The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-11
Nicholas T.

Allison in his history of Europe speak
OF the late Gar Nicholas, as follows:
Nicholas |, is the greatest sovereign
that Russia has known since Peter III,
Great-in some respects he is gre ater Il, al
Peter himself. Notless energetic in char
acter and ardent in improvement, than hi.
illusIrlous predecessor, he is more thor
oughiy national, and he has brought tht
nation forward more completely in III.
path which nature had pointed out for it
Peter was a Russian only in his despotisn
his violence, his cruelty, his bene6cencs
his ardor for Improvement. his patriotic
ambition. We. all borrowed from the states
of Western EaroPe. s@ -naas
Nicholas. on the other hand, is essen.
TALLY Russian in all his ideas. He is hear,
/ ana soul patriotic, not merely in wish, bu,
IN spirit and thought. lie wishes to i'm
prove and elevate his country, and he ae.
sires 10 do so by developing, not changing
the national spirit. by making it become
hrst Russla-not a second, France or
England. He has adopted the N AKIN OF
Montesquieu, that no nation ever attained
to real greatness but by Institutions in
conformity with its spirit. He is neither
led away by the thirst for sudd en- mechan
lcal Improvement, like Peter, nor the prai
ses OF philosophers, like Catherine, nor
the visions ofinexperienced philanthropy.
like Alexander. He has not attempted to
erect caPitalin a presidential nsarsh. and
done SO at the expense OF a hundred
thousand lives-nor has he dreamed of
mESficaI s.t.t .Sfeit-s-
sybil, and made sovereigns pbt'their hands
to holy alliance from erinhuence. He
neither corresponds with French atheists
nor English democrats-he despises the
praises of the first-he braves the hostility
of the last. His maxim is to take men as
they are, and neither suppose them better
nor worse. He is coDtent1 TO let Russia
grow up in Russian garb, amin ated with
Russian spirit. and moulded by Russian
institutions, without the aid either Of Pa.
rlslan communism or British liberalism.
The Improvements he has effected in The
government of his dominions have been
vast. and the triamphs with which his ex
ternal policy have been attended, un.
bounded; but they have ell been achieved.
not in intimation of, but in opposition to
the ideas of western Europe. They be.
speak, not less than his intern al govern.
ment,, ,,the national character Of his policy
But II success is the test of worldly wis.
dom. he has not been far wrong in his
system, for he has passed the Balkan.
heretofore impervious to his pred ces sors;
ne has conquered Poland, converted the
Euxine iato Russian lake. planted the
cross on the bastions of Erivan, and
opened through Hungary a path to Con.
stantinople. t3
Nature has given to him all the quail.
ties fitted for such an, elevated destiny.
a lofty stature and a .princely air give ad-
ditional influence to a majestic .counte.
nance. in which the prevailing character
IS resolution, yetnot unmixed with sweet. |
ness. Like Wellington, Caesar, and many
other OF the great men recorded in histo.
ry, his expression has become more intel. |
leotual as he advanced in years, and he |
became exercised in the duties OF sove.
reignty. instead of the stern routine OIL
military discipline. Exemplary in alrhis
relations OF private life, faithful husband
and and an aHec:ionate father, he has ex.
hibited brilliant court. and when sur.
rounded by every temptation which life
can Offer the simplicity and affection OF
patriarchallife.' eia9s