RUSSIA'S DELIVERANCE FROM THE TARTAR YOKE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 111, 15 November 1879, Page 2

RUSSIA'S DELIVERANCE FROM THE TARTAR YOKE.

In Juno of tbo nost year Russia will celebrate the (our hundredth anniversary of her deliveranco from the Tartar yoke. Previous to tbo thirtconth century tho civilization of Russia was not inferior to that of any European country. Thu Government of Russia was representative; all tho provinces had self-government; Npvjjorou, Pskoff and Viatica were froo reptiblic.s, aud mumburs of tho famous Hanseatio Loaguo; there ware many ftohools aud au advanced national literature and art; neither slaves nor Jiorfs were yet known; tho land was communal property, and tho labour was .performed on tho cooperative plan. Russia had every prosperity and projjrpw. But the "hordos of ilonffols appeared ou the eastern horizon. Millions of slaves concentrated around one master, iind controlled by one slroiijj will, futlied impetuously on tlw prosperous SalVouiu fjiatc, swept

away its cities and nuusaCred multitudes of ,its free citizsijs, wljilc-those who survived wore niaitev'imbjjiijits of the great ; Prmco of Moscow; yfeo became a dtopotio rfrler.; Them." Russia was reduced to tji? great Khan, who. despotically, ruled"' over it for two and p half **UBlflittw'--'lt was the Tartar yoke.thst nude- Russia/what Bhe is now. She had been a civilized, self-governed, European country; sho came out of the Tartars hands but the yoke is still felt among the peasantry; there are misery and despoir, an'd th'o wailing songs of the . Mongol .time? aro hoard ; among the aristocracy thcro aro Eastern luxury and Tartar despotism and cruelty.' Four hundred- years -havo passed since Russia 'resumed her old place as an independent Stnte; but even that long poriod of time has not sufficed for her to regain her ancient, free political system. The 23rd of Juno, 1880, might well bo celebrated by the whole of Europe, for fourteen centuries ago politics and civilization were saved; in the thirteenth contury Europe was threatened with u barbaric invasion perhaps' even mow dangerous than that of the cost of her own liberty; and this is the most significant fact to be acknowledged at next year's great Russian festival.