The New York herald., 1864-12-21
R.ssis, sAs Unissd States and yv.stsr.

1ussis, she United States and Western
II has ever been the dream OF the Russian
monarchy since the days Of Peter tho Great
that the possession of Constantinople was .
hereditary right, obtained and strengthened by
the fact that the Gar Of Russia is the legiti-
mate head Of the Greek Church. To get hold
Of the Turkish capital, command the Bospborus
and the Mediterranean and drive the Osmanlis
eastward into Asia, has been duty which has
devolved as legacy to the occupants Of the
Russian throne.
Nicholas attempted to carry out the idea ct
q time when he thought that England and
France could not form an alliance, and that he
could crush the power Of England alone But
he made great political mistake, for they did
combine. France pushed England into the
Crimean war, and then reaped all the glory Of
its success. The present Emperor Alexander
seems to be wiser than his father, and he evil
dentiy thinks that now Is the proper time to
get possession Of Constantinople. He may be
right. France and England have been guilty
of 50 many unfriendly aots towards this coun-
try since the war began that they are regarded
with hostility and hatred. Russia has been
ever friendly to us-in fact the only leading
European government which has maintained
an unqualified neutrality. and which, in many
other respects, enjoys the good will Of the
American people, and would receive their
fullest sympathy In any undertaking to humble
the treacherous powers Of Western Europe
These Powers are not in position just now to
resist the shock Of such war rs the Gar could
hurl upon them. Apart from the hostility Of
this country, the affairs Of France, in Mexico,
are SO complicated, and the danger TO her COM
merce from the threatened privateering attacks
Of the republican authorities OF Mexico is no
great, that q European imbroglio would be
most inopportune.
1t is surprising that the Russian Minister and
consuls in this country have not assured the
Gar Of the feelings Of our people in regard to
q war with the Western Powers, and notified
him that the golden opportunity is approach
ing to accomplish the grand hereditary idea Of
his race. That they have not done so shows
that the Russian. agents and representatives
here are entirely unfit for their positions All
the sympathies of our peoples are with Russia.
There 10 not friendly sentiment existing to-
wards England or France from the duplicity
exhibited by these governments for the last
four years. We are closing up our accounts
with the rebellion very rapidly, and will soon
be ready to infl!ct condign punishment upon
France and England. By next summer we
shall be drawing in our pickets and remarshal
ling our armies for more congenial warfare
than the present fraternal strife. We shall be
calling off our blockadng squadrons, then no
longer needed, and arraying them in one grand
feet for any emergency. The London papers
boasted recently that II we wanted fight with
England we should travel three thousand miles
to accomplish it, now that she has virtually re-
signed Canada Well. II will not take very
long to do that with our fast sailing vessels.
We could land two hundred thousand veterans
upon her shores-say thewest coast Of Ireland
in three weeks; and we will be ia position
to do it II necessary before the summer solstice,
Now, therefore, is the time for the Russian Gar
to carry out his designs upon Constantinoplo.