The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-10

TO brave all dangers, and the hrmness to resist
| all the honeyed words by which false friends
andforeign diplomatsare attempting to persuade
him to give to Europe the blessings of peace,
as they express themselves. Such peace as
they advocate would be no blessing, but curse,
entailing upon the European people almost un-
| heard-of sufferings.
Let me assure you, that if Russia obtains
the peace which she now desires, then the at
tempt will Immediately be made to renew the
Holy Alliance" and the re-establishment of
friendship among the Princes will be celebrated
by the most stringent measures against the
| friends and principles of Liberty.
1t would appear that the great majority of
| the American People either do not rightly un-
derstand the great interests involved in the
present war between Russia and the Western
Powers, or that certain influences have made
them insensible to the glorious cause for which
Washington fought, and many of their noblest
ancestors died. Their indifference to the re-
suit cannot be excused on account of the ar
bitrary rule of Louis Napoleon, and of the
| aristocratic tendencies Of the British Govern
ment because, though neither of those parties
love true Freedom, still both of them are now
supporting by arms the very cause which they
do not love. What is this but the result of the
influence of a benefcent Providence? Unwor-
thy therefore, as the instruments appear to be,
it becomes nevertheless the American People
to sympathize with the great cause in be-
behalf Of which France and England are lavish
ing so much blood and treasure.
Among the nOt-ruling princes of Europe,
there are two who appear worthy of especial
notice; and these two are the heirs apparent
Of the Swedish and Prussian thrones Both
have shown evident sympathy with the popular
sentiments among the respective nations over
\ uh I how
tined to rule at some future day. Both have re-
manned deaf to all insinuations having for their
object to render themselves Russian partisans
and both are generally viewed as strong advo-
Gates of actual hostilities against Russia. The
Swedish Crown Prince has adopted the policy
of the great Vasas, of Gustavus Adolphus, of
Charles MI. and of Gustavus III, and wishes
TO restore Finland to Sweden, and to circum-
scribe Russian power in the Baltic; and the
Prince of Prussia cannot patiently bear to see
the sceptre of the Great Frederick welded in
behalf of Russian ambition, or Prussia, on ac-
count Of family relations between the houses
of Romanoff and Hohenzollern, deprived of its
due rank and influence among the great Powers
of Europe. Both these princes evnce genuine
patriotic spirit, and prove themselves worthy
of the elevated position they seem destined to
occupy.
The French Moaiteur has published very
able justification of the manner i'll which the
war has been conducted, on the part of France
and England The instructions given to Mar
shall st. Armand were very excellent, and alto
gether based upon the principles laid down
by the great Napoleon, and advocated by the
celebrated Jomini. General Canrobert and
Lord Raglan are higly praised. A comparison
is made between the siege of Sebastopol and
the two famous sieges of the town of Dantzig,
during Napoleon's wars, showing the much
greater obstacles which Sebastopol presents
than did Dantzig, which, nevertheless was not
captured by the French, under Marshal Lefe-
bre, before fifty-one days after the actual siege
had begun, and not retaken by the allies in
shorter time than one gear from their com
mencing the siege. The articles in the Moni-
teur, on this subject, deserve indeed to be read
by every one interested in the struggle on the
Crimea.
| see, from an article in the London Times,
that the editors of that paper will not credit
the rumor, that there are Americans of Anglo
Saxon origin who sympathize with Russia.
Would that these gentlemen were right, but
they are evidently more familiar with European
affairs than with the sentiments of a certain
portion of the American people. Still, am
assured that no genuine American Democrat
wherever he might have happened to be born,
or from whatever race he might have sprung
feels any sympathy with the Russian Govern
ment, or with the cause and principles which it
cherishes.
Let me here remark, that your paper would,
on account Of its liberal views and its fearless
and noble course much better suit the ma ority
of Europeans reading American newspapers,
than any other American journal, as far as /
know. But In case you should wish to extend
your circulation in Europe, then / think you
would do well in publishing your paper one or
two days earlier, that you might be able to for
ward it by the steamers leaving New York and
Boston every Wednesday.
Certain American papers, on account of their
defence of the "Know Nothings," and their
blind advocacy of Negro Slavery, have begun to
excite general disgust and contempt among the
intelligent classes in Europe. l cannot forbear
mentioning the curious fact, that while great
portion of the friends of Negro Slavery in Amer
lea sympathize with the adherents of despotism
in Europe, the latter, on the contrary, seem to
feel great pleasure in representing the existence
of Slavery in America, as an irrefutable evil
dence that there is less freedom In republican
America than in monarchical and despotic Eu-
rope The Know Nothing movement has caused
much sorrow among the best friends of Ameri-
ca in Europe; and great apprehension is felt by
many liberals, that the spirit of tyranny and in
tolerance will gain the ascendency, and destroy
the beautiful structure which the fathers of the
American independency raised with the hope
of becoming the everlasting palladium of free
dom, and the asylum of the oppressed. The
enemies of humanity seem, on the contrary,
| joyful at the prospect of the terrible disorders
and misfortunes which the "Know Nothings"
are likely to provoke within the American
Union, hoping that these disorders shall create
anarchy, and anarchy again become the pa
rent of despotism and royal power. While
it is to be hoped that the good sense of the
American people shall prevent them from fall
ing into the same errors which caused the de.
struction of so many former republics, it must,
however, be admitted that the Know Moth
ing movement is calculated to produce great
misfortunes, and to provoke the most deplora-
BILE results. 1t is hailed with Joy by the Lon
don Times no doubt, because its unscrupulous
but sagacious editors perceive how much the
new party might impair the strength of the Uni
ted States-the dreaded commercial rival of
| Great Britain-and cannot conceal the mis-
chievous pleasure which such prospect has
created within them.
The Russian negotiators at Vienna are report
cd. and probably correctly, to have acceded to
| all the demands in which Austria appeared to
have an especial interest, and to show much
anxiety to deprive the Austrian Court of any
plausible reason for actual hostility, and of de-
manding aid of the other members OF the Ger
man Confederation. The plan of the Russian
Government is evidently, by concessions to Aus
tria, either to deprive the Western Powers OF
her actual cooperation, or, if this hope should
prove vain, to hinder Austria herself from get
ting assistance of the other confederated Ter