The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-04
The Foreign News.

supposed she would, a confirmation of the
report Of the death of the Emperor Mich
olas, who died on the Cd instant, after a
short illness. Il is reiterated that he died
Of disease Of the lungs-"atrophy" or
"paraly lysis,'i it is now said-,he frs, story
was "apoplexy." Which is true, or what
is true. We leave to the ply sicians and to
those most interested to decide. As yet
we have not seen any allegation, or even
a conjecture. brought by the Atlantic, that
the Car was assassinaied. We feel very
certain that he was not. But az his father
was, and as his brother, the Emperor
Alexander was said to be, and is still be.
lieved TO have been, by some who arc not
in the habit OF looking far into millstones,
il would very naturally suggest itself that
Nicholas was removed, also, by what
General Webb. Of the New York Courie.
and Enquirer calls the quasi constitu.
tional prescription" at St. Peters6urgh for
sending obnoxious autocrats. as George
was "pack'd with Post-horse up to Heav-
en-" But neither Alexander nor Ncho.
las was dispatched to tho other world.
whatever the said general and other mill.
tary and diplomatic speculators may
think. or write. or say. The grea, fac, is.
that the Gar is dead; and to him. the
lines applied TO Charles tho XII, Of Swe.
den. may be well spplied:
"He left name at Which the world grew pale,
To point moral, or adorn a tale.'
In England, at the theatsrs and other
places. there have been very boisterous
and undisguised demonstrations Of Joy at
the death Of his imperial Majesty of all
the Russlas. mis- was in extremely bad
taste, though somewhat natural, II must,
be admitted; for il is almost impossible
for human nature so far to dissemble as
10 manifest any feeling akin to sorrow or
regret at the death Of q powerful and dan
gerous enemy-and that Nicholas was
both powerful and dangerous, the English
had suffered too much every way through
his means, during the last twelve months.
not TO see and to feel. Indeed, ut last they
have to confess it, and there is now no
moro talk. as there was at the start, OF
"orumpling up Russia like sheet OF pa
per-"
II Emperors and Kings, ct omne id ge.
nus, had any interests or feelings in com,
mon with the great mass Of humanity. we
should be inclined TO believe that the
death.bed OF tho Gar must have been
rather a dreary one. If. in his last days
OF his last hours, he cast glance behind
him, and took retrospect Of his reign. il
he saw many bright spots in the vista
what they we're are unknown 10 Us. He
had it in his power to do more for human
progress than any ruler OF nations in mod
ern times, except Napoleon. and he did
but little-but little Tor his own subjects
and greatly less than nothing for o,he
p nations. There are four prominent events
, which mark his reign. and which must b'
recorded in history, where they will re
, main, to the end of time. ineffaceabl
u blots upon his administration and upoI
e his character. They are: the cruel. IN
provoked, and extermin ating war he ha
I, waged for quarter OF century agains
that brave people, tho Circassians; the Fl
nal sponging ou, oil Poland from the ms
Of Europe; the slaughter and enslave
). ment Of the heroic Magysrs. as the all
k of Austria; and the present war. which h
has left as legacy TO his country. to Eu
rope, and the world. Nicholas was al
able, far-seeing. and energetic man. de
:, cidedly ahead, for ability, OF all hi
4 Drowned contemporaries, Wa think; bu
whilst all the historians will admit this
probably there will be none except III
Russians who will venture TO pronounc
b him GREAT.