New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-23
RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA.

hUSo1A AMI PBUSS1A.
That is an extraordinary change of po-
htical sentiment, if Russia has grown to
be jealous or afraid of Prussia. We can
trace the translation to no other principle
than one of vanity, for the two nations
have no conflicting interests that are APP
parent to the general observer. Russia
has been badly governed, because she has
been subjected to the despotic sway of
many weak men. Alexander's friendship
for the first Bonaparte was the cause of
untold calamities, becausei it gave the con-
queror of Austria full swing to dominate
Central Europe. 1t originated in a feeble
suggestion that great continent, aye,
| two continents, would be divided between
France and Russia, which was vanity
that reason and history should have dis
PEELED from any sensible mind. Bona
parties dream of making the Mediterra-
mean French lake was a personal ambi-
ton which even its great author knew
to be incapable ofperpetuation beyond the
term Of his own existence; and when
Russia lent herself to this colossal enter
prise on the condition that she was to be
allowed to become the master of Asia,
the home of Romanoff, committed a
blunder which the successor of Alexander
made haste to correct. No such under
standing could ever have been had with
monarch of more reason and less authori-
ty. The very absolutism of the Car pre-
cipitated him into the tolls of the
meteoric Corsican, and his successors
have even fallen into other errors from
the same cause. Russia is directed by
purely | ersonal government, the will of
the monarch being the undisputed law of
the State. If the representative of this
august and unquestioned authority is
weak, as Catherine was, as Alexander was,
it is easily to be seen that Russia may be
directed into line of policy that no
craftsmanship can explain. Personal
vanity might prompt the Car into war
that all the interests of his subjects would
be opposed to, but which their united
voice could not arrest
If enmity exists between Russia and
Prussia, we can not account for it on any
other ground than that the Gear has fallen
into a jealous mood toward his great
neighbor, whose fame now fills the world,
and eclipSes that of all the other Euro
pean powers. Prussia has no ambition
that conflicts with the will of Peter the
Great Under that instrument which is
said to be the political chart of the Ro-
manoff family, the forces of Russia are
always directed to the extension of the
empire in the direction of Asia and the
south Of Europe. Constantinople and
the Caucasus have been the objective
points of Russian aggression for years,
and since Prussia has not at present, nor
ever had, any pretensions in that way,
the interests of the two States are appar-
emily without any real conflict. The
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the latter in the direc-
ton of Denmark and the Rhine is not
reasonably Objectionable to Russia, since
the Gar can have no hopes of ever being
permitted to extend his own sway in that |
direction. 1t is, therefore, impossible |
to account for the present reported |
enmity between Berlin and St Peters
burg on any other suggestion than that the
Emperor Nicholas has grown to be jealous
Of the greatness of Emperor William, and
is willing to assist in reducing the power
of monarch who has suddenly sprung
into the position of dictator in Central
Europe. If this idea is correct, and
jealousy is the root of the trouble, it would
be folly to attempt an explanation of what
probable consequences are liable to spring
from the complication. A vanity which
Is so overwhelming as to allow its owner,
in jealous moment, to disturb the peace
OF continent, is capable of the most ex-
travagant efforts, and the great strength
OF Russia, which is entirely at the dis
posal of the Gar, may be welded for the
shalloweS of objects to accomplish yery
terrible results AS We do not believe
that the Emperor of Russia is as weak as
ne Is represented to be in this particular,
we can not believe the telegraph when it