The Portland daily press., 1865-03-13
Monday Morning, March l3, 1865.
iron the N. Y. Times !
The Good Understanding with Russia,
V'1-74zVO 1u ITO. ozs EzNO -
N. A. rOsT r Is CO.

For the first time in all history, the service
OF the Russo Greek Church was performed on
this Continent, in public house of worship,
yesterday. Through the comfy of the Epis-
copal bishop OF this diocese, Trinity Chapel
was opened to the small band OF the members
OF that communion resident in this city; and
the Greek liturgy was chanted by an ordained
priest of-the church, now on visit to this
country, assisted by several of the chapel yo-
eallsts. A large number of Americans were
present, both clerical and lay, and all were i'm
pressed with the simple grandeur of the mu-
sic and solemnity OF the service. -ot
Upon the religious significance of this act
OF friendly regard, il not positive fellowship.
between representative ofthe Greek church
embracing Within its pale some sixty five mil
lions aud one OF the chief branches of Amer
lean Professionalism, 1t is not our province to
dwell. We content ourselves with the simple
expression OF a trust that this new event will
do something to promote that mutual under
standing the want of which has always been
ore OF the chief causes of religious divisions.
Madame de Staei well said: so pray togeth-
er in any language, with any rites, whatever
they are, is the most touching fraternity ol
hope and sympathy which men can contract
on earih.n
But this occasion has also secular interest
1t was the anniversary OF the accession of AL
exander Ill. to imperial power. The religious
NOAbu4ShOldtlOit vi lildb CttuJ CQdllb1ReS Inc
respectful regard of every American. We
think we do not err when we say that the
Russian Emperor has the esteem and good
will OF the american people far beyond any
other sovereign of Europe. There are many
reasons. at SOS
The Imperial family personally, its head and
all its members, are remarkably free from the
vices and cofrupuons which have so generally
dishonored the courts OF Western Europe
Religious, full of charity, exemplary in ev-
cry habit. OF almost republican simplicity,
devoted 10 the good of the people, they can
not but receive the Difference of all true 4
hearts.
But that for which Americans hold Alexan-
der II. in peculiar honor, is his great act Of
emancipation. They recognize this as the
truest heroisn displayed in the Old World for
many a century. That young man. so unex-
pectediy called to the throne, and hardly as
yet firmly seated upon it, convoking the no
bes of his empire, heads of houses whose
power and fame had been coeval with the en-
pire, opening before them plan of making
an end of system which had enabled them
to lord it absolutely over twenty-five millions
OF their fellow-men, enduring calmly their ex-
clamations OF amazement, their prophecies of
personal ruin, their ominous outgiVings OF re-
belion, until, as.the midnight hour struck, he
dismisses them with the simple words; Gen
tlemen, what imperial power created, imperial
power shall destroy;2 and then, on the NOR
row, going almost single-handed toward the
execution of this gigantic task-that young
poteutate we say, will stand out as immeas-
urably the grandest European figure of the
centdry. The sovereign people OF the United
States, midway in their own work OF emanci-
patton, are proud to hail Alexander IL. as the
Great EnancipatoT.
But the Emperor of Russia has excited in
the American bosom q warmer feeling yet by
his staunch friendship through all the terrible
trials Of this rebellion. While the Western
Powers Of Europe have openly sympathized
with our domestic enemies, and have pursued
a policy which has all the while largely given
them material aid and comfort. the Russian
Emperor has never afforded them the least
countenance. Refusing in the beginning to
Join the so called Confederacy as belligerent
power, has ever since observed every obliga-
tion OF international comity with perfect faith;
and on all filing occasions has not hesitated,
through his ministers and envoys, to express
his iervent desire for such an issue of the con-
fict as shall preserve the Union. Americans
cannot forget this. They would have the
meanest blood in their veins if the remember
ance of it did not make them glow with kind
ly feelings. Russian friendship has stood tie
exire ne ordeal, where almost every other Eu-
ropesn friendship has failed. 1t will hence
forth be priced accordingly. 81
DuJ YET dRdtu dppIOdSH vi LIS
when the two great nations will be brought
into the closest proximity by the great SiDe-
rian telegraph, is calculated to generate new
ties. The cession to Russia by China of the
privilege Of navigating the great river Amoor
will prove of vast value in enabling her to ex-
tend her trade and commerce yeastwards; and
must have great effect, as well as the tele-
graph, in interliDking the commercial inter-
ests of the two countries. Under the enTight-
and ptaln NJ fhes oonfE fho xrack
internal resources of Russia are being devel-
oped with rapidity that has no parallel in
the Old World. Railroads and telegraph lines
are being extended to all parts Of the En-
plre; manufactures are being multiplied; ev-
cry branch of mechanical industry has recev-
ed new stimulous. The emancipation of
the serfs, though it has impoverished many of
the nobility has yet wrought such benefit up
on the masses, that all classes now unite in
regarding 1t as the greatest OF national bless
ings. Popular education is being extended.
and hundreds of thousands of copies Of The
Holy Scriptures in the vernacular are being
circulated. 1t would seem, in fact, as if Rus
sia were now beginning new era of her ex-
istence, and had career before her of meal
culable power and grandeur. Her European
territory alone covering half of Europe, an
her population close up 10 seventy millions.
she is the Colossus Of the Old World, as the
United States is OF the New. The fact that
these two great Powers, each in the oristla of
youth, and each feeling itself master of the
future, should all the while be drawing nearer
and nearer to each other 10 friendship and ev-
cry material interest, has mighty import of
some kind, though its precise character no man
can vet determine. We think it will prove a
new surety for the peace OF the world and the
progress of the race.
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