The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 364, 17 March 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1881.

The persistently determined'attempt upon the life of the Russian Emperor has at length borne its bitter fruit. On the 14th of this month his life was destroyed by a bom,b shell—the second thrown by £he same individual on, this occasion. Nihilism, which some thought had been Vfip«d out, still smouldered in the breast of many, even most respectable Russian families. How could it be. otherwise ? Russian authorities, instead of trying to

• conciliate the populace by making concessions, used the arm of powei'j an d dragged members of families—-some of ■whom held high to the dungeons and the mines. Tyrants are ever blind ; tbp histories, flf most of them show that they were cspght in theft own tfnp, an<} generally th e 'i dptermination to carry things with a high hand brought then} sppedy ruin. The late Emperor began well, but despotism is inherent in every Russian ruler’s breast. Communication with other and more enlightened nations opeppd the eyes of $e people to, their own state of servility, and the crue| treatment of many of their Irfends and relations engendered a spirit of revenge not; easily destroyed in a semibarbarous race* What changes wiU be brought about by the murder of the Ozar it would be impossible to state. It is more than possible that what would have pleased the populace s yeqr- or so ago would not be accepted now. Doubtless the more intelligent class will have seen and studied the workings of those nations whose form of Government is Republic. They can compare the liberty of the subject ii} those countries with the highhanded rule carr}e4 out in their own. They can also see the difference between a President, removable at will, and a King or Emperor, who is set over the people with absolute control of their affairs, and in no way responsible or accountable for their actions. The enormous waste of money, also, and the profligacy of the Royal Court is no secret to them. It would not, therefore, surprise us to hear that the Russian people are going in for the complete destruction of monarchical establishments. There is no denying that even in British settlements ipany are getting tired of a show of pomp and splendour while many of their fellow creatures can hardly find the necessaries of life. The Russian people are a very patient and submissive race, but the way their nobles have lorded it over them has aypused a spirit of resistance that we believe will not now be easily crushed, if it can he crushed at all, We believe the determination to take away the Czar’s life was not cherished through qny personal ill-will, so much as a desire to bring about a change in which liberal principles will have a more rapid growth. It is a question, howevei, whether Russia is ripe for this change. We doubt, very much if she is yet sufficiently advanced to be capable of exercising so great a power as they demandThe son of the late Empress was not, for along time, on good terms witli his father, chiefly through his carelessness and disregard of the feelings of the late Empress. It has also been hiute4 that be fraternised with the people, but qpless he is a man with n very strong mind qnd will, and also lias himself seen the necessity of more liber d laws, it is ipoye than likely that he will try to hold the reins of power with as firm a grasp as his predecessors, and thus carry on the game system of oppression and cruelty which despots have blindly, in all ages, thought vvas a necessity for security of their throne. The moderation shown by that volatile people the Drench, under a Republican Government, lias doubtless dpne much to bring republicanism into favor. Even in Britain it has had consideiable influence on the minds of many of the middle and lower classes, and it is possible, if any accident should at this moment put an end to the happy reign of Queen Victoria, that the Prince of Wales might have some difficulty in ascending the throne of the British Empire. We trust, however, that England will never sully her fair name by such barbarous deeds as Eastern and Northern nations indulge in. It is a remarkable fact that the good the perpetrators expected would result by these cruel acts has often bem frustrated by these very acts. It is therefore possible that that fatal blow just struck at the Emperor of Russia may lead to a firmer rivetting of their chains instead of bringing about that liberty that doubtless was anticipated.