RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Southland Times, Issue 620, 1 February 1867, Page 3

RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

The "New York Times" of a recent date says: — The fraternization of the great Imperial Government of the East with the democratic Eepublic of the "West has aroused much astonishment in France and England. The European public cannot avoid a slight expression of uneasiness. . . . Now, in the first place, neither nations nor individuals forget those who stood by them in their misfortunes. This people cannot easily cease to remember that when the British Government was indirectly doing its best to destroy our commerce, and openly insulting our cause and- prophesying our downfall — when Erance sought to form an alliance which should recognise the rebels as a nation — Eussia always expressed the most considerate friendship towards the country, and openly uttered her hope for the triumph of the Union. Such expressions of friendship in a time of national peril are more than words. Again, there are certain analogies in the positions of the two Powers toward Europe, which, if they do not impair friendship, at least throw no obstacle to union. They are both somewhat out of the European circle of States, they are both capable within themselves of developing their own growth, and are independent, to a great degree, owing to their vast territories and numerous agricultural population, of foreign countries. Their progress will be in a direction away from Europe ; here towards the west, there towards the east. The peoples of each have an overpowering sense of nationality, and are absorbing and civilizing weaker races — there in Asia, here in. the central west, California, and perhaps hereafter in Mexico. Both are anxiously developing their naval power, that they may hold their own against France and England. The ambition of each, gigantic ,as it may be, cannot possibly encroach on that of the other, and the vast empires, exceeding almost any in history, which they shall yet build, will nowhere touch except in the extreme of the frozen north. Their interests, political or commercial, cannot clash. They have each too with qnormous sacrifices, and under convulsions which hcve shaken the very framework of their societies, removed the great burden on their progress — human bondage. An aristocratic class with each (despite Prince G-ortschakoff' s protestations) still threatens the peace of the State ; and the immense problems resulting from emancipation occupy in both countries the attention of all thinking minds, and prevent the possibility of engaging in foreign war. By a singular and painful analogy, too, a friend of the class despoiled by emancipation has struck in each at the life of the great emancipator, > — in America with a too fatal success ; in Eussia, happily, without injury. All these real sympathies and interests, as well as others which are merely fanciful, do for the time render our relations with the Czaric Government and the great Eussian people most cordial; and explain the effusions which have called out *so much ridicule in the French and English papers. That" there is any deeper purpose in these cordialities and courtesies we do not believe.

The Pope astd the American Pentads. — A new volume of diplomatic -correspondence presented to the American Congress last Session has been published. Among its contents is a despatch from Mr King, the American Minister at Eome. dated the 18th of November, 1865. This functionary, describing an interview he had with the Pope, writes as follows : — " His Holiness remarked that there was a great political agitation all, over the Continent — not in Italy only, but in Germany, Spain, Trance and England there seemed to be trouble brewing. Ireland was restless and discontented, and Penianism uttered ominous threats. He h%d no idea, he said, that this movement would affect British rule in Ireland, for the ocean which rolled between the United States and Great Britain forbade the idea of invasion. But Canada,' with its extensive and exposed frontier, offered an easier prize, and thither, he thought, the Penians might turn their arms. It would be for the advantage of all parties, the Holy Pather remarked, that the United States should take Canada and incorporate it into the American Union, rather than allow the Penians to possess themselves of it. Better that it should be done' by a regularly constituted Government than by a revolutionary and irresponsible organisation, subject to no control and liable to every excess." " Pius IX., says the Toronto Globe, " was altogether too solicitous about our welfare."