New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-10
The Eastern Question.

Az the complications in Europe at this
time are attracting the attention of thought
full people on both hemispheres, Q corre-
spondent Of the REPUBLICAN has copied
from Barry O'Mesra's "Voice from St.
Helena" the following testimony of Europe's
greatest soldier:
I asked him (Napoleon) il he thought
that Paul had been mad? "Latterly," said
Napoleon, 1 believe that he was. At first
he was strongly prejudiced against the
revolution, and every person concerned in
it: but afterward had rendered him reas-
enable, and had changed his opinion alto.
gether. If Paul had lived you would have
made between Paul and myself to invade
it. 1 furnished the plan. l was to have
sent &c, 600 good troops. He was to send q
similar number of the best Russian soldiers
and 10000 Cossacks. was to subscribe
10. 100000 in order to furnish camels and
other requisites to cross the desert. The
King of Prussia was to have been applied TO
by both Of us to grant passage for my
troops through his dominions, which would
have been Immediately granted. l had at
the same time made demand to the King
of Persia for passage through his country,
which also would have been granted,
though the negotiations were not entirely
concluded, but would have succeeded, as
the Persians were desirous of profting by
it themselves. My troops were to have
gone to Warsaw, to be joined by the Rus.
SLAMS and Cossacks, and to have marched
from thence te the Caspian Sea, where
they would have either embarked or have
proceeded by land, according to circum-
stances.
IL was beforehand with you IN sending an
ambassador on to Persia to make interest
there. Since that time your ministers have
been imbeciles enough to allow the Russi-
ans to get four provinces, which increase
their territories beyond the mountains.
'.The first year Of the war that you will
have with the Russians they will take India
from YOU"
then asked if it were true that Alexan-
der had intended to have seized upon
TurkeyY
Napoleon answered.: can his thoughts
are directed to the conquest of Turkey.
We have had many discussions together
about it; at first was pleased with his pro-
posals, because thought it would enlighten
the world to drive those brutes. the Turks,
out of Europe. But when reflected upon
the consequences, and saw what q tre-
nendous weight of power it would
give to Russia in consequence of the
numbers of Greeks in the Turkish do
miniOns, who would naturally join the
Russians, I refused to consent to it,
especially as Alexander wanted to get Con-
stantnople, which l would not allow, as it
would have destroyed the equilibrium Of
power in Europe. reflected that France
would gain Egypt, Syria and the Islands,
which would have been nothing in COM
parison with what Russia would have Oh
tained. considered that the basbarians of
the North we're already too powerful, and
probably in the course of time would over
wheIm all Europe, as now think they will.
Austria already trelnbles. Russia and
Prussia united, Austria falls, and England
can not prevent it.
France under the ~present family is
nothing, and the Austriaps are go weak
that they will be easily .overpowered (una
ma=ime colpo di bastone). They will offer
little resistance to the Russians. who are
brave and patient. Russia is the more for
midable. because she can never disarm. In
Russia, once soldier, always soldier
barbsrians who, one may say, have no
country. and to whom every country is bet
ter than the. one which gave them birth.