The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-26
PrlnCo GortscilakoR.

Prince Gortschakof is fully entitled to
tho reputation of being the Nestor of Eu-
ropean statesmen. He was born in 1898.
at period when the state of affairs In
France had plunged all Europe INTO state
OF profound anxiety and vast confusion.
Three years after the overthrow of Napo-
leon at Waterloo he abandoned his studies
at the Lyceum Zarskoo and entered upon
tho diplomatic career which has since made
him one Of the most remarkable men IN
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 a power into his hands
which he utilized for the good of his coun-
try and not little fof that of his own person
al ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 1t was in Vienna that
aortschakof first showed himself power
IN influencing the affairs of Europe In
1871 he proceeded to Stuttgart as Embas-
sador Extraordinary and conducted with
dellcacy the negotiations for the marriage
Detween the Grand Duchess Olga and the
Prlncc Royal of Wurtemburg. In 1850
it was suspected that he used the Informs
tlon 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
i;neuishcd until two years later, oeDasIo-
pol fell before the allied powers. Gorts-
chakotf's cousin was the general who con-
Quoted the memorable defense OF that pow
erful stronghold. Inc 858, when the Prince
was still at Vienna, the Conference of Paris
was held, aud it was owing to his influence
that Russia consented to accept the four
great points which formed the basis Of the
treaty that was there discussed and signed.
In the same year he superseded Count
Nessclrode 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
rcsentalivcs of Russia in the capitals of Eu-
rope, informing them that Russia no long
or intended to abide by that portion of the
treaty Of Paris which bound it TO respect the
neutrality OF the Black Sea-one Of the
very points which he himself had advised
his Emperor to accept in 1866. The Turk
ish Government considered this direct
menace to its independence, but England
did not consider it expedicnt, without the
aid of France again, to 80 to second war
with Russia to compel it to keep the treaty
of Paris inviolate. Diplomatic negotia' ions
on the subject cnsued of more or less nc
rimonious nature, and finally conference
was held in London which resulted in Rus.
sla agreeing to modify her intentions.
Gortschakoif's last prominent public action
was his taking seat in the Berlin Con-
gress of 1878 as Russian Pier ipotenliary.
There he struggled long aud stoutly to So
cure terms of peace which would have
practically turned the Turkish Empire into
a Russian Province. AS it was, his peril
Da;ty that secured for Russia terms more
advantageous than the Turks could afford to
pay, and up to this date they arc not who'll
ly fulfilled, and may possibly form the baeis
of another war.