New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-18


THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE. Irs RESOURCES. oovr.sssSr
AND PoLIcY. By LooEER ON FROM ANEsIoA. limo,
pH $50 Cincinnati: Moore, Walsrach Co. New Yort;
Miller Orion Nullgaa
The increased sympathy with Russia which has
sprung up IN the United States during the present
will attract attention TO this seasonable publication.
Although issued without the sanction OF the authors
name, it is evidently from the pen Of an acute OBJ
server, and of who has enjoyed ample opporuni-
ties for gaining accurate information on the subject.
The popular opinion of Russia, according to the
writer corresponds neither with her past history nor
her present position Her power has been moderated
even in Europe, and especially by France and En-
gland But she possesses all the essential elements Of
national greatness-extensive territory capacity for
population, fitness for being under the rule of
central Government, variety of production the means
of extensive internal communication, free access to
the ocean, unity of race, and common religion.
In accordance with these elements, and adapted TO
secure TO them Q complete development, is the char
ac.er of the Russian mind. It has been asserted By
French and English writers that Russia is destitute of
originality and possesses only the initiative talent of
some of the Oriental nations Hence, they argue she
is doomed to be copyist of Western Europe,
and to consequent inieriority'of life. Wearing the
garments Of civilization after the manner Of a savage
the barbarian is not concealed beneath a European
exterior. But our author maintains, the contrary
that it is too soon to bring such charge against the
Russian character. The capabilities Of the Sclavonic
race are yet in the germ. Russian civilization dates
back not more than hundred years. Indeed it was
not until the reign of Catherine H. that this nation first
occupied an important place in the politics of Europe
The impulse which she received from Peter the Great
was subsequently lost to great degree, and the at
AZ nj UNA mad in
trary direction Still there s sufficient evidence that
the true Russian possesses in an eminent degree,
energy, activity, and fertility of resource. He is
found in every part of the Empire in the various res
tons of business and is everywhere the ruling spirit
His versatility of talent and power of imitation make
him successful scholar He advances at rapid
rate in whatever he undertakes. The row recruit
soon learns to perform the evoutons of the regular
soldier and easily assumes the oir of the camp. WitN
equal facility he is transformed into tradesman
mechanic. The military spirit, in the usual sense of
the term, is not natural to the Russian He has no
passion for adventure and conquest. He is neither
sea king in quest of booty nor knght-errant in pur-
suit OF renown He plans no revolutionary scheme.
for the rights Of nersal humanity. He s more in
clned to the arts of peace than to prowess in arms.
In war he is distinguished more by resistance than by
The Russian army, accordingly, has hitherto been
more formidable at home than abroad.
The Russian intellect moreover is exhibited in the
plan of national defense, and the manner In which 1t
las been executed Russia has not only created a
powerful navy but has constructed for it places of Sc
curty in which the two great maritime Powers of the
world have not yet been able to gain an important
prize Her naval treasures still held safe for her
future needs Her great Notifications, which are the
exponents of the national mind and proof OF ts capa
city. have baffled the military skill of Europe The
whole Russian Empire is the production OF Russian
thought, as truly the Egyptian r'Grecan civiiza-
ton was the peculiar out growth of the national mind.
II is assumed in popular opinion that Russia is the
determined foe of liberty that she is the chief barrier to
European progress This is the bale-cry by which her
enemies have attempted to excite the Indignation Of the
rd II is also said that she will adopt the system
Of British Free trade, thereby rendering herself huge
derendency of England. She does indeed insist on
protecting her own industry, and applying hersef to
the steady development of her own resources. She
thus threatens to compete with England in the markets
Of the world and hence England sends forth her fleets
and armies to arrest her growth in the name of liberty
But the charge that Russia s the opponent Of Euro
mean civilization should be studied in the light OF facts
that are often lost sight Of She is doubtless, shaping
n civilization of her own distinct from that of Western
Europe This is based separate idea, and intend
ed for separate race and in connection with separ-
ate form of religion. On this point, the author in-
duces in theoretical course Of reasoning, which has
scarcely the force of the practical portions OF his
work. Three distinct forms Of civilization, he main
tans are struggling for preeminence in Western Eu-
rope namely the Papal which allies itself TO civil
desptism; the Infdel Democratic; and the Protest
ant which is connected with the idea of constitutional
liberty. The influence of these antagonistc forces
an essential element in understanding the policy Of
Russia In the opinion Of the author, the Russian
Church which is simply national establishment with
,he Greek form of worship and free from the charac
teristic elements of Papacy, embodes the principles
which afford the only substantial basis for national lib
erty The patrarchd idea pervades the whole social
and political structure from the father of family up
ward through all the radatons to the Car the father
Of the nation-to God the universal father This the
ory is recognized by the author beautiful and true
and could it be properly realized in practice he argues
Russia even though an Empire, might become mod
81 State 1t will ultimately embody itself in fitting in
stutons. and win for itself noble future Our au-
thor we think, fails to establish this point, which ne
rests on the supposon that apart from the ascendency
nf Russia there is no alternative but between the Pa
pacy and Atheism.
The national idea, which shapes the policy Of Rus
sa is not founded the desire OF conquest 1t no
part Of her scheme TO incorporate into her State the
discordant elements Of Western Europe. Nor does
she contemplate aggressive war for the propagation oil
despotc principles and forms of Government. her
plan on the contrary, Is 10 preserve her own term
tora limits, and to enlarge them by new acquisitions
including the Baltic the west, and the Black Sea,
the Caspian and Coustantinople on the southeast