Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-15

ffIe empire, covering more than 6.ooo,-
600 OF square miles, and ernoraeing
according 10 the Almandeh de Gotha, 3
population Of 81, ,94e. .266 souls. A pop
ulation so scanty, over q surface SO
vast. necessarily requires a large milf
tary force to be kept constantly on foot
for police purposes; and the Russian
army, when upon peace-footing, IS
barely adequate TO this end. The nom
inal number of troops for the service is
785, 900 men, from which the very best
authorities require US to deduct one-half
to arrive at the actual force. Divide
This force over the immense circunl-Po-
larferritories of the Car, and the milf
tary arm will be fairly estimated, and
lose its exaggerated value. Poland alone
contains nearly fourth Of the popula-
ton of the empire; and demands the
constant presence OF a large portion OF
the army 10 preserve the Russian do
mfnion intact. The war footing of
the army embraces nomfnaily ,00O, 600
men. There is, however, no reason to
take these figures as at all near the true
mark. Russia has never been able TO
place more than 320, 900 men in the
field; and these for the most part badly
disciplined, and without any of the in
diyidual and national spirit requisite to
great military success. The American
militia, numbering 1900 600, composes
an army Of infinitely greater power,
than either the peace or war establish
ment of the Gar. The fact that Rus
sia has meyer achieved any one great
battle in history is one evidence OF her
martial weakness: and others are, her
struggle with Turkey, her wars in Po-
land and in the Caucasus; all evincing
a lamentable absence Of science and
courage and effectiveness. In the Hun
garian contest, there were 10000
troops engaged; but it is well known
the decisive battles lay between the
Austrians and Magyars; while the Rus
slams were only servicable in dividing
and cooping up portions of the Hunga-
rian army.
The Russian Marine is formidable in
the number of vessels, but in all other
respects contemplate. II consists OF
forty-fiye ships of the line, thirty frigates
and due proportion of smaller vessels.
1t is little remarkable that the navy Of
Catherine ], "sixty years since." was
greatly Superior in numbers and eff
cheney. The advance of the mercan-
tile interest has been attended by stea-
dy contraction of the arm necessary to
protect it.
II is impossible to arrive at the fnan-
cial strength of the empire. Every
Efforts made to conceal it. The Gov
eminent never publishes any statement
of finances, and we can only base our
eoniectures on the unavoidable disclo-
sures of an accidental pinch. The
current notions of Russian wealth are
founded on the liberaIity of the pay 10
the diplomatic agents; and the rumors
of immense receipts from the Ural
mines. But why was it that two
months campaign in Hungary of a
sixth part of his pretended standing
army, obliged the Gar to beg loan Of
IA, 4,23e 900 rubles from London capi-
taIists? Why is it that the NatioEal
Debt grows rapidly and enormously,
already excee ling 1,200,O0o,Oo0?- =
Why is it the current annual recsipts
seldom meet the current annual expen-
ditures, even at q period of general
peaee9 Why is It that the treasury from
all its resources; taxes upon the serfs of
the crown; the monopoly Of brandy,
saltpetre, powder, &C.; stamps and en-
rolments; customs, and variety Of
other imports, fails to extract a revenue
equal TO that of the United States?-
The truth is, Russia is poor. A long
war would prove her ruin. She covets
an extension Of dominion merely 10 en-
large her resources; and the extension
must be effected, if nead be, by a mill
tary coup-de-p1ain; but if possible, by
the peaceful arts of diplomacy.
In diplomacy, therefore, lies the es-
sentisf strength of the, Imperial Gov.
eminent. More money is spent in
maintaining an emnisoieAt- corps of en-
Yoys. agents, spies and conductors of 8
mercenary press throughout Europe,
than upon all the internal improvements
of which we hear so much. This secret
service fund is more servicable than an
army with banners. There Is no politi,
cal seVent on the continent, however
trinsicalIy unimportant, that is not can,
Vassed in the office of Count Nesselrode
as soon as it happens, and sometimes
sooner. Revolutions are foreseen and
scrutinized, and the policy respecting
them definitely settled long before they
break out. Knowledge is veritably
power. And the shrewd foreknowiedge
ofthe cabinet of ST. Petersburgh, through
its unarmed army of spies, controls the
politics of Austria and Prussia and Ger
many, with a severer despotism than
could be imposed by legions of Co.'S
sacks. i
The moral which we wish to point TO
is, that national power should not be
measured By inspection of a map. FIX
tent OF surface and rarity of fpeople are
evidences of much central debility
The Emperor Nicholas declared, only a
short fine before the invasion OF Hun.
gary, thatthe policy Of Russia was the
projection of her own frontiers. He
stated the doctrine of non-interyention
= H.. :....-.l :. f3,r;rc of otha,t v.o,;nv.