The Portland daily press., 1871-10-27
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 81, 1871



Ono os tho hest papers in Maine says that
we ought not to grudge the expense incurred
in welcoming Alexis, because Russia was our
friend during the rebellion. Much account
has indeed been made of the friendship of
Russia. But has anybody ever stopped to
think what it amounts to? Was the Musco-
vite Emperor in love with our institutions
and caphvated by our people when he de-
clined to Join some of the other European
powers in celebrating the expected downfall
of the Great Republic? Probably not. His
own government is the standard by which all
other despotism is measured. Compared with
his absolutism even Prussia and Austria have
popular governments. He and the Turk, who
was also "frieEdy," are the only remaining
European sovereigns who are still invested
with the plenitude of absolute personal au-
thority. The autocrat's forbearance toward
the United States was mainly the result of
his jealousy OF the Western European pow
ers. In case of their engaging actively in our
affairs, there would be diversion in his favor
that he has long desired. Why should ne
needlessly make enemies when the traditlonai
policy of his throne forces him always 10 COLI
TEMPLATE acts that will make the passive
sufferapce, if not the active assistance, OF al
possible friends necessary to hlmT HIS
schemes of conquest on the South, and now
ON the East, are likely to involve him with
the rest of Europe. Why should he, without
cause, make America party to the hostile
alliance? This country is so remote from his
own that there is no possibility of a conflict
Of interest, and the display of hostility
would be piece of mer, barbarian wanton.
ness.
So far as any material advantage is con-
cerned the friendship of the Gar is OF nc
more consequence than that of his Serenity
of Timbuctoo or Patagonia. The Sultan oil
good friends and faithful allies. So are the
people of the moon, if there are any.
The profession of extraordinary affection
for the Cossacks and Tartars of the model
despotism Is an immense disadvantage TO this
country morally. Intimate association with
an absolutism of incredible material possess
ions and physical strength has very much i'm
paired the freshness and vigor OF our demo
cratic sympathies. We are constantly placed
in false position by our more than forma
alliance with an Empire. If the Poles re
volt, the natural flow of our sympathies to
ward the insurgents is instantly checked b.
the reflection that their masters are our dea
friends, the Russians. 1t is not so much VOL
der that to sensibilites blunted in this way the
systematic falsehoods OF the European arts
tocracy concerning the Commune and the In
ternationale seem plausible. In this way the
majority of our people are found joining in
the clamor raised by emperor and king, prince
peer and priest, against the only organizations
that in all the ages have ever taken any prac.
teal steps toward freeing labor from its bond
age to taskmasters who still reap all but a
stale fragment of the fruits OF toll. Iii this
way it happens that men who only asked fol
liberty, and who established the raost econom
ical, orderly and upright government that
France ever saw, are denounced by us, as wei
as by their Romish and aristocratic foes, as
thieves, incendiaries, rebels, ruffians and muir
derers. America will shudder when it fully
realizes how Rome aud its fine imperial
friends have lied to it and deceived it in rela.
ton to the Paris Commune and the Interna.
tional Workingmen's Associations.