The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF

TIMES.—Among the results of the past year's
events one of the most worthy of notice is the re-
sumption by Russia of her old attitude with regard
to the Western Powers, and tLe recovery of some-
thing of her old importance. The Polish insurrec-
tion, though it has tried the resources of the Em-
pire, has roused, it is said, a spirit deeper and more
patriotic than was produced even by the Crimean
War, and has given to Russia the opportunity of
standing with erect form, bold glance, and biting
words iu front of France and England, to the in-
tense pride of her own people, and perhaps the ad-
miration of a large class in Europe. It may be that
the Russians are exulting prematurely, and that
the destruction of a nation is not to be accomplished
even by well-appointed armies opposed to ill-armed
and half-starving bands. But at present the trumpet
of victory is being loudly sounded at St. Petersburg.
The Rnssians believe that they are at the close of
the last of the revolutions. They are inclined to
repeat boastingly the despairing exclamation of the
patriot, " Finis Polonce !" This achievement the
circumstances give, in their opinion, a greater lus-
tre. They have shown their ability to withstand
not only the so-called European revolution, but also
the alliance of the most powerful and well-organised
States. They have forced the acknowledgment from
the English that they do not fight to support their
remonstrances, or do more when the Vienna Treaties
aro violated than peaceably advise the observing of
them. They have made it clear that France with-
out a European coalition cannot touch them in
Poland, and they think they have once more asserted
their old supremacy over the counsels of Austria.
These feelings are manifest in the general tone of
the St. Petersburg press, and they speak plainly in
the utterances of Prince Gortschakoff who has been
the chief actor in the diplomatic contests of the year.
There is a club in St. Petersburg called " The Eng-
lish Club." It is not, as its name would imply, a
place of meeting for Englishmen, but an assembly
of Russian aristocrats, and among the latest mem-
bers admitted was Prince Gortschakoff. A ban-
quet was given on the occasion of his election,
and of course took the form of a political de-
menstration. Prince Gortschakoff says in his
speech that his acts have only been the faith-
ful and conscientious execution of the orders
of the Emperor. He had only the enviable
honour of being the organ of him to whom the
dignity and glory of Russia are more dear then any
other. " All Russia, enraptured, raised its voice in
support of our recent replies, of which the object
was to confound and repel pretentious attempts on
our national dignity." This is, we believe, a true
representation of the feelings roused by the late
diplomatic victory, and the general success which
has attended the operations in Poland. For the first
time since the Crimean War, it has been given to
the Russians to employ their political and military
talents in a contest with foreign natioas. The Czar
has bean during that time engaged in internal re-
forms which, while they have gained for himself a
distinguished name in the annals of Royalty, and
have laid the foundations of enduring prosperity and
power for the Empire, do not satisfy those who look
for the mere brilliant victories of the pen and sword
to which Russia was accustomed. Count Orloff
Davidoff gave expression to the general feeling
when he reminded the guests that when Prince
Gortschakoff was placed at the head of affairs
Russia had just terminated " a severe war, glorious
but unfortunate, and the general belief was spread
throughout Europe that our country was enfeebled,
that she had lost her prestige for a long period, and
that it only remained for tier to look with power-
less vexation on the political scene." How, through
the labours of Prince Gortschakoff, that belief has
been dissipated in Europe is the subject of the
speaker's congratulations, and has brought the
Prince the vast popularity which be at present
enjoys in Russia. How much the Russians have
been humiliated by the events of the war of 1854
may be judged from the enthusiasm they show for
the retrieval of their position now. The ten years,
they assert, have not been wasted, and their coun-
try,", though it undoubtedly presses less on the
thoughts of Europe than in the time of the Em-
peror Nicholas, is, in the opinion of the Russians,
not less powerful than of old. The first taste of
victory, though it be only that of words, over foreign
nations is to them inexpressibly delightful, and
will, no doubt, incline them to follow with eager-
ness wherever their Sovereign may seek to lead
them. It is impossible not to have some respect
and admiration for a people that shows such a spirit
as the Russians. They are especially dangerous to
Europe:through the union of stubbornness and der
614 in their character—through the power of
resisting doggedly any antagonist, while they are
' like children in the hands of the Monarch they
reverence. Nor can we suppose that there is much
of bravado in the tone which is now general
throughout Russian society. Never was there a
