Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-04
The European News---Deati OF the
ElmDerOr Confirmed.

! The European News---Death Of tn
Emperor Confirmed.
The intelligence by the Atlantic has de
molished the doubts of the most skeptics
by confirming the death of Nicholas. II
died, as stated in the dispatches brough
by the Africa, on Friday, the ID ut., Q
atrophy of the lungs. His last words ar
reported to have been addressed to tn
King of Prussia, invoking continuance o
his attachment 70 Russia. The events II
which the deceased Emperor bore con
spicuous part have been too momentous ant
necessarily have involved him in so mucl
of antagonism with other nations. that w
can scarcely expect from his cotemporarIe
an unprejudiced judgment of his characte
and conduct. Whilst his partisans wall al
most defy his character, and ascrlbe all hl'
acts to motives of high ambition worthy tt
fill the breast of king, there will be not
few to look upon the reverse of has charac'
tel and see in him only the ambitious ty,
raat, who in carrying out the Traditional
policy of his house disregarded honor, op.
pressed humanity, and made all thing:
bend to his imperial will. But history will
not fail to speak of him as one who has fill
ed wide space in the affairs of the world
and earned, perhaps, the title OF the great
est monarch Of modern times. BY Russia
Nicholas will ever be held in remembrance
and veneration not second to that for Peter
the Great, to whom he was undoubtedly in
many points superior. Under his rule Rus
sia has grown in material wealth, expanded
in territory and her barbarism has been
ameliorated by the introduction of many re-
forms and the attainment of much OF USE
full knowledge and valuable progress
Whilst he has not risen to the statue CT a
benefactor of his people, he won their res
pect and love by his stern, inhexible JUS
tce and determined rule, and gratlfed their
national pride by the position which he Sc
cured for Russia and the influence he gave
to her in the affairs of other nations: AS
man Of unduestioned genius he will secure
the admiration of the world. He was EN-.
phatically great statesman and great
warrior, possessing in rare perfection these
two qualifications shat have ever secured
the plaudits of mankind. In his domestic
life he earned character that strongly con-
trasts with those of his predecessors. His
moral and conscientious qualities were Wig
orously developed. and the temptations OF
supreme rule left them unblemished. He
was the first to inaugurate morality at st.
Petersburg and to rebuke the shameless
and universal proh,gacy that had disgraced
the reigns of CatharIne and Alexander
For this, and for the qualities of an affec-
tionatc husband and good father the name
of Nicholas will always stand pre-emlnent
in the annals of Russia.
The news of the death Of the Gear was
varlously received in Europe. At London
it had caused great demonstrations of joy,
and at Paris the police had interfered to
prevent disgraceful manifestations OF exul-
tatlon over the event. At Vienna the
news caused great agitation, and the EN-
peror had acknowledged the gratitude Of
Austria to Nicholas by perPetuatins regl-
ment in the imperial army named after him.
The Prussian Court mourned it as family
afiliction, and had ordered the greatest hon.
ors to the memory of the deceased Gar.
The new Emperor, Alexander H., has
succeeded to the throne without opposition
his brothers, the Grand Dukes, having ia:
ken the oath of allegiance. He has issued
manifesto endorsing the policy of his ia
ther, and declaring that he will endeavol
to accomplish the incessant views and
wishes of his predecessors" He had con.
frmed his fathers instructions in regard tc
the negotiations at Vienna, and the first
conference of the Congress had been held
What will be the effect of the death ol
Nicholas-whether to produce peace Oh
prolong the war, there appears no present
means of judging. 1t is probable that fol
time at least the policy and purpose O.
Nicholas will be scrupulously pursued, anc
that the new Czar will abate no point in
the demands that have caused the war, moi
exhibit any hesitation in pursuing it. The
character of Alexander IS not we'll known
on this side of the Atlantic, but the position
he now occupies will soon give him noto
riety His disposition is said to be pacific
but the national spirit and sentiment BY
which he is surrounded will probably hav,
more to do with determining his course
than his own desires. Still he cannot be
expected to rule with the decisive power d
his father, and unless the war be universal
ly popular the advocates of peace will bt
more likely to make their influence felt un
der Alexander than they possibly could du
ring the reign of Nicholas.
The other features of the news by the
Atlantic are of more than usual interest
Sevastopol is not taken, but some further
hard fighting had occurred there, and the
French government was reported to have
directed Gen. Canrobert to force on the
siege with alT possible energy and prompti
tude. The general features of the new:
are not indicative Of peace. In hurried
examination of our English files we see
much in regard 10 the more rigorous prose
cution of the war, but little that encourage.
hopes Of peace. The sympathies expressed
by the Courts at Vienna and Berlin, at the
death of the Gar appear to have given Of
fen ce in Eng gand.-BaltimOre american.
A TENDER CoNscIENcE.-A parish prizes
was sent for to attend the death-bed of ;
poor old village schoolmistress. She had q
sin to confess she could not die in peace
till she had confessed it. With broker
speech, she sobbed and hes:tated, and sob
bed again. I-I-I,' she stammered out
and hid her face again. There must,
must tell it and may be forgiven! Yor
know, sir, | have kept school forty years
a poor, sinful creature--I-I-'
My good woman, said the parish priest
take comfort; it will be pardoned if you
are thus penitent. hope it is not very
great sim
Dyes said she, and pray do notcall m.
GOOD woman. am-not-good, (sobbing.