The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-12
The Peace Attitude of Russia.


In another column will be found an interest
ing special correspondence to tho HERALl
from st. Petersburg, In which, as nearly al
may be, the position and feelings Of the Rus
sian government in relation to the existing
war between France and Prussia are officially
as well as pointedly set forth.
Russia, SO long the bugbear Of timid dpo
matists in Western Europe, claims at this
hoar of the nineteenth century to be an en-.
lightencd as well as a mi hty Power. The
traditions of Nesselrode have been abandoned
in all but the broad, abstract views which thai
statesman cherished for the safety and homo,
OF the vast realm to which his genius gave Sc
exalted an influence at the moment when
Napoleon l., having tramplgd all the rest o.
Europe under foot recoiled from the banks
OF the Moskwa in utter dismay before the
resistance and sell-sacr;nce of people
whose martial courage was but the out
ward symbol Of their devotion to their prince
and their country. Another epoch of Russian
| history came in with the Gear Nicholas and
has continued in progressive expansion with
the accession of Alexander TO the imperial
| throne. The ideas which made Peter the
| Great the leading monarch of his time, in his
honest respect for the toiing people and his
wise efforts to bestow upon his native land the
practical improvements and advantages already
acquired by Western nations, have found an
| advanced interpreter in Alexander, who is
recognized by his contemporaries as maa of
most amiable disposition in private life deep
thinker, an accomplished scholar, wise coun-
sellor, and, in all respects, truly able intel
lect. For these reasons, also, and as an in
evitab.e deduction from the rest, the refining
Emperor of all the Russias abhors the sangui-
nary horrors Of war aud loves the very name
of peace. This noble tendency Of his mind
has been repeatedly proved on occasions when
tne brusque word Of mere military martinez
in his exalted place would have cost the
lives of thousands of poor wretches
on his Asiatic frontiers or in some of the
agitated towns Of his German principalities.
Last spring his long conferences with the King
o. Prussia at Ems, as our correspondent re-
minds us, led him to hope that there was no
danger of any rupture of the European peace,
and when the Hohenzollern- Spanish difficulty
subsequently arose it was largely TO his
influence that the withdrawal Of the German
Prince might have been ascribed Alexander
hoped that such withdrawal would end the
trouble. When, however, the war at last
burst forth and began to assume European
proportions, 1t was the Russian Emperors
judicious management which prevented Aus
tria on the one hand and the Scandinavian
quarrel. This line of policy, which Alexander
deemed the best for his people, was main
tanned in the very teeth of public sentiment
at home, which altogether favored France.
Moreover, discovering the existence ofa secret
treaty between France and Austria, by the
an invading force of two hundred thousand men
into Prussian Siiesia on the signal Of victory
gained by France on the right bank Of the
Rhine, Russia, without wading through the
tedium Of diplomatic forms, promptly signiied
her determination o oppose any such extension
OF the area Of tho war. Her remonstrance
was emphatic, and. it was needed. Austria
WlIHuTcW rum uSI tQulpCCdl utblbuue, ana any
demonstration that she may now attempt as
the dispatches published this morning fore
shadow can only be for the benefit Of peace,
unless the Prussian government has come to
the doubtful conclusion of Drawing the opinion
OF all Europe. In a few words, then, the
bearing Of the Gar and his counsellors has
been equally wise, dignfed and benignant-
worthy of great severe ign and mighty
people in juncture of vast responsibility.
Again, after the terrible collapse Of the
French empire OF Sedan, Alexander once
more, even while complimenting King William
of Prussia on his wonderful success, inter-
ceded for the sake of moderation an generous
dealing, and his efforts now are directed to
settlement Of the sad conflict and The restora-
ton of cordial peace.
Far from being hostile to the republican
government Of France as recognized by the
will of the people, the Gear has directly pleaded
in its favor, and by the force Of his example
induced both England and Austria to join him
in recommending an mistice and final
peace to Prussia. That Russian diplomacy
does not look with fear and dislike upon the
| principle Of republicanism in the abstract, in
countries where it meets the requirements Of
the people and the time, may be honestly infer
| red from its protection Of Swiss independence
in 1916 and its earnest friendship for the
American Union in our recent struggle for
| existence.
| The policy of Russia to-day is peace. She
is struggling to extend her railroad system, in
which she has 1000, OOO, 900 roubles invested,