A NATION RISEN FROM SLAVERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3236, 5 June 1911, Page 2

A NATION RISEN FROM SLAVERY.

THE JUBILEE OF RUSSIAN FREEDOM. A TSAR’S GREAT ACT OF JUSTICE

One of the mightiest events of modern times has been celebrated with great rejoicing by the Russian people, 'phew luave reached the jubilee of thear liberty, the fiftieth anniversary of their liberation from slavery. It is hard to believe, yet men now living can remember when every peasant in Russia was a slave, as much the property of Ids master as the horses and cattle ond ploughs which that master bought or sold with: Ids farm. In 1861 the Emperor Alexander 11. was ruling. He was a strange, strong man, a generous tyrant, noble and good in great things, harsh, and) mean in others. _ He brctoded long upon the conditions of his people. Could they be made free men and women, these people who were slaves like the negroes on the cotton plantations 1 of America,? The nobles and wealthy landowners nearly all opposed the thought, hut the Tsar signed a manifesto, and the shackles fell from 23,000,000 human beings. ‘ Well might he go fto rest happy that night, saying: “This has been the best day of my Life.”

Had lie lived he would l have (done stall greater good for the country. There~wais sot© discontent in the land. Evil men, and good men who had .turned in despair to- ©vil, became Nihilists, and tried to slay him with bombs. Twice they tried] andi failed 1 , and he piersecuted them without mercy. Meanwhile he went on (planning to give the people a Parliament, and had a deed drawn up empowering the people to have their elections. The morning came for signing it. He left- the signature until he should return from a military review. That very morning he was murdered, and the document was never signed. His son succeeded’ him, and did nothing to better the lot of the ;poor. The present Tsar, however, in October, 1905, at last gave Russia her Parliament, and it was the peasant members of this body who took tihe foremost place in the rejoicings at the pubilee. These men are tne sons 1 of slaves; they are now among the laiw-jgivers of Russia. Tlhie people of Russia are still far from happy. They are oppressed by officials, and goaded into wrong-doing. Still, to harve advanced from l slavery to law-making in fifty years is am enormous improvement, anal a nation which has seen such wonders done in its midst must still hope and) trust that the better times which it deserves will some day come.