New-York tribune., 1870-11-29
GORTSCHAKOFF.
TIE PRINCE AND HIS COUNTRY.

TURKISH DE5POTISM.l
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The traveller who happened to pass by
rail between ST. Petersburg and Moscow ten twelve
years ago. heard often enough Of those three great
Princes, Peter Michael, and Alexander Gortschakof,
whose vast estates lay along line OF the road They
we're three brothers. born in 19o95 and lsoo the only
OF that generation OF one OF the Oldest
and noblest Muscove families. Each was getting old
stood at the hight OF fameand was enjoying the In
creased that valuable services rendered In the
cabinet and field during the Cr1mean war had given
him. Prince Peter Gortschakof, then TO- who, after
having been retired full General. offered himself
for active service at the age Of 65, and COM
manded the left wing Of the Russian forces
at the battle OF Alma; Prince Michael, VINO
succeeded Menschikof C0mmander-in-Chief OF the
whole Criinean army and experimenting the protraced
defense OF sebastopol, secured with consummate skill
the retreat of Russian forces from the blazing ruins
of its fortress age then reaching threescOre and
Prince Alexander the world drenowned dipomatis who,
attached for nearly four decades to the Russian Embas
sizes at Florence and Vienna Berlin and London Paris and
Consantinoplc has just now, as Minister OF Foreign Az
fairs at ST. Petersburg at the OF H. astonished Europe
by his audacy these three at that tme perhaps
the most distinguished In the Empire of the Car.
Unlike the Menschkos and Orlofs their blood was all
blue In all Russia there nobler weather. or
moro gifted family than the Gortschakos. For eight
generations save one, member OF the family has been
identified as statesman, soldier poet or public writer
with the peculiar policy that has made the Empire
great II was Gortschakof who prompted
Alexander 1. to say, his first meeting with the
great Napoleon hate the English much you do
who nstgated the firing OF Moscow and the Kremn; who
forced onward the subectOn Of Poland without justice
and without mercy; who made Nicholas Car In spite
the rights Of Constantine; who opposed toeraton OF
the Jews, urged persecution OF the Roman Catholic
Christians and said OF Louis PHILIPPE, when the Bour-
dry Ia ntrle
beastiness must take placei" and who persis ently
nine opposed to the last the decree that eman
cipaed the serfs. Not the same man, OF course; but
members Of the family, true to tradition, irresist
BILE as a power In the Government, welded to the old
policy which has conducted Russia out Of barbarism
There has always from the days Of Peter the Great been
one of them who has stood foremost in the councils Of
State.
OF tho three brothers named two dead Peter out
lived conclusion Of the Crimean only four years
The greater military commander, Michael died at the
age a. three years ago. Prince Aexancer now at the
head OF Russian Foreign Affairs is the only Gortschako
survivor Of that generation. The Prince possesses con-
sttuton Of iron He is man OF great industry as well
extraordinary ability. Muscovlte In features and shape
OF head with eyes that deep set under shaggy gray
eyebrows but which exhibit signs OF dimness; hair
thin long, and perfectly white figure rather spare and
tall in younger days, but now slightly bent, and man.
ner peculiar and impressive, Prince Gortsehakon
Is hardly likely De forgotten Wnen Oi.Ce m
dpomatis he stands in the very first rank As states
man. he is identified with the old policy Of the Car
Peter That policy included under several heads
keep the Baltic OPEN TO confine the Swedes, then
powerful people, TO their pennsula to weaken and de-
stroy Poland by fomentng intestine divisions; to profit
by the decadence of the Ottoman Empire; to enlarge
the eastern borders with territory and to be reck-
oned for something In the family OF Christian nations
were the six points to be forgotten. Amid almost
Inc xtrcable embarrassments which his passion for re-
forms had entangled him. this programme was put In
execution by Peter the Great and powerful was the
machinery he organized that his successors for more
than 100 years. sometimes In spite Of themselves have
been forced along by the mighty impulse.
The mastery power OF waiting never
in all history achieved so great results.
The Baltic has become Russian Prisoners on their
barren SOIL the swedes live only the military glory OF
Charles XII Poland belongs to the past territory,
larger than Europe and crowded with teeming millions
Of inhabitants has been to the Muscovy Of Peter
while in the councils OF the Christian nations
Of the west voice of Russia is potent than that
OF any nation except Prussia Five OF the six maxims
reduced to practical realities within $50 years! The
sixth Is as certain to be made fact, perhaps imme-
diaely perhaps In time little remote as that the
world goes
II Peter the Great organized the future OF his vast
dominions 1t Catherine H. who crowned the work.
To her due the partition Of Poland, that first revolu
ton the European SYSTEM to her is dne the design
q secOnd-tne
ton rs Power From Catherine to Alexander and from
him to the present Car, nothing has been done in
Europe without consulting Russia. She arbitrated be-
tween the young France and the old monarchies in 80
She played the Crs part in the Congress OF Kings at
Vienna after the fall Of Napoleon i. She gained pre-
ponderance by the Treaty OF Adrianople In 49, She
came ont Of the Crmean stronger than she went n
And she has to-day prepOnderance established on
solid basis, In the affairs Of Europe, greater than
ever before. That this is neither Fictitious nor
transient is evident from her peoped territory compris
ing than half OF Europe and more than third OF
Asia. To speak more exactly. the surface OF Russia In
Europe exceeds square miles; that Of Russia in
Asia is about 6,5OO0oo-a total Of s,50o,0oo square
miles, or more than the double Of Europe tthe
whole surface OF which does not comprise 100000
square miles,, and quite sixth OF the habable globe
This territory is peOped IL contains more than sOoOO0O
souls. Plunged In the tOrpor Of sembarbaric life,
produces the anomaly (when compared with England
the United sates Of births to the population of to
22 as against to 49, In NewEngland, to 49, It's on
nual by births alone exceeds 250oo; with us
this increase has not reached 100000 Fifty years will
suffice people Russia with 100000 people by natural
increase alone But iths Ia not its limit. The Musco
vte soil is eminently productive. The genius Of
tho people Is fruitful in resources. Wanting
in creative faculty perhaps there Is marvellous aptitude
of imitation. Remarkable for vigor the Inhabitants
accommodate themselves TO all situations. Russia is in
fact the seat OF young, active, stirring, ambitious
civilization inaccessible to the thought OF danger,
cheerful greedy Of gan crafty morally 20 supple that
hesitates neither at fasehood theft and achieving
every year an advance in the direction II took 200
ago. II s moreover united, compact, subject to one
lava living lawto which the Greek religion, unlike
Romansm Professionalism, still In possession OF all its
power spite Of its corruption lends the full force OF
its potent sanctions This Empire, placed on the con-
fines of Europe and Asia, presses upon both with an
e.pansye force never felt since the best days Of I'M
pera Rome. IL has always been so where the Govern
pept was enlightened and the people barbarous where
there was skill in the and dOcility In the instru
ment Against Empire Of colossal proportions, en-
dowed with illimitabe expansive power, wnat are
crippled Austria, precocious Italy, or Great Britain
in rs doage conquered France, or even exhausted
Prssiawhat all those old Powers whether OF over