The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-04-06
MANIFESTO OF THE NEW CAR.

MANIFESTO OF THE NEW CZAh.
The London Times concludes an article
upon the manifesto Of the new Emperor oil
Russia in regard to his policy as follows:
When, aboht 90 years ago, his father, the
late Emperor, mounted the throne after n
short mterregnum and sangunary revolt OF
the army in the capital, Nicholas declared to
his people, In similar but in nilder language,
that she should live solely for his people; that
he should reign as Alexander OF blessed
memory had reigned, in order 10 accomplish
all that he had wished for, the happiness OF
Russia; and following his example, he hoped
the people," Such was the prelude to The
reign of the most stern, self willed and abso-
lutte monarch who ever held the Russian
scept:e, who mounted the throne amid the
commotion Of revolt; and who ended it in the
convulson of war. No stronger proof could
be produced Of the worthlessness Of such
manifestoes for any practical purpose; and we
cherish hope that the affected violence OF
the one may be MS insincere rs the affected
moderation Of the other.
1t NAV, however, be doubted whether any
Russian Sovereign has either the will or the
power of permanently resisting or suspend
ing by any act of his own that traditional
policy which dates from the founders Of the
empire, and more especially from Peter and
from Catherine II. The Emperor AlcSande:
!, sometimes discosered it, and even coquet-
ted with the liberal institutions and opinions
with Napoleon at Tilsit to obtain the Danu
bian provinces, and he availed himself Of his
ascendancv in 1916 to carry his frontier be
yond the Vistola. Yet, in writing confden-
tally to Lord Castlereagh in 1929, Alexander
spoke of himself as the only Russian who
resisted the views of his subjects upon Tur-
KEY, ard of the loss of popularity he sus
tained by this antagonism. In like manner,
the Emperor Nicholas during great part of
his reign, affected TO have desisted from the
aggressive policy Of Russin. In one of his
conversations with Sir Hamilton Seymour, in
1853, he said, "fou know the dreams and
plans in which the Empfess Catherine was in
the habit of INDUCING; these were handed
down to our time; but, while inherited i'm
mense territorial possessions, did not inherit
those visions, those intentions, if you like to
call them So"
ct 1T tifut u!UDiSH', HS Subsequent CNcHto
have shown, he was entering upon a course
Of policy wholly at variance with these de-
clarations, as il the restraint he had hitherto
placed upon the traditional policy Of the Rus.
sian empire had become too ifksome to OF
borne; and rs it Ne Were fatally impelled into
course Of action which RE followed even to
the loss of his honor and his life. With these
striking examples before US on the part of
two successive Empefors who professed rath-
er to hold in suspense than to promote the
aggressive traditions of Russia, il becomes n
matter Of grave consideration for the rest OF
Europe whether any reliance can be placed
on any assurances the Court of st. Petersburg
NAV give on this subject; and the Announce.
mems by the present Emperor of his resolu
ton to accomplish those designs; which his
predecessors had more or hess society enter
tained certainly does impose on Tie allied
Powers hoth the duty and the right 10 require
from Russia positive and effectuaT securities
against the prosecution Of schemes fatal to
tho peace OF Europe. We presume that the
very first efforts of the plenpotentaries at
Vienna will be directed 60 the object of elicit
ing IA far as possible from the Russian En-
voys the ZEAL policy Of the new reign; and, in
the critical position in which all She other
Powers now s,afd towards Russia, all atfbi-
guilty. on this poirt must speedily be retrieved.
There is on the one hand, Che common in
terest and the common policy Of Europe
bound to oppose all violent aggressions, to
defend rights, to uphold law, aud this puiicy
has recently received the express sanction cf
the treatise Trained beyond the several allied
Powers. There is, on the other hand, the
seperate interest and the peculiar system Of
the Russian empire-hostle, arbitrary, law
less, and uncontrolled, except BY the forces
arrayed against it. The former system is de.
Tended BY the power Of all the most civilized
States in the world; the latter summons the
fanatical spirit and the barbarian borders of
its population to the conflict, and it may be
that the Emperor himself is but the instru-
ment of Che passions 10 which his father so
rashy and wickedly appealed. But, be this
MS it may, his choice must he made and his
option declared-it is peace with Europe or
war against it, for the traditional policy of
Russia cannot be pursued without mortal
struggle against the whole power Of civiIiza.
ton and independence which remains in the
world.