morning announce
that, at length, the Nihilists Of Russia
have succeeded in taking the life Of the
Gar Alexander AS he was returning
from parade yesterday In his carriage
a bomb was exploded beneath the
vehicle. This proved harmless to the
Emperor, who alighted, but as he reached
the ground a second shell was exploded
beneath his feet with fatal effect. His
legs were shattered and he was 30
severely wounded that he died.
Car Alexander assembled the throne
March I'd, 1855, and his reign began in
turmoil and blood His father Nicholas
left him the Crimean war as legacy,
and he continued the strife against the
allied forces of England, France, Tur-
key and Sardinia for a year, peace hav-
ing been declared on the Both Of March,
1855, and on the 7th Of September fol
lowing he was solemnly crowned at
Moscow. The troubles which beset him
at the outset of his reign have continued
almost without cessation during its
continuance. notwithstanding that he
made one of the most liberal SOW
ereigns Russia has ever had.
He began by emancipating Russia
from the military rule established by his
father. He considerably increased popu-
lar liberty in his dominions, gave new
impulse to industry and trade, and, at
the same time, sought to extend and en-
courage foreign commerce in every
way. Besides this, he removed
the restrictions thrown around his
subjects which prevented them
from visiting foreign lands, granted
a general amnesty to political offenders,
recalled exiles from Siberia, and inaugu-
rated vast system of internal improve
ments. But the greatest reform OF his
reign was the emancipation of the serfs,
which he decreed March 3, 1861, and
carried out in the following two years.
1t seems, however, that, despite Alex
ander's earnest efforts to reform the fla
grant evils and tyrannies of previous
Cars, and to ameliorate the condition Of
his subjects, his efforts were not proper
ly appreciated, and, at any rate, he failed
to make himself popular with them. His
reforms were checked by the Polish in
surrection in January, 1868, which was
crushed out in 1864, and was followed by
rigorous measures against Polish nation
ality. Attempts upon his life were
made in April, 1866, and again during
the Paris Exposition of 1857. Neverthe
less, these did not prevent him from re-
summing his work of reform in 1870, and
he abolished the hereditary character Of
the priesthood, recognized the army
system, and inaugurated great educa-
tional measures. In 1867 he parted with
his American possessions by the sale of
Alaska, and during the FrancO-German
war secured the decentralization of the
Black Sea. He also commanded his
troops in person during the late Russo
Turkish war, in which he signally de-
feated his enemies.
The several efforts made upon his life
of late induced him to abandon his
ideas of reform and ameliorating the
civil condition of his subjects, and
caused him to establish strong and
despotic government throughout his
dominions, so that all suspicious and
disloyal persons might be watched,
arrested and summarily punished.
1t was all to no avail, however.
Attempts at his assassination were re-
peatedly made and persisted in until
after numerous failures, they have final
ly proven successful. He will be sue
ceeded by his eldest living son, Alexan-
der AlexsndroVitch, whose political SEN
timents are known to have been consid-
erably at variance with those of his
father No one will envy him the turbu.
lent and excited empire which he in
herits.
This assassination will probably be
attended with manifold results. 1t may
excite the Nihilistic element In other en-
pires, and incite them to renewed exer-
tions sgainst the lives Of the sovereigns
of Europe. On the other hand, it will
likely result in much more strin-
gent and rigorous measures than
heretofore being taken to crush
out Communism and Socialism. In
Russia especially we may expect to see
an iron rule, and the destruction of all
liberty established, unless the new Gar
shall, by radical concessions to the Nihi-
lists, attempt to make his own life more |
secure by conciliating that disaffected |
and desperate element in his empire.