Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-18
JGmtester Daily Spp.
THE SYMPATHY OF RUSSIA.


instructions OF Prince GorschakoH to Mr.. de
StGckel, the Russian minister in this country.
This despatch, bearing date St Petershurgl1.
the ION OF July, was read by Mr.. de Slnckel
to the president of the United States and to
Mr. Seward, and appeared IN oar newspapers
early iii September. 1t is, in fact, the mani.
testo OF the emperor OF Russia, addressed nom.
lnally 10 the government Of the United States
but in effect to the civilized world, on the
present state Of affairs in this country. 1t is
not too much to say, that no state paper has
appeared, in the present generation, marked
with protounder wisdom more liberal feet
ing, or calculated to exercise happier nfu-
ence at home and abroad.
This imporlan! letter is understo TO have
been written under the personal inspiration OF
the Emperor, Alexander IL, Prince AleXan.
der GortschakofI, cousin OF the general OF
the same name, who commanded the Russian
armies in the Crlmean war being the impe-
rial secretary for foreign affairs. This eminent
statesman and diplomatist is now sixty-three
years OF age. He commenced his career in
the suite of Count Nesserole, at the congress.
c> Of lay JacA sal Verona and in 1924 was
sent is sccrcar} al legation to London where
lie was ul;uitt, occupied for several cars in
perieCling hl,vll oil he principal huguages
of Europe. 1t is the practice Ct the Russian
management of the foreign affairs of the coun-
try, in acquisition Of the French, English
German, and Italian tongues, a practice which
has contributed not Il little TO the efficiency Of
the Russian diplomatic service. Alter leaving
London, Prince GOrtsChakOti became success
sivey charge ddBdTeS at Florence and Wen.
ma ambassador extraordinary at Stuttgart
penipoteuIarl at Frankfort, and finally am
bassatlor at Vienna. In these various posi-
lions, and on occasions sometimes OF decacy
and embarrassment, he exhibited a diplomatic
talent of the highest order, which caused him
on the retirement Of Count Nesselrude, to be
placed at the head of the bureau OF foreign al
fairs. An expression in this circular to the
Russian ministers, on occasion OF the late
movement in Sicily, attracted general atten-
ton in Europe. Urging against France and
England their own principles of non interven.
ton, he said, La RUssie ne Jonde pas ellie de re-
cueiHe ; RUSSIA does not suk, She collects
herself
An official expression OF the views of the
Russian government on the American qu s..
ton must under any circumstances sbe a very
important event Prince Gortschakoti's letter
alludes to the grounds of sympathy between
the Two countries. To use his own language
it recognizes the United States as "a nation 10
which our august master and all Russia have
two countries, placed at the extremity vt the
two worlds, both in the ascending periods Of
their Development, appear to be called to
natural communication OF interests and SYM
patlIies, OF which they have already gwen NM
tual proofs to each other"
This remarkable letter OF Prince Gortscia
koff is not the least significant indication Of
the leauings OF his imperial master, on sub
ect Of equal interest to both governments, and
with which the present unnatural war in this
country is so closely connected. With great
Geleacy the prince observes, 81 do not wish
here to approach any Of the questions which
divide the United States. We are not called
upon to express ourselves in this contest. ,"
When we bear in mind, however, that The mo.
ment the emperor Alexander was enabled by
the capture OF Kars (which served as a com
pensation for the fall OF SebastOpol) to retire
from the CrmCan war with honor, he devo
ted himself to the great work Of ab0lishing
serage in his vast domini0ns, we shall per-
ceive that, in addition to the political consider.
atoms to which / shall presently allude, he
had strong grounds OF sympathy with the Uni,
ted States, in Il struggle forced upon them for
the extension Of slavery.# While assuming
the great responsibility oi raising majority
OF the inhabitants Of his immense empire from
a state OF bondage to one of freedom, it was not
with cold indifference upon the struggles
a friendly power to put down a gigantic in
surrection, whose object is declared by lis own
leaders to be to found government, tor the
first time in the history of the world, on the
corner stone OF slavery"
The emperor Alexander, in directing this
noble manifesto to 20 forth to the world, was
influenced as appears on the face Of the docu-
ment, by two considerations one OF liberal Eu.
ropean interest, and the other OF generous
American sympathy, considerations both OF
them worthy OF mag unanimous prince. They
have doubtless occurred to other enlightened
governments and wise rulers in Europe, but
the emperor Alexander will in all time be emit
tied to the credit OF having first made them
the ground OF great official act.
The first consideration - that OF liberal
European interests referred to in Prince
Gortschakotts remark, that the American
Union is IAN ELEMENT ESSENTIAL TO THE
UNIVERSAL POLITICAL EQUILIBRIUM" 1t is
hardly necessary to state that this great prin.
ciple OF "a political equilibrium" lies at the
basis of the peace OF Europe. With five
powers of the first order, and numerous Others
OF inferior, but still of great importance, the
only security for anything like general tran.
guilty is to maintain the various states sub.
slantaly in the position to which time and
extreme reluctance, great changes i'll the dis,
tribution OF power or partition of territory.
The necessity OF maintaining this equilibrium
has no doubt been frequently abused Ivy I'M
warrantabe interference with the internal
affairs OF foreign states but the principle
itself. rightly understood, has foundation in
a real European necessity. Wholly to dis
regard it would be to plunge the civilized
world into a chaos OF ambitions and passions,
like the elemental confusion which would take
place in the universe, il the great law OF gray
itaton, which guides the heavenly bodies in
their orbits, shouiI cease to operate, and
planets, suns, and stars should rush madly
against each other.
1t is truly amazing that the south, if in
sensible to all other considerations, does not
see the suicidal tatuity of her course. Ii has
hitherto been matter of urgent policy with
statesmen and rulers, as far as it can be done
by honest means, to extend the territorial
limits and increase the population of Il coun-
try. The south is eXhaustng herself in the
frantic attempt to diminish by two thirds the
territory and the population of the country
OF which she forms a part. A belligerent
power sometimes perishes in the utter failure
of lite ambitious prOiects,-th south is ruined
il she succeeds The worst foreign enemy
could not inflict upon her 1.-THE of the mis-
chief she is striving to bring OF herself. A
commercial marine and navy as the means
of protecting it, and as the Indispensable
condition of security at home and influence
abroad, have hitherto been coveted by all
states having an extensive sea coast. The
south insanely proposes to let herself down
from the position OF one OF the first maritime
pnvars # tho World intn q fiji IA rate semi n q.