Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-03-29
The Character of the late Gar

In the recently published second volume of
Sir Archibald Alison's z History Of Europe
(new series), we find the following striking
portrait of the late Emperor of Russia:
Nicholas l. is the greatest sovereign that
Russia has k1own since Peter the Great in
some respects he is greater than Peter himself.
Not less energetic IN character and ardent in
improvement than his illustrious predecessor.
he is more thoroughly rational, and be has
brought the nation forward more completely
in the path which nature had pointed out for
it, Peter was a Russian only in his despo-
tisln. his violence, his cruelty, his benifcence,
his ardor for improvement, his patriotic am
bition, were all borrowed from the states of
Western Europe As these were greatly fur
ther advanced in the career of civilization
than his was, his reforms were in great part
premature his Improvements abortiFe, his
re6nements superficial.
He aimed at doing by imperial what so many
ardent men have endeavored to effect by Dem
ocratic despotism-to to ingraft on one nation the
institutions of another, and to reap from the
infancy of civilization the fruits of its matu-
rity The attempt failed in his hands, as it
has ever done in those of his republican in,i-
tators as it will do In those of their success
sors, whether on the throne or in the tribune,
to the end of the world His civilization was
all external merely it made brilliant APP
pearance, but it did not extend beneath the.
surface and left untouched the strength and
itals of the State. He f1attered himself that
he had civilized Russia, because he ruled by
police which governed it by fear, and an
army which retained it in subjection by dis
cipline. ssH
Nicholas, on the other hand, is essentially
Russian in all his ideas. He is heart and
soul patriotic, not merely in wish, but in spirit
and thought. He wishes to improve and ele-
vate his country. and he has done much to-
effect that noble object; but he desires to do
so by developing, not changing the national
spirit, BY making it become first Russia, not
a second France or England. He has adopted
the maxim Of MoHtesquieu. that no nation
ever attained to real greatness but by institu-
tons in conformity with its spirit. He is nei-
ther led away by the thirst for sudden mechan-
ical improvement, like Peter, nor the praises
of philosophers, like Catherine, nor the visions
of inexperienced philanthropy, like Alexander
He has not attempted to erect capitd in
pestilential marsh, and done SO at the ex-
pense of hundred thousand lives nor has
he dreamt of mystical regeneration with
visionary sybil, and made sovereigns put their
hands to holy alliance from her influence
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 content to let thsm grow up in Russian
garb, animated with Russian spirit, and
moulded by Russian institutions, without the
aid either of Partisan communism or British
liberalism AkE ssss,
The improvements he has effected in the
governmentsof his dominions have been vast,
the triumphs with which his external policy.
have been attended unbounded; but they have
all been achieved. not in imitation Of, but in
opposition to, the ideas of western Europe
They bespeak, not less than his internal gov
ernment. the national character of his policy
But if success is the test of worldly wisdom,
he has not been far wrong in his system, for
he has passed the Balkan, heretofore imper
vious to his predecessors he has conquered
Poland, converted the Euxine into Russian
lake, planted the, cross on the bastions of Fri
van, and opened through snbdued Hungary q
path to Constantinople aes ssE3
Neture has given him all the qualities fitted
Tor such an elevated destiny. a lofty stature
and princely air give additional influence 10
majestic countenance, in which the prevailing
character is resolution, yet not unmixed with.
sweetness Like Wellington, Caesar. and
many other Of the great men recorded In his
tory ms expression has become more intellec-,
tual as ne advanced in years. and became err
ercised In the duties of soyereionrv ;,,.te.d
OF the stern routine of military d;sc;nl;.e =
Exemplary in all the relations Of nr;y.ss Is.
faithful husband and an eifectionsts fsthsr .s,