Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-03-09
: Prince Gortschako6.

Prince Gortschakoff is fully entitled to
the reputation of being the Nestor of Eu-
ropean statesmen. He was born in 179S,
at a period when the state of affairs in
France had plunged all Europe INTO a state
Three years after the overthrow of NapO-
leon at Waterloo he abandoned his studies
at the Lyceum Zarskoo and entered upon
the diplomatic career which has since made
him one of the most remarkable men II
Europe. In 1924 he was sent to London
as the Secretary of the Russian Embassy.
Two years later found him Plenipotentiary
at Vienna, where the death of his official
superior threw power into his hands
which he utilized for the good of his coun-
try and not little fol- that Of his own person
al ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 1t was in Vienna that
Gortschakoff first showed himself power
in influencing the affairs of Europe. In
1S41 he proceeded to Stuttgart as Embas-
sador Extraordinary aud conducted with
delicacy the negotiations Tor the marriage
between the Grand Duchess Olga and the
Prince Royal of Wurtemburg. In 1850
it was suspected that he used the informa-
tion previously obtained in Florence for
the purpose of causing the downfall of
Ferdinand l., and the upraislng of King
Francis Joseph. He returnd TO Vienna as
ambassador in 1854, in which year the
Eastern question, which he had helped to
ian, burst into blaze which was not ex-
iinguished until two years later, Sebasto-
pol fell before the allied powers. Gorts-
chakoff's cousin was the general who con-
Quoted the memorable defense OF that pow
erful stronghold. In 1856, when the Prince
was still al Vienna. the Conference Of Paris
was held, and it was owing TO his influence
that Russia consented tu accept the four
grtat points which formed the basis Of the
treaty thai was there discussed and signed.
In The same year he superseded Count
Nesselrode as Minister of Foreign Affairs,
and proceeded to ST. Petersburg TO assume
the Office. When France was at the feet
OF Germany, and when the latter country
had been exhausted by terrible war,
Gortschakoff saw his way to strike diplo-
matte blow for The advantage Of Russia,
He issued his celebrated circular to the rep
resentalives of Russia in the capitals of Eu
rope, informing them that Russia no long
er intended TO abide by that portion of the
treaty of Paris which bound it 70 respect the
neutrality OF the Black Sea-one Of the
very points which he himself had advised
his Emperor to accept in 1856. The Turk
ish Government considered this a direct
menace to It's independence, but England
cid not consider it expedient, without the
aid of France asain, to go to second war
wi h Russia To compel it 10 keep the treaty
of Paris inviolate. Diplomatic negotia ions
on the subject ensued of more or less ac-
rimoniOus nature, and finally conference
WAS held in London which resulted in Rus-
sla aGreeing 10 modify her intsntiona
Gortst hakon 5 last pror1fneut pubi,c action
was his taking seat in the Berlin Con-
gress of 1878 as Russian Pier ripoteniiary.
There he struggled long and s,outly to Sc
cure terms of peace which would have
practically turned the Turkish Empire into
Russiin Province. As il was, his peril
La ;ity that secured for Russia teIms more
advantageous than the Turks could alto, d TO
pay, and up to This date they are not who'll
ly fulfilled, and may possibly form the basis
of another war.