News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-09-30
A Brief Review of Modern Eu.
rODean HiStOry-RuSSia

ropean History-Russia
With all other nations the so-calec
modern age dates from the last half o
the fifteenth century when the fall o
ConstantinopIe, the invention of printing
and the discovery of America opened q
new world of thought as well as new
physical continents.
Russia did not begin to emerge into
the new life of Europe till the following
century. For hundreds of years her VA
tive population had been subject to the
inroads Of the harbaric hordes of Europe.
These now had receded but had left a
deep impress upon the country, and Rus
STA of the 10Th century was far hehiid
the rest of Europe in civilization. Dur-
ing nearly half of that century the ipte r
of the kingdom was Ivan ", approI RI
ately surnamed THE Terrible" Dur ng
the reign of this cruel but able monarch
| Russia sought to extend it's border TO
| the sea. Though it was not strong enough
to achieve great success in this line at
enterprise of English sailors combined
| with the policy of the Russian monarch
TO establish the harbor of Archangel,
Russias northern seaport of which we
past mouth.
Almost at the close of this reign began
work of exploration and conquest to
the eastward which resulted about 80
years later in the addition of the territory
of Siberia to Russia. 1t was as import
ant for that kingdom as our own explora-
ton and settlement of the regions west of
the Mississippi have been to the United
States.
The present imperial house of Russia,
that OF Romanoff, has been upon the
throne during great part of this modern
period of Russian history, having held it
since 1913. During the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries the most noted rul-
ers were Peter Q6S2-1725) and Catherine
Q762-1796) both called 1.-THE Great"
Their greatness consisted in their ability
to increase the material wealth of their
empires than in moral qualities, in many
of which indeed, they are grossly def
cient. During the reign of Catherine
Russia gained complete control of the re-
gion known aS the Crimea, which had
been partially conquered by Peter. This
gave Russia greater commercial oppor-
tI1p nj al nj ho bioI of
invasion of Russia from Asia. 1t was
during the reign of Catherine also that
Poland was disme mbered by certain con-
federated nations of Europe and share
OF the spoil fell to Russia.
At the beginning of the 10Th century,
Russia, under Alexander l, had an I'M
portant part in the wars against Napole- |
on; the beginning of his fall dates from
his retreat from Moscow in 1912.
In 1856, under Nicholas l Russia was at
war in the Crimea against the allied pow
ers of England, France and Turkey and
suffered defeat. About 20 years later, in |
1877, it entered upon the war with Tur
key, which would have ended in the cap |
ture of Constantinope but for the inter
vention of the other Great Powers of |
Europe. This was during the reign of |
Alexander II. best known in history for |
his liberation of the serfs in 1861, two |
years previous to our own Proclamation |
of Emancipation.
From 1881, when Alexander was assas- |
sinated by Nihilst, 60 the Russo-Jap- |
anese War of 1904-05 Russia was much |
occupied with domestic troubles, with |
the suppression of attempts to overthrow
the government; with the struggle to up
hold autocratic power. Its rulers since
1881 have been Alexander III, who died !
in 1894, and his son, the present Gar
Nicholas ii, who assembled the throne in
the year last mentioned. During his
reign the war with Japan has resulted in
the extension of the forms of free govern
ment, in the establishment of the Duma
or National Parliament and 10 promises
of a greater degree Of civil and religious
freedom. The extent to which these
promises are kept is yet to be seen. The
great,war at present going on will surely
give them test.
JOHN ELLIOT BOWMAN.