The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-12

dead.
Prince Gortchakoffs was educated in the
lyceum of Zarskoye Selo, and Immediately
turned his attention to a diplomatic career.
When but twenty-three years of age he was
attache to Count Nesselrode, at the Congress
OF Labach, near Trieste, which was attended
by the sovereigns of Russia, Prussia, Austria
and Naples. The following year (1862) he at
tended the Congress of Verona in the same
capacity. Two years later he was Secretary of
Legation at London; i'll 1880 Charge d Affaires
in France; in 1882 Councillor of Legation at
Vienna. But it was not until 1912 that he
began the services which endeared him to
Emperor Nicholas and paved the way to his
subsequent distinction and power. In that
year, in the face of great obstacles. he nego-
tated, at Stuttgart, the marriage of the Rus
sian Princess Olga with the Crown Prince
Karl, afterward King of Wurtemberg, the
only available match for the Emperor ia
vorite daughter.
In 1896 he Represented his government
at the court of Vienna The coalition against
Russia had been organized, consisting OF
England, Prussia Turkey and France. At
one time it seemed as if the conflict would
array the civilization of Europe against the
Muscovite. There can be no doubt that the
earliest fruit of Gortchakoff7s diplomacy at
Vienna was an assurance that Austria would
unite her fortunes with the Car. But what
ever ardor there was in that direction was
cooled before the contest began. Instead of
an alliance with Russia, Austria assumed an
attitude OF armed neutrality, which had the
effect of checking Prussia with its hand upon
the sword. At the last moment the Prussian
King realized the menace and peril of the
halfway hostile attitude of his Austrian
teighbor and abandoned the coalition.
Gortchakoff received full credit from his
government for the diplomacy which Sc
cured Prussia's abstention from a conflict in
which the Russian was already overmatched.
Before the termination of the war the EN-
peror Nicholas died March 3, 1851 and on
the same day Alexander assembled the
throne. The allies were upon his shores; his
ports were closed; his ships were sunk; his
forces were held at bay; with an army of a
million men he was unable to protect mis-
soil, and it seemed as if his inheritance was
wreck BY the light of his burning towns,
ruined trade embarrassed credit DESTROYED
commerce ana wasting armies the new EN-
peror read the truth. The policy of his
father which had repressed progress pre-
vented the building of railroads and thus
rendered rapid communication between the
wide-apart points in the vast empire impos-
sible, which sacrificed everything to the in
crease of military power. was a fatal error,
bitter, humiliating failure.
year after mounting his throne Alexan-
der called Gorchakoff to the important post
of Minister of Foreign Affairs (1S56) to sue
coed Nesserode, who had occupied that po-
sition during the entire reign of Nicholas,
anda great portion of the reign of his prede
cessor, Alexander. Russia was then on the
brink of a revolution. Nicholas had ruled
by the sword. Through the sword the En-
pre had nearly persisted; and the successor
Nicholas was compeled-the compulsion
happily talying with his desires-to inau-
gurate q new policy; and the new policy
created new Russia.
Prince Gortchakoff heartily seconded his
master in all his efforts to reform the EN-
pire, and undoubtedly by his calm temper
and unrivaled capacity to smooth over diff
culties and reconcile hostilties made possible
the ensuing measure of success. But it is
unjust to Emperor Alexan der to credit
Gortchakoff with their origin. Alexander
inherited love of liberty from his mother.
He conceived the idea of emancipation,
which he ate, ward decreed, in his earliest
youth. These ideas were entirely consistent
with his gentle character and clear
perceptions. For the origin and announce
ment of emancipation and for the preimina-
ry measures that enforced it Russia is in
debted to Nicholas Milutin and General
Bosthoffzoff, and not at all to Gortchakoff.
In this, as in everything else, he was the
subtle minister, plant to his Emperor
touch, looking always to the good of his
master, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Russia and
the honors that were showered upon him.
self. And there is nothing is his long career
to justify the belief that he would have
urged these measures against the Emperor s
will, or that he would even have suggested
them. After they were devised and resolved
upon, after Alexander silenced the opposi-
ton of the mobiles, who said it was revolu-
ton, by declaring, ''if there is to be revolu-
ton it had better begin at the top" the work
of Gortchakoff began The vast resources of
his mind and the strength with which he
had been armored by years of contact with
the foremost intellects OF the civilization OF
Europe were brought to the support of his
masters policy. Russia collects herself, -
was Gortchakoff's epigram. But it was
through the Emperor it did So Alexander
rewarded the efficient cooperation OF his
Prime Minister by creating him Chancellor
of the Empire in 1862.
AS A DIPLOMAT.
Until 1868 Gortchakoff avoided foreign
complications, but in that year the Polish in
surrectlon was at its hight and the European
powers attempted to NEEDLE with the ques-
ton. Then he wrote such firm and ener
getic notes that an immediate cessation of all
attempts at Intervention followed This
made him immensely popular with the peo-
Pile and added to his claims upon his grateful
imperial master. During the Franco Ter
man war he took such a decided position in
favor of Germany that it was impossible for
Austria to interfere with Prussia. This was
his retaliation for Austrian duplcity in 1866.
On Oct 81 1870, he addressed a circular note
TO the powers, demanding the repeal of that
clause of the treaty of Paris which pro
hibited Russia from having an armed fleet in
the Black sea. France was then crippled, an
opportunity that willy diplomatist was not
likely to overlook, and grateful Prussia,
as recompense for holding Austria at bay
4, . no n,