The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
LETTER III.
PRAGUE, july 10, 1854


The violation Of public morality which the
Emperor Of Russia committed by invading the
Danubian Principalities without any Jus. Cause.
and even without previous declaration Of
war, has go Tar produced resllLs the most con-
trary to those anticipated by the Gar. He
attempts, however, now to justify the course
which he has pursued, by declaring that his
sole aim has been to execute the mission which
Heaven has intrusted to him, Of delivering the
Turkish sutj Gets confessing the filth Of the
Greek church from the oppression Of the Turks,
as far as it affects the exercise Of their reli,
gion. Whether the Gar believes, or only pre-
tends to believe, that such mission has been
contdcd to him by Heaven, do not pretend
to know. But the defeats of his numerous
army which he deemed irresistible, aud the
humiliation which Prince Paskiewitsch him
self has suffered Of late before Silstria, seem
not to warrant the claim which the Car
makes of being the chosen instrument of
Heaven for the castigation of the Turk, as in
that case We may be sure that victory would
have crowned the efforts Of the Russian troops.
Still, Providence has certainly some great
object in view that is ultimately TO result from
the war which the Unjustfable aggression, on
the part of the Gar, has called forth 1t has,
indeed, already produced the beneficial effect
Of creating discussion among the oppressors
Of the European people, and between the very.
princes who, but few years ago. acted in the
closest union against the heroic champions of
tho independence of Hungary. Yes, the en-
bition or religious fanatiCsm Of the Emperor
of Russia has, in the short space OF few
months, created a total revolution in the politi-
cal views of most of the European Cabinets.
and in the sentiments Of many of the people of
Europe.
Who could a little more than year ago,
suppose that NAPOLEON Ill should, on the
heights of Boulogne review French troops,
that were destined to be carried in English
vessels to the Baltic shores to cooperate with
O united English and French feet against Rus
STA? If the most sagacious statesman of Eu-
rope should have hszarded the prediction of
such an event. he would have been consigned
to a lunatic asylum. Certainly, no human
foresight could anticipate an event of 80 stri-
king a contrast with the grand spectacle which
Napoleon the Great presented to the view of
terror stricken England, when, on tho same
very heights, he caused to pass in review be-
fore him the mighty host he had destined for
the invasion of that country! But the Su-
preme Ruler of the destines Of nations has
caused such change of sentiment to take
place within a short time among the people of
England and France, as to unite them now
cordially in resisting the ambitious designs Of
the Car, and in curbing the excessive pride
that power and success have created in his
heart Even the treacherous Court of Vienna
seems ready to unto with the Emperor of
Frsnce-whom it both fears and hates
against the Prince who saved it from the eff
fects of the just wrath of the Magyars
The Car has thus produced, within very
short time, the most extraordinary change in
the aspect of the political affairs in Europe,
and at the same time received the most severe
lessons of the vanity of all human calculations
His troops have been defeated by the Turks,
for whom he had evincei so much contempt
a cordial alliance has been concluded between
France and England-an event which he seems
to have deemed impossible; the Austrian Court,
of whose friendship he had no doubt is now on
the point OF breaking all its promises, and of
repaying the eminent services which be has
rendered to it, by the most unblushing jhgrati-
tude Time alone can reveal whether he pos
sesses the qualities necessary to strugg with
glory against the adverse fortune he has en-
countered, and against the unexpected array of
so many mighty enemies; or whether, in want
of moral courage, he will humbly submit to a
precipitate and dishonorable peace.
Certain it is, however that the principles of
the Holy Alliance do no longer guide the Eu-
ropean princes, and that there does not now
exist in Europe a league of princes for the
purpose of subduing popular movements in be-
half of freedom. The jealousy of the ancient
royal families against Louis Napoleon, and the
fear of the ambition of the Gar, have had the
effect of removing the terrible evil which for
SO many years constituted the chief obstacle to
the success of the attempts which, since 1920,
have been made at indicating the rights of
the oppressed people of Europe. 1t is scarcely
r.
assistance from Russia, against the Hungari-
ans and Italians, when they shall renew again
their struggle for national INDEPENDENCE. The
timid nolicY of the other German PRINCES who