time when it was more likely that they would make
a firm stand against an invader. Prince Gortscha-
koff says in his speech,—" Russia has lavished en-
couragements so flattering on the writer of these
replies that the reflection is induced, If this feeble
manifestation of the will of the Cz ir has produced
such an impression, what will Russia not do if God
sends new trials, and the Emperor makes a solemn
appeal to the nation ?" The meaning of this clearly
is that the Russian Government would not be ter-
rified by any threats of war from maintaining its
rights in Poland by the sword, and that it would see
without shrinking another advance of the French
legions on the Empire, even though they were again
supported by the armies of Germany. In this, we
think, Prince Gortschakoff does not speak more then
the deliberate purpose of his Government—a pur-
pose in which it will be fanatically supported by all
orders of the people. If there is one feeling that
possesses the Russians more than another, it seems
to be the desire to wipe out what they consider to
be the unmerited disgrace of the Turkish war, That
war brought on them a calamity far worse than the
surrender of Ismail and the disarmament of Sebas-
topol. It took away from the reputation of the
Russian considerably. From the gigantic battles
of the First Napoleon's time, and from the successes
of the Russians against all their neighbours, the
army came to be looked upon by many as, man for
man, equal to the best in Europe. The Russian
was not credited with the brilliancy and dash of
the Frenchman, nor with all the strength and
endurance of the Englishman, but it was con-
sidered that he possessed a solidity little less than
that which is attributable to ourselves, and that
ableofficers and first-rate discipline made the Rus-
sian regiments almost as formidable in an attack as
our neighbours. The late war dissipated much of
this reputation, and humiliated the Russians by
showing them unsuccessful even against the Turks
in long and important operations. Then the siege
of Sebastopol, though the military qualities of the
Russian soldier were there more favourably dis-
played than on other fields of the war, was in its
result unfortunate, and tended to lower the respect
in which the Empire was held, not only by European
States, but by the semi-barbarous tribes on the fron-
tier. It is not for the advantage of Russia that any
race,small or great, with which she has to deal should
be able to taunt her with the successes of her
enemies, and even as a matter of policy she could
not easiiy yield to demands involving not only a
recognition of the right of France and England to
interfere with her, but also the success of an insur-
rection among hereditary rebels. For these reasons
we think that the replies which Prince Gortschakoff
made during the past year were but the indications
of a settled policy, and that the Czar's Government
will do nothing which can be construed by Europe
or his own people into a concession to the Western
Powers. In the meantime the operations for the
suppression of the Polish revolt are carried on with
as much rigour as ever. The Government thinks
that amid the severe winter of that land it is im-
possible for the insurgents to make their home in
the forests, and that accordingly the revolt must
languish during the next two or three months, and
probably die out entirely. What will really happen
we can hardly say; but it may be observed that
there prophecies of the ending of wars either through
the heat or cold of the place of operations have
almost always been falsified. Oar correspondent
says that the Polish bands have not yet suffered
very much from the cold, and that it is scarcely to
be doubted that they can maintain' themselves in
small bands till the return of spring. It is pro-
bable that three months hence the rebellion may
still be active, and then it will be for the Poles, the
Czar, and the three military monarchies of the
Continent to decide the oldest and the most difficult
of European questions.
POST.—A mediator seldom secures the gratitude
of any of the disputants whose differences he at-
tempts to arrange, and Great Britain must, there
fore, not be surprised at finding that she has excited
the indignation of Germany, es well as the dissa-
tisfaction of Denmark, by the course she has pur-
sued in reference to the Schleswig Holstein dis-
pute. That the Government of the Kin°. of Danmark
should at the present moment be loud in their com-
plaints in consequence of the pressure put upon them
by the English Cabinet would at least intelli-
gible. It was mainly in compliance with English
counsels that the King of Denmark evacuated
Holstein without striking a blow, It was mainly
because England relied on the good faith of the
leading German Powers, and because she trusted
to their promises not to exceed the limits of Federal
jurisdiction, that Denmark, notwithstanding her
misgivings, acted on the advice which her too cre-
dulous ally gave her. The event proved how well-
founded were the apprehensions of the Danish
Government. Federal execution, in the true
meaning of the term, has now taken place. Under
Federal execution, properly so called, Commis-
, eioners administer dominion in, the Lame of the.