Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-22

The idea of the overshadowing power OF
Russia is rapidly passing away. There was in
fact never any foundation for II. 1t was the
creation Of the Disciples Of Toryism and Abso-
lutism who have used ii as bugbear to
frighten the Governments Of Western Europe
out OF their liberal tendencies. Tho Russian
Bear has boon for years held up IN terrorsm
over the masses of England Germany, and
France, in order TO impress them with the be-
lief that the monster Of the North would do
something terrible if they did not cease talk
ing Of reforms and attend to their business.
Such writers a. Alison, the editors Of the Lon
don Times and the Blackwood critics, have
rolled the name Of the Gar under their
tongues Gas sweet morsel" and have incul-
Dated the idea that he is the wisest and best as
we'll as the most powerful, monarch in the
world--this too in the face Of the fact that
Bonaparte marched to the heart Of Russia with
out meeting any serious obstruction, and not.
withstandipg that England and all Europe
which he had not conquered were combined
against him. II is notorious, too, that Bona
parte was only expelled by the SHOWS, with
little aid from the hands Of the invincible Gear
and his allies. That, in spite of these recent
events in Russian history, the power OF the Gar
should have become 30 overshadowing in its
proportions, in the public apprehension, only
proves the great influence Of the London Times,
and other organs Of Toryism and Absolutism.
An attentive glance at wellknown facts
might have satisfied any one, in advance, that
the first shock of arms with any frst-rate
Power would explode the fictitious bubble, and
show the empty gasconade. which has been
imposed upon the credulity of mankind.
In the first place, the Russians are barba-
rous to great extent, and are destitute Of
commerce and manufactures The country
must hence be poor, and unable to sustain
armies and navies 1t is true that Russian SOL
diers are only nominally paid; but the other
expenses of war are so considerable, that none
but wealthy nations can sustain armies in the
field. A large part in fact, two-thirds or
more of the Russian nation are serfs, and
consequently without spirit. They are found,
by experience, to be, in fact inferior to the
Turks, and will bear no comparison with the
Euglish or French; and, the prevalent idea to
the contrary Notwithstanding, they are said to
be unwarlike The immense Russian army, Of
which we hear 80 much, is said by travellers TO
be, for the most part, little better than rab-
BILE militia, without discipline or spirit
The power of merely agricultural COMMUNE
ties to pay taxes, in comparison with such as
have commerce and manufactures, is seen Illus
trated in this country in the different sections
Of the Union. The people of the State of North
Carolina, numbering nine hundred thousand
inhabitants pay tax-for county, State, and
municipal purposes-of something less than
half million Of dollars, and feel themselves
grievously burdened; those of New York city,
with only about six hundred thousand inhabit-
ants, in 1883 paid tax exceeding five mil
lions! This single fact will servo to illustrate
the relative resources Of Russia and those Of
England and France.
We commend to those who desire informs-
ton on this subject, an article in the last num-
Der Of the London Quarterly which quotes
largely from recent work by German Baron
with hard name, who is of the Russian school
of politics His authority is therefore unex-
ceptionable, when he states facts which lower
our estimate Of that country. G..