The Trinity times., 1854-12-23
Nicholas, Emperior of Russia

DufgNeF. not lar from llle eterna lamp which
lights up the mummy-ke faces of the saints
east in silver, you see those features at least
in some poor lithograph. The petty retailer
preserves them in gaudy colours in the very
small sitting room which joins on to his shop.
In the merchants parlour that countenance
sautes you in all the dignity OF an l~panted
bust. And the same portrait, those very
eyes, that nose, that contour of face, looks
on you in all the coffee houses, tea saloons,
spirt-vaults, in all the public rooms, libra
res, common halls, workshops, repositories,
that you enter. Always the same h;.Hsla
countenance--without love, without hate
turned somewhat proudly as de, fixed above
the stiff collar Of Generals uniform in
green, the left breast covered with orders, a
great part OF which are hidden by the broad
band of the order Of Alexander Newskyor
The countenance has something in it of an
iron dignity; you can hardly keep from
shivcring if you look long on those features,
especially if you fix your gaze on the eyes,
whose looks you can scarcely catch. That is
the Gar Nichoas-teaiure for feature, the
very man, with some diversites from age,
but still the man as exactly as ii da9uerelo-
typed. Yet cookbook steady--do you dis
]
Is it the portrait OF a living creature or Of a
wax figure? The man is sunk in the auto
crat Never did countenance so well SYM
bolse the silent rule OF an unqualified despo-
tism. Yes; so should look he who COM
mands myriads of living machines, mere au-
tomata in soldiers livery, who advance, charge,
retre-who bend the knee and raise the
arm when they are bid, and as they are bid
and no longer than they are bid, sinking in
10 quiescence as absolute rs the quiesccnce
of that Imperial face, and as stolid as that of
any mandarin. lnwardly, however, will
bears rule, an iron villa will too long un-
restrained not now to be wilful, aud too
much accustomed to have its own way to be
any longer passonless. Yes, beneath that
dry. hard skin is "a will which commands 10
millions of souls, but cannot command itself.
Nicholas. the present Emperor of Russia,
was born in the year 1896, and is consequent
ly now in the 5Sth year of his age. lie is
the third son OF the Emperor Paul. whose
eccenrlcites and tragical death by straugu-
latlon are now matters Of history. In the
earlier period Of his life the prospects of his
life the prospects OF his ascending the throne
We're extremely remote--indeed, highly i'm
probable. Alexander, his elder brother, oe-
cupied the sovereignty, and Constantine was
the next in the ntaural order OF succession
-As in the case OF iuost OF the younger bran
ches of sovereign houses in Europe, "a con
siderable portion Of the earlier period OF
Ncholas's life was spent in travelling from
Court t. Court, varied by attention to the
duties OF a military command, in which he
distinguished himself by the mproycmenls
he effected in the efficiency OF the Russian ar
my In 1928 Alexander died, not without
suspicious circumstances attendant on his
death, which were probably strengthened by
the somewhat anomalous fact that the sue
cession devolved not upon Constantine, bat
but Nicholas. The will Of the deceased En-
peror was brought forward in vindcalion of
this abrupt breach Of the laws OF legitimacy /;
and then, to the astpnshmcnt ofall Europe. a
further justification of the act was fonnd III
the announcement that it was done with the
consent of ConstaDiine. Ihe conduct Of
Constantine was III harmony with this de-
claration, for he himself was among the first
to offer allegiance to his younger brother. 1t
was not without difficulty that Nicholas OBJ
tanned possession OF supreme power. A
formidable and widely extended instruction
was set on foot, which the stern detcrmina-
ton OF Nicholas speedily put down. He be-
came the Gar, and held the reins of power
with an iron grasp, which retains in sub)ec-
ton the semi-barbarous tribes and varied
races which constitute the population ol the
Russian Empire.
Ii is curious fact the Prince who is now
regarded as par ecreiLeHce, the representa-
tive aud support OF legitimacy, should own
his Crown to a violation OF the highest law
Of descent.
We have already seen that the Car is
soldier of small DIMENSIONS but "eYery inch"
soldier This soldier-ship, which before
his time had struck its roots deep in the
country, Nicholas has nationased. Russia
is huge camp, and the Court is its head =
quarters, Social life is a piece &C drilled
mechanism, passiyely obedlcnt to the NOV
ing power, and going on with exactltude aud
constancy till the pressure is removed -
Hence, at once, The strength and weakness
OF the Cars empire e:-ts strength, for the
whole moves as one mass the weakness, for
the mass is inert, passive--it has little life,
and no spontaneity.
Aware Of his inability TO support his in
trigues by armamenis and expeditions, the
Gar has constantly endcavoured to extend
the boundaries Of Russia. The endeayour
has been only too successful. His dcspo-
tisn has cEept forward like a gangrene over
the surface Of Europe. It's aim and tenden-
cy canuot be mistaken for no sooner is a
new territory gained than it is converted
into point Of support and attack for making
other acquisitions.
Take, for example, his conduct towards
Turkey. How has he got a footing in the
house which he is now wasiing and robbing?
by duplieity the most consummate, aud by
conlrvances the most disreputabIe. Among
the members Of the family he has indusiri-
ously, secretly, and treaeherously sUwed dis
content. The disaffecton hence arising he
| has fomcnted. BY that disafectlon, when
grown to head, he has profited, in order to
get into one Of the out-buiIdings Of the ed-
| fee. The moment he found himself there,
he began TO act not the less stcalthily, bui
with more decision, aud on larger scale.
So did he, by degrees, succeed in alternating
one member of the family after another, and
| in getting possession even Of n whole side oi
/ the aboGe, und recently he found himself in
n coud ton TO throw of the mask, and give
tie proprietor notice 10 quit, on pain Of in
| stant and forcible expulsion.