Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-11-11
America and Russia.

THIRTY years ago Michael Cbevalier
then young and ardent, Travelled over th
United States, and on his return to Franc
related his experience in the then ney
country in a series of q Letters on Nortl
America, ," which are, next to the famou
work of De TOoqueville, the most inter
esting, and in many respects the mos
able exposition Of American life and pol
titles which have appeared.
One of his passages, in the light Of re
cent events, is worthy of reproduction
now, and continued persistence by
France and England in the unfrieudly
course which they have adopted towards
the United Suites may turn into a fulfill.
ed prophecy what was then but a theor-
eticdi speculation:
"At St Petersburg and Moscow no
doubt is entertained that the sword of
the Emperor once thrown into the scale
will change the destinies of the world.
Perhaps the course of Western Europe
has served to confirm the Russias in their
exalted opinion of the authority Of the
Gar In Russia the batteries of the
eighteenth century have been accepted
as truths, and in the center Of autocracy
they imagine, on the faith of the great
est enemy of despotism, that light to day
comes from the North. So much for the
light; we will let that pass; but may
Europe, compactly united, present.a bar
rier strong enough to prevent any other
ineursion.
l" In Europe each nation claims for it.
self the first rank. I don't see Why Am
ericaus should be more moderate than VIC
on the other side of the Atlantic. The
wonders which they have accomplished
in the last fifty years give them a right
to pride They believe also that they
arc the first people in the world, and they
boast of it loudly
The truth is, that there is no people
to whom superiority is predestined, and
in fee for a series Of centuries. The
Jews, in whom this sentiment Of eternal
predestination seemed the most deeply
incarnated, have been subject fol eigh-
teen centuries to a trial which cruelty
bellies this idea. Since Ricbelieu and
the Revolution of 1858, that is, since
Spain has slept, France and England are
at the head Of civilization. and divide
dominating, the one by tloo-
", the other by practice; giving the tone,
he one to politics, the other to arts, taste
md manners. But what were France
md England three centuries ago, in the
ame Of Charles the Fifth, when the gem
erals of this Emperor and King killed
Bayarn at Rebecque, captured Francis
he First at Paw a and the Pope at Rome,
While, two thousand leagues away, on the
Western shores, Cortez conquered for him
he proud empire of the Montczumas2
And Prussia, which to-day divides, and
liyides worthily, the empire of Germany;
Prussia, which is young Germany-Ger-
many proud, ambitious, and eager to
olunge into the future, as Austria is pa.
riarchial Germany, courteous, wise Ger
Many preserver Of the past and guarder
# tae ancient privilege. What was
Prussia then, three generations ago2 |
What will we be, French, English, Prus- |
ians, Austrians in three scenturies-in !
hundred years, perhaps? Who can say |
hat some wind from the North, finding
IS divided, weakened by intestine strug-
lies, may not force Us to bow the heads
re carry SO high and proudly to-day?
Who knows but that the vigorous popu
alton which spring there from virgin
oil will not then have outstripped us, in
heir turn, as we have outdone our pre-
Who can say that the two
reat figures which to-day are rising at
he two ends of the horizon, the first to-
Tard tire rising sun, one foot on Moscow
nd the other about to plant itself at
'onstantinopIe; the second toward the
citing sun, half hidden as yet by the
immense forests of the Western World,
nd whose outstretched limbs extend from
he Gulf of St. Lawrence to the mouth Of
he Mississippi; who can say that these
To young COlOsses with face to each
ther with inquiring look, on the two
ides of the Atlantic, and join hands on
he shores of the Pacific ocean, will not
Don divide the dominion of the world.
BARON GUsFAvUs RoTHscHILD retires
rom business with fortune of $50. .O0O.-
90.
NOa K v,-E,Ay IL ,,-ol b l., r-a-.-