Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-03-30
THE NEW EMPEROR.

Alexander Alexandroyitz, as Alex
andcr ILL.,, has issued hisimperial mani
iesto and now rules as Autocrat of all
the Russians in the stead OF his father,
The new Car is liberal in his tenden,
cies, and it is claimed That he will in
troduce such reform in the govern.
ment as the conservative element in
the councils of his late father have
been striving to bring about for years
and were insisting upon at the time OF
the assassination. Within tho past
two measures of the very first import
auce were granted by Alexander H.
the abolition of the hated system Of
irresponsible and tyrannical police gov.
ernment, known as the Third Section,
and the abolition of the tax on salt,
and it is believed thas 1t would have
required but little more persuasion on
the part of Melikoff to have induced
the Gar to accede TO q measure the
demand for which is the sincere out
growth of great popular dcsire--the
PRONUNCIATION OF decree for the as.
sembling of representative body TO
be constituted sort Of parliament. In
this demaud the Nihilists have taken
no part. Their theory has been to
break down the existing government
in Russia beyond that, to the estab.
lishment Of any other upon its RUNS,
they have not gone, But the aspira-
tions of the Russian people lave be-
como universal, although in this they
have not as yet indicated any desire to
curtail the power or authority OF the
Gar. They want some sort cf body
representing the empire--tho people
of the empire-to be assembled 80 that
the Emperor may understand .he ne
cessities and the desires of his Subjects,
and not be at the mercy Of nercen.
ary and corrupt Court The late Gar
had until recently refused to ac,edo to
this desire, principally it is generally
believed, that he would not undertake
any reforms while the attempts upon
his life continued. But lately the pre-.
liminary steps had been taken and a
commission appointed to arrange the
details. The young Emperor now
ascends the throne. He has indicated
by his friendly and cordial relations
with Melkof and his utterances upon
many occasions that ho favored n more
liberal and progressive policy than bis
father had adopted, and much is ox.
pected of him by tho world at large
and by the Russian people. The new
Emperor is Of harshor character than
his father; his mind is stern and his
will is strong enough to support him
under very trying circumstances, and
he is beyond question man of marked
and remarkable ability. His position
is, however, one at which the stoutest
heart and the most splendid intellect
might well feel appalled,, Il is not
probable that he has any disposition
to yield to a softening policy toward
the dreadful sect which compassed tho
death ofhis father, and which threatens
the death of his family, but it is hoped
and believed that he has tho disposition
and will have the courage to carry to
its legitimate conclusion the policy of
MelikoG, the logical result of which
will be the establishment of q repro
sentative monarchy in the most ex.
tensivo empire in the world. 1t re-
mains, however, to be seen in how far
reliance can bo placed upon the liberal
expressions of a Crown Prince after he
himself assumes the reins of power.
But what Alexander III. may fail to do
to assist its progress, Or however much
the bloody fanaticism of the Nihilists
may fail to do to assist its progress,
or however much the bloody ianaticism
of the Nihilists may do to retard it,
liberty in Rlssia will grow apace and
finally prevail