The New York herald., 1866-03-19
Russia ana tho United states Entsnt
COrdtale.

Russia ana tho United states Entente
Cordiaie.
Our St. Petersburg correspondence, which
we published the other day, contained much Inn
portant intelligence concerning Russian affairs.
The finances appear to be In an embarrassed
condition, showing very considerable deficit
according TO the budget Of the Finance Min
lister; and 1t has been publicly stated that he
has garbled the figures to make 1t seem lighter
than it really Il. Count Stroganof so charged
in the municipal council Of Odessa, and was
rebuked by the Emperor for his boldness.
There would seem in the meantime to be .
tendency towards more liberal spirit in the
management Of public affairs, arising partly
from the hostility of the Emperor to the nobility.
The banquet at Moscow has been succeeded
by another at Cronstadt On both occasions
there has been very significant manifestation
Of an entente cordiab between Russia and the
United States 80 genuine and 80 hearty that
there can be no mistaling its meaning. Our
Minister to Russia was lately the special guest
of the sailors Club" Of Cronstadt, as he had
previously been the guest of the merchants Of
Moscow.
These facts have not escaped the notice
of European commentators upon public events,
and more particularly in England. 1t is evil
dent that Russia appreciates very fully the
value of a friendly naval Power like the United
States, in view of contingencies that may arise
in the future Of Europe, which at the present
time looks somewhat cloudy. There is also
good reason why the two countries should be
on friendly terms when we remember that, of
all the great nations of Europe, Russia was
our most steadfast friend during the rebellion.
While other governments openly rejoiced at the
prospect of the dissolution of this great republic,
and secretly fomented the rebellion, the gov
ernment of the Gar observed an honorable
neutrality In judging between their friends
and their enemies republics are not always un-
grateful erecognize fully the amicable rela-
tions preserved between US and Russia in our
days of trial and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which ex-
listed not only in appearance but in fact, and
we can contrast them favorably with the quasi
neutrality or i'll disguised hostility of other
nations
| Russia has progressed towards civilization
and the civil liberty of her people amazingly
within the past ten years. At period not
more distant than the Crimean war the govern
ment of Russia was the most absolute in the
world. The despotlsm of the days Of Louis
the Thirteenth and Richelieu in France was not
| greater than that Of Russia. The same system
Of espionage permeated through all society !;
serfdom in its most degrading form kept the
fha
The subject owed his life and his freedom to the
whm of the monarch. But all this is changed
| now, and the Russian citizen Is as free as the
citizen Of France. In many respects he Is
| more free. NJ Theirs, In his late speech IN the
French Assembly, censured the government of
France for employing the public funds to secure
the election of its own candidates. The inter-
vention Of government, he said, ought at least
to be confined within the limits of propriety.
No such charge can be laid at the door Of the
Russian government. The liberty of the sub
jeot, on the contrary, Is we'll estab lished in
Russia. We observe that democratic influences
have so far prevailed that man of strong
| democratic tendencies has been recently ad-
mitted to q place in the imperial Cabinet
that the serfs have been made free within
few years past 80 that, as NJ. Theirs says,
thirty millions of the inhabitants formerly held
as serfs are made first men and then citi-
zens in the land, "and their representatives are
now seated by the side Of those of the middle
classes and the nobles." This has been the
progressive policy of Russia. She has been
gradually approximating towards popular free
dom, and hence the anomaly of an afliliation
between n republic like ours and an absolute
monarchy like Russia loses its force. While the
government of England ASSUMED an unlriendly
attitude towards us during the rebellion, and
by its despotic policy has now driven portion
| OF her dominions into revolution, and the Em-
| peror of the French is endcavoring TO create
difficulties between the United States and
France, which the people of neither coun-
try desire, Russia has not only maintained the
most amicable relations with our people, but
has demonstrated an intention to assmlate her
institutions to those Of free government as
closely as her traditionary history and customs
will admit. In this respect she has made more
progress than any other nation in Europe, and
hence we are not surprised at the recent evil
dences Of more intimate alliance between
Russia and the United States. We take Il that
the existing entente cordide is something more
than a name.
| FESIANIsM-Is IT DEAD OR DoRxANr9-Despite
the great alarm Of our neighbors in Canada
| ovpr tho exnectad invao;on of tbo;r .o~.;...-