, 1876-05-13
GERMANY AND RUSSIA.
From tie Times }

Russo-G5rman relations have recently be.
come the theme of an animated controversy.
Up to 1918, it is we'll known, Russia was con
siderel the mainStay Of reaction in Germany.
Nicholas supported the German Governments
in their opposition to the growth Of |constitu-
tionalisn, and regarded thu unii0ation plans
as a dream if not as a breach of Treaty.
Animated by these Conservative sentiments,
he was not a little diSSltisti3d with the deport-
ment of Frederick William ". in the unsettled
period consequent upon the fall Of Louis Phi.
lippe. He censured his Prussiau brothsr-in-
law for e~naoting a charter and allowing himself
to be made the chief parsonage and prospective
head of the Unity movement. 4 little later,
when, the Liberal demands getting extravaganza,
the King of Prussia curtailed the concessions
made, the time arrived for Nicholas to act.
The King having fallen out with the Liberals
on matters OF internal government, was in turn
deserted by them in the semi-foreign question
of unity. Upon this Austria proceeded to ac-
ton. G.al to have escaped exclusion from
Germany-the fate awaiting her on the unid0a-
ton of the COMPREHENSIVE undertook to
re-estabIish ancient institutions, AMI being too
weak to contend with Prussia, appealed to
Nicholas for help. Promptly complying with
the request addressed him, Nicholas babe tbs
PfusSian Premier call upon him, and told the
d~ismayed Minister that tue d.siga of a united
Germany must be abandoned. It was in con.
sequence Of the strong opinions bro4ohsl on
that occasion that B iron Mtnteuf3 Il, towards
the end Of November, 1850. took that memora-
Bile journey to 0 m1tz, where he Sjgnif ii sub.
mission to the Austrian Prince Schwlrtz4n.
berg, Thus the re-eStabiislmaa OF the ancien
regime in Germany WAS the direct Consequences
of Russian Intervention. Ih8 deares. WISH of
the nation was foilel by Nicholas, and an OBJ.
sol t3 order of things, keeping iowu liberty and
unity alike, revived by a foreign pOtentate.
Neither the G3rmln nation nor the Prussian
dynasty hal Ch4n any great reason to rej0ios in
Russian frien 18hjp.
Bat anew era was to saperyeae. Austria
having been obliged beyond endurance by
Russia's Intervention in Germany and Hungary,
thought it necessary to assert her independence
by opposing her benefAotor. Al the time of
the Crim3AH Wan she threatened Russia's
flank during th4 Polish Rebellion that follow.
ed size bofrIendod the insurgents. In return,
when Prussia reverted to her former policy,
aud ia ob3lisnae to tbs national demands uu-
derrook the unilieation Of Germany in earnest,
Russia no longer objected, Tae battle of
Sadowa was fought not indeed with the assis.
lance, but amid the cordial applause of the
st, Petersburg Court. The advantage to
Germany from the victory was 80 incaIoulable
that the nation opened her arms to all and
every one who seemed to approve, no matter
whether the approval was dictated by a selfish
motive or not. towards the ST. Petersburg
Government the gratitude felt was all the
warmer that the Russian people we're known
to find fault with the course held by their
rulers. Both nations, in fact, were equally
mistaken as to the motives a|ctuating the Rus
sian Emperor, and a~Scribing his policy to Ger
man prOoliyities, the one blamed while the
other praised bis deliberate attitude. Curious
ly enough, it never seemed to occur to his
critics that, whatever A}exander's attachment
to his German uncle, His Russian Majesty is
necessarily too good a patriot to pursue any
policy except what is in strict accordance
with Russian interests,
So deeply convinced, indeed, was the En-.
peror Alexander of the wisdom of his tactics
that he adhered to them on a second and more
trying occasion. We know enough of the
secret history of 1870 to be able to assert that
the Emperor Alexander covered Gsrmany's
rear In tnat dangerous period. The fact Is,
His Majesty had no choice. Unless he wished
to see Germany defeated and Austria trium.
plant and more able than ever to oppose him
in the East, he could not but contribute
towards the consolidation of Germany. That
the St. Petersburg Government were not
enam0ured of that consolidation, apart from
its effect upon Austria, may be gathered from
the s~ceptioal attitude assumed after Sedan.
Yet the grand fact of Alexander holding fast
hU his olIi,na, Nth .N.wp,onv IN hA. H.. ~