Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-10-04

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that the transmission of the aulOcraiic power
could be made in 50 regular manner. Rus
sia, for moment stupifed before the sudden
death Of The Aulocrat Car, expressed her Joy
unreservedly at the advent of his son TO the
throne. The Russian nobility, especially, dis
satisfied with the war-hke policy Of his father,
which imposed upon them many pfivations,
hailed with the assurance Of better times The
succession Of the Czarewilch to power. Thus
when the manifesto Of the new Czar announc-
cd TO his subjects his advent TO the throne, the
people rushed everywhere 10 crowds 10 the
churches TO take the oath Of allegiance.
lhe Russian empire is an outocraiie mon
archy the Car is the source Of all power and
OF all law not only in temporal, bat also ia
spiritual Affairs he possesses the hiehes, leg
lsia'ise' executive and judiciary power, united
IN his own person. A change Of reign carries
with II, consequently, many other changes.
| The principle Of power remains constant, but
the manner 10 which ii is exercised varies more
or less. 1t is 10 the personal character Of The
new Gar that we must look, in order to know
in what direction these variations will turn
Many representatives have been made by Al
exander II. as the actual emperor. We com
bine from them the following portrait.
Alexander ii. does not reproduce the high
autocratic type Of his father, and yet both his
| physical and mental organization reveal tho
monorch. He is tall Of stature, measuring five
feet seven inches, aud is less neshy than in his
20th year. His step is firm aud proud, but not
slif Ills blue eye is clear and mild, his fair
complexion is a lille sunburned his hair light
hued and short. His thick musiaches turn
back, and are prolonged in wbiskers rising in
an arch below the temples. His voice is SON
orous, and equally flexible to the stern utter
ances Of command and to tho geniler modula-
tion Of conversation. His smile is pleasing,
yet the Marquis de Custne observed discord-
ance between il and the constant contraction Of
the mouth, which, to the pbysognomis,, an
nounces an absence Of frankness.
When still Giand Duke, Alexander partic-
ulariy 'iked the Circassian uniform, which is
less embarrassed wih trappings, and sits more
gracefully than the Russian. We doubt, how
ever, that his military tastes are so excessive
as those Of his predecessor. His recent orders
To the army do no. beiray thai brutal and ex-
treme adherence to discipline which Nicholas
affected. Besides. Alexander, who holds more
a
loves his ease and the comfortable side Of life.
He seeks after pleasures, and an opulen, table
has thousand times more charms for him than
bout at arms or review. lie will doubtless
fulfil with exactitude his duties as a military
sovereign, bu, he will not exceed them.
Alexander II. has domestic virtues. Peace
reigns at his hearth-a quie,ude enliyened with
intellectual amusements. There :he tone is
given BY his wife, esteemed for exquisite taste
her varied and solid information. The pres
ent empress bears, it is said, the expression of
Catherine ii. Aided by her, Alexander has
impaired peculiar charm 10 the relations of
his private and domestic life. With a feeling
heart, liberal mind, joyous temper, he has
many devoted friends. His personal tendencies
are more Of the West than Of the East. His
preferences have been hitherto rather for France
than for England. On one occasion, in dis
cnssing national characters, he is reported TO
have said al hate the English, pity the
Germans, but admire the French" We must
moi, however, lay too much stress on these ON
dts. Persons who are in position TO know
him well, pretend that as grand duke he always
showed penchant towards the English, whose
constitution he approved.
Alexander ii. is religious, but neither
more nor less than every other civilized Rus.
sian. lie does not like to play the part
OF an orthodox pope. like his father, for
The proof Of which see the scrupes which
he has eyinced with Count Nesselrode. on
the question Of singing the last manifesto
of the holy synod-a hesitation which has
not escaped the attention Of those who occupy
in tla Il =. r..
men Of the old Russian party, which eovets for
Russia the supremacy of the world, that prog
ress meets with its most serious Obstacles
Hitherto the emperor Alexander has not taken
well-de6ned attitude towards il. There has
not been time. We must wait to see whether
the young czar vii. succeed in shaking OF all
dependence on the example Of his father, wor-
Thy disciple Of Peter the Great; OF whether in
huences upon his mind will confirm the impu-
iation which has been made Of weakness and
inconsistency in his character. His imperial
acts and manifesioes augur yet nothing good,
but we prefer TO believe that the emperor Al
exander has no, yet laid aside those noble quail
lilies which distinguished his nature, persuaded,
as we are, that the exercise of despotism nee
essarily perverts the finest character
The Russian people is child it goes where
its masters carry it. 1t has always needed that
chiefs from foreign countries should take charge
of it; first Ruirk, the Scandinavian, then tho
Romanoffs of German origin, finally the Hol-
sten-Goiiorfs, moro German still. What il
knows and what it likos is TO obey. An admi-
rable instrument in the hands Of one who knows
how to govern, it will ofIsr no resistance to the
caPrices of tyrant. The whole question of
the government lies in the personal character
OF the monarch. Whatever be the ideas and
the policy which the emperor Alexander adopts,
II he has the requisite strength of will, the ON
Pire will march in accord with him.