Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-17
From the Richmond Mail.
The Russian Empire.

From the Richmond Mail.
The Russian Empire.
More than ordinary attention has been lately
drawn to this empire by supposed indication IN
the Washington Union of the policy OF Gen. Plerce
administration in regard to IT. and by the recent un
friendly demonstration of Russia to iurkey IL
would be by no means wonderful if both Endgland
and France should think it high time to pro-
claim to the advancing wave Of Northern aggres-
sion, g Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther
Russia is indeed, country whose extraordinary
character, history and resources may well quicken
with alarm the pulse of civilized Europe and keep
alive in nervous minds the recollection ofthose great
inyasions which, sweeping from the North, ended in
the overthrow of the Roman empire. From the days
of Peter the Great to the present m omen ambition
and an Unsuitable thirst for territorial aggrandze-
ment have been the unceasing characteristics OF the
great Northern Power. That mirkabe man seems
to have stamped the impress of his own daring, en-
ergetic and aspiring mind, upon the country which
his towering genius and resOlute will converted
within the short period of thirty-six years. from
swamp 10 fertile land from the reign of barbaf-
ism to the supremacy of law; from poverty and
wretchedncss to boundless wealth and magnihcence'
from political chaos to order and system as aD-
solute and pervadng, yet harmonious and un-
broken, as the immutable laws which govern the
movements of the planets around their central frb.
Peter the Great still lives in the policy OF Russia, IN
the farsightedness the intelligence the iron will,
and the unscrupulous ambition which have govern
ed Russian counsels for hundred and fifty years,
and while they have sometimes suffered losses in he
field, have grown stronger with every defeat which
have enlarged their territory without weakening the
| influence of the central power; and which hold a
geographical position whence armies can sweep
! down upon the fertile plains of Europe like thun-
dering avalanche, and then, returning if necessary
to their Northern caVerns bid defiance to all efforts
at retaliation.
Let the reader look at Russia upon the map-let
| hor and 1 her
ces and then say if she be deserving the ridlcue
which, with bold lips and trembling hearts, the Eng
fish press sometimes casts at her head We look at
Russia. and what do we see ! A government which
while it enforces upon every subject the unquestOn
ing faith and obedience of a child teaches him It
love and reverence the sovereign as his father ar
empire whose territories, stretching almost from tht
arctic ice 10 the equator's fire, cover one seventh
of the earth's surface whose agricultural and min
eral resources, including mines of gold and silver
are of the most diversified and nexhaustib'e charac
ter a standing army which, even upon the peace
establishment is computed at 100 900 men. and the
means of increasing which never fail in hard
population of nearly sixty millions, whose Cossacl
and Tartar hordes blast of the bugl would sum
mons to the field and cause every plain of Europe
to trembe beneath the fierce tread of their barbari
an horsemen! Such is Russia Certainly it is
power which cannot be dsparaged without insulting
the common of the world
And yet this magnificent empire is prevented b,
one obstacle from fulfilling her &" manifest destiny
from availing herself of the full influence of he
great resources, and from acquiring that command
ing ascendency in the scale of empires to which sh
is entitled by her mmutahle elements of greatness
She suffers under the paralyzng want of an adequat
outlet to the every channel she has to the QUITE
world the Baltic included, being yearly closed 70
months by the severity of the Winter. Hence tn
steady gaze which Russia from the time of Pc Ell
. has ever fixed upon the HellespOnt, her straigh
path to the Mediterranean and thence to the Allan
hal stands IUrkpV kpoOInp
and ward for her salvation and for the securit
of that Mediterranean where the flag of Russia viii
float in mastery when the Castles Of the DardaneI
, les are silenced.
A few years ago eminent Scotch writer, dis
cussing the character of Russia and the direction
Russian conquest maintained that Europe in NJ
danger from the ravenous ambition of the Northern
Bear, and trumphantly aimed, 1" Prussia ant
Austria the political Pillars of Hercules, whic
no invader can pass" Where now are those Is Pill
lars of Hercules - Austria has placed herself IRE
vocably within the power of the Gar. Indecisio
and imbeclity have MARI ed the career of Prussia
And now the Car, throwing wide the gate of Europ
to his armies stretches forth his sinewy hand
grasp the keys of the ocean, and make himself a
once monarch of the sea and the shore. Sooner O
later, Russia will achieve that ject for it is
sary to her full development, and she has the pOwe
and the perseverance to accomplish desi On of sue
+ vital interest to her welfare.
This great empire. so dreaded and hated by Frame
and Great Britain, has treated with the mos
uniform and delicate respect and courtesy the char
acter, the institutions, and the e of the Unite
States. No assumption of political or individual ST
perory; no libellous assaults Lpon country an
our countrymen no malignant Stowe demOnstrt
= tons insdiOus assaults uyOn our Union and q
u vernment have embittered relations with tn
: wise, dignifed, and potent empire of the North Ii
US cherish the most cordial relations of amity an
good will with this faithful, great and friendly pow