Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

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flatterers, flattered by its sovereign? Instead of elevating them to his level, he lowers himself to theirs.

If the politeness of the court can influence the outward manners even of the lowest classes, is it not reasonable to suppose that an example of clemency given by an absolute prince, would inspire with the sentiments of humanity the hearts of his entire people ?

Exercise severity against those who do evil, and, at the same time, gentleness towards those who suffer, and you will change your herd into a nation — a change difficult to effect no doubt, but is it not to execute things that would be impossible to others that you are declared and recognised all-powerful here below ? The man who occupies the place of God upon earth ought to acknowledge no other possibility but that of doing evil. He is constrained to resemble Providence, in order to legitimate the power which he ascribes to himself.

You wish to govern the earth, as in the times of old, by conquest : you seek to possess by force of arms the countries which you can conveniently thus attack, and you strive to oppress the rest of the world by overawing it. The extension of power of which you dream is no more rational, than it is moral; and if God accords it to you it will be for the misfortune of the world.

I know too well, the earth is not the scene on which unmixed justice is to triumph. Nