New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-01
EUROPE.
The Contrast between the Russian and Ger
man PrincipIe Of Life.

| able TO organize a dominion over Europe-can her
culture maintain its ground, when it comes in con-
tact with that of the West
TIE peculiarly of the Russian culture will be-
come apparent by comparing it with other forms OF
| culture.
In Rome and Greece the idea Of Right was de-
veloped as the foundation OF the State. The an
tique State existed, it were, of ITSELF through
certain necessity Of nature,-its existence de-
pended as little on human choice as the Deity
himself who protected it, and constituted, as it
were, it's soul hence Rome and Athens were as
necessary in their existence as the goddess Mi
nerva. or Jupiter Captolinus. The only internal
question of these States how far individuals
should take part in the concerns of the State.
Originally the State and with the State the gods,
belonged to the patrican races,-gradually it be-
cane the common affair Of all the citizens
actual res psblicd (commOn.wealthl- hall the MEM
bers we're equal-this equality OF rights was intro
duced and sanctioned in a series of compromises,
but as this equality was rea ised, that is TO say,
as the State itself threatened in a vital point
by democratic risings and contentions-it brought
to bear upon the masses It's character AZ neces-
sity OF fate-.he Empire arose,-the Emperor was,
a. we might say, Fate incarnate, who kept the
humhled patricans and the emancipated pebeans
in order and tranquility.
The Germans have dethroned Fate. They re-
cognise no external power, no authority above
themselves; everything with them is the work Of
their own WILL whatever the German is, he is
through himself,-thc feeling of his own honor
guides him in his determinations the feeling of
his own worth attends him in his actions, and
does not leave him in relations, which he never
enters but with his lre,-wu
The German States to which also the Roman
belong, since it was through the addition of the
German, that they first obtained coherent ex-
istence in modern times, 90 not exist like the an
cent States through natural necessity; but
they are free creation, they were founded in the
exercise of consciousness, for they are the work
Of conquest.
The possessions of the German accordingly are
his own work, his personal right, obtained by the
agency OF his sword
Conquerors are originally on an equality, but
they voluntarily give precedence to their leader,
and after the work of conquest is completed, they
render 20 him the same voluntary obedience.
Now what supports this bond between leaders
and followers
What is the basis Of the eudal hierarchy
The sentiment Of honor is this bond, this
guarantee in his relation to the feudal lord, the
German respects his own free determination.
Hence the Germans form emphstically the
nobility in the history of the world.
No general conceptions, no fate, no abstract or
metaphy steal ideas, hold together the German
feuda State. The German knows no father land,
no community, no collective center, which rose
above him without his consent, and brought him
into sube ction-he has no Rome-no Athens to
demand the sacrifice of bis individuality He ths
contrary personal In all thlngs-nothlDg exists for him
but what Is personal His service 10 personal bic au
thory s personal would lose his personality, that
IT, hs all, IT, In any Of bis relations, whether OF com
mand or OF service, he we're TO damage his honor.
union with the antique nations and 10 their
Transformation into Romans, that the Germans first OBJ
tsired the ancient and especially the Roman conception
of country and fsihersnd and subjected themselves TO
universal and abstract Ideas and Is the sans In
France and Spain where, In the of the Middle
Ases compact nation ales and frm States were Rradu
ally formsd.
Modern Germany, the contrary where the an
Client Germanic tribes have been preserved n the great
est purity has been able 10 attain to this unity OF
State and fsherland. Even now as 10 well known, tits
question, and political question at that WHAT the
Fa,herlsnd of the Germanr
While the ancien. Greeks and Romans lived for the
State that 10 to say, for an abstract idea sacrificing
themselves 20 1t, Internationally If necessary, and
while the Germans acknowledged only personal rela-
ions In the life OF the Russian people both principles
are united In the ssrletea manner.
The family the commune, the nation the vita,
p1laclpes Of the Russan,o much do they enter into
the substance Of his e that according to bis original
constitution he could hold property except through
the family or the commune The State 10 not hs work
but the work Of God, the Russian God. But this sub
stance for the Russian is lncsrnse In person. In the
Emperor, who Is the father of the individual of the
family, of the commune, and of the nation.
The reverse of the Greek and Roman idea is the su-
uremacy of the State TO which the Russian submits un
condinonay but the State Is concentrated 10 the En-
peror as II were In the Universal Father.
The State Is an abstract power, TO which the Russian
must sacrifice himself without. hesitation but Il 10 q
uaernsl power at the same time-In short the dlstin
gushing vital principle Of the Russian the pstsrchal
sentiment.
But the patriArchal fertmentls In the most intimate
combiu alton elth the absoutism of the idea OF tbs
State This combustion 10 realized In the person OF the
Emperor who cannot say with Louis XIV, 81 am the
State but 81 am the father Of my people,
In Russia there are distinguished, properly we can
Only say rich, noble and princey famllles-but wha
difference betu cen them sOd the German nobility
They have not created the STATE for II exists through
the appointment of God aud Nature, and exercises u
authority by the mouth OF the Emperor If they Wish TO
be ANYTHING 1t can only be accomplished BY means OF
the state for the State is everything, and outside OF IT,
and It's personal existence in the Emperor, nothing can
rossess an Independent value The Russian nobility IS
e,,e ntsly only vassal nobility, and u follows IRON
the prir cIple of Russian life, that family from when
DO one for the space Of three generations has devoted
himself to the State, loses It's NOBILITY
The Emperor Paul, who even In his wllde' ezra '.