The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-15
Providence journal. |
GOrtScha,kOff.

Prince Gortschakoff who is reported dying
at this writing, and whose chance of recovery
az his age, from a serious attack of disease,
must be very feeble, although contemporary
with Theirs, Gladstone and Beaconsfeld, ap-
pears to belong to an earlier race of statesmen,
while Bismarck, at sixty-six, seems but
young man in comparison. The reason for
this is that Gortschakoff very early acquired
prominence, and was the accredited represen-
tative of Russia in foreign affairs, while his
distinguished contemporaries were struggling
for recognition in the ranks, and arrived at re-
sponsible power much later Gortschakoff az
eighty-two is but seven years older than Dis
raeli, but he was negotiating important trea-
ties before the latter had Obtained his first seat
in Parliament, and was minister for foreign
affairs while Disraeli had hardly begun sto be
recognized as more than Parliamentary
guerilla. Gortschakoff was fortunate in de-
scent from long line of distinguished public
servants of Russia, and inherited the privilege
of early Office. His diplomatic experience
dates back to the Congress of Layback, which
he attended in the suite of Count Nesselrode,
so that he iaconnectcd with the readjustnient
of political affairs in Europe after the final
downfall of Napoleon, and from that time bis
service has been continuous. He was also re-
garded as an inheritor Of the political faith
and methods of Metternich and Talleyrand,
and has therefore long seemed old and anti
quated. But more than sixty years of contnu-
GUS service is in itself very large piece out of
modern history
How much authority and influence Gorts-
chakof has had in framing the policy of Rus
STA, 1t IS impossible to say; nor when he was
the servant and when the master. If he has
had such influence as Metternich in Austria
and Bismarck in Germany, his career as a
whole must be pronounced failure, which is
properly ended in the social revolution now
raging in Russia. But if he has only been
the servant of imperious and mistaken Cars,
and his only sphere has been to smooth over
difficulties which he did not create, and to rec
tify plumbers for which he was not responsible
then he is entitled to the praise of much skill
full management and successful diplomacy.
AS practical statesman and administrator,
he is entitled to no praise, bnt as a negOtiator
of treaties and diplomatist he has made the
best out OF many bad cases, and scored at least
one decided success in aggressive action by the
abrogation of the treaty of Paris. His career has
been marked by the disaster of the Crimean
war, the instruction of Poland, the revelation
OF the rottenness of the civil and military adj
ministration of Russia in the late war, and ends
hnallY In social revolution OF the most malig-
nant and threatening Sort The general inn
preston is that he is not responsible for this
mismanagement, and the fact that neither his
fame nor his life has been the object of special
attack by the Nihilsts is one evidence in his
favor. On the other hand he cannot be &C
quilted of responsibility without acknowledge
ment that his personal power and influence
have been smaller than they should have been
for an individual of really commanding power
in his position. He might have been COM
PEELED to subordinate himself to the autocratic
will Of Nicholas, but he should haveldominaued
the feeble and irresolute character of Alexan-
der, If he had really been great man. If he
has really exercised commanding influence,
his later career has been a tissue of blunders
and mistakes as to the tendency of the times
and the forces with which he has to deal. His
life goes out, while his sovereign's is in daily
peril from assassination, and the whole fabric
OF society is in danger of collapse. He will
hardly be called a great man by history, but
considered merely as successful negotiator
and diplomatist, he will be entitled to very
considerable praise.