The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-22

circumScrlpeu the education OF the youth OF
Russia within such limits as to prevent them
becoming acquainted with liberal ideas and the
rights of man, and to make them the con-
temptible puppets of bigotry and despotism.
Such deeds may appear laudable in the eyes of
an infatuated Russian, but must necessarily
meet with the condemnation of the impartial
historian.
But it cannot reasonably be disputed, that
the suppression Of the Polish revolution of 1880
must appear to patriotic Russians as very
meritorious action on the part of the Gar ;
and it must be admitted that even foreigners
are not justified in passing any censure upon
him for acting in this instance as it became
the sovereign of Russia But che terrible een-
geance which the Emperor Nicholas inflicted
upon so many thousands of the conquered pa
triots, the heroic champions of the independ-
ence and freedom of their native country, proved
him to be a relentless tyrant, deserving the de-
testation of every generous heart, and ought to
secure him an unenviable place in history, as
one of the most blood thirsty enemies of liberty
and chivalric virtue, in ancient or modern
times. 1t is in vain to plead, in his behalf, that
the Poles were guilty of high treason, having
revolted against their legitimate monarch. He
had forfeited their fidelity by infringing upon
their constitutional rights-Poland possessing
then at least nominal constitution-and by
permitting his brother Constantine to treat the
Poles in a manner not only despotic, but also
barbarous. Besides, what treason had those
| thousands of defenceless women and tender
| youths of both sexes committed, whom the
Gar doomed to beggary and to exile in the
widernesses of Siberia?
| None but man of very servile mind, or
professional panegyrist of dcspotism, could
have had the shameless effrontery displayed by
Zelenzki, in representing as praiseworthy the
interference of the Emperor Nicholas for the
benefit of Austria in the glorious struggle of the
Magyars, in lS49, with the view of Kidding them
selves Of the yoke imposed upon them by the
perjured House of Hapsburg. But only the
lying spirit could have suggested to the Russian
professor the idea of asserting that the Car,
in crushing the Hungarian revolution, saved
the West from imminent anarchy and mob
| rule.
Zelenzki stigmatizes Turkey as sore, or
| ulcer, on the Christian Europe; but shows, in
fact, while landing his master to the skies, that
the Government of Russia is in reality the
sore, and the cancer, that threatens to prove
fatal to Europe, to the modern civilization, and
to all political and religious freedom. Indeed,
on the very showing ofthe Russian pleader him
SELF we cannot but feel reoced that France and
| nd bova ctappad I'd 70 put n obool,
| to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Russia, and to curb
the pride of its ruler. Let it be we'll consid-
cred, that had the Emperor Nicholas been per-
mitted to consummate the destruction of Tur
key and the conquest of Constantinople, the
next move of Russia would probably have
been directed toward the possession Of the
Sound, and the other inlets to the Baltic, which
the Scandinavian nations, valiant as they I'M
questionably are, cannot reasonably be sup
posed able to protect, for any length Of time,
against the immensely superior forces of the
Russian empire, if employed for the sole pur-
pose in question.
But Russia, possessing the keys to the Baltic
and Black seas, would become the mistress of
those waters and obtain the command of the
extensive trade carried on by the way of them.
Having the opportunity of manning the large
fleets which she is herself capable of fitting
out with Scandinavian as we'll as Turkish
sailors, she would threaten to sweep the navies
| of England and France from the Mediterranean
and the Northern or German seas, while over
awning the greatest portion of Asia, and almost
the whole of Europe, by the means of her i'm
mense armies. Thus, being in reality the arb-
ter of the affairs of these two continents, she
would annihilate all hopes of the speedy regen-
Grafton of Asia, and blast the fair flowers of the
European civilization, while propagating the
principles of despotism and intolerance and
prosecuting with unrelenting severity the friends
of political and religious freedom.
If Mr.. Golden had brought these reflections
to bear upon his mind, he might perhaps have
omitted much of the sophistry which he en-
ployed in his late speech at Leeds, and arrived
at the conviction that blamable as the English
Government no doubt is for the negligent man
ner in which it has conducted the war and cared
for the well-being of the English army, it new
ertheless fully deserves the appreciation which
the people of England award to it, for uniting
with the Emperor of France in protecting Tur
key and humbling Russia. But Mr.. Golden is
not the only friend of liberal ideas that has
committed the great mistake of overlooking the
vital interests of humanity, in behalf of which
France and Great Britain are now struggling
Even some citizens of the United States-pro-
fessed Democrats carried along by their part
iy just and partly unjust prejudices against
| England, have been led as far astray as not
only to censure the conduct Of the Western
Powers, but also to defend Russia Deplorable
infatuation unworthy of the countrymen of
Washington and of the disciples of Jeffersonl
But, supported by the popular voice, both in
France and England, the French and British
Governments will most assuredly not conclude
peace with the Car, without receiving the most
ample guarantees against the dangers with
which the ambitious power and principles of
Russia are threatening not only Europe and
Asia, but, indeed, humanity at large.
Berlin, Prussia, January %, 1855.
A SERIOUS CHARGE.-The Paris correspond
ent of the New York Tribune says:
"The French Government, for instance has
at this moment in its possession copies of the
incendiary proclamation of Ledru Rollin, sign
ed George Sanders, which calls on the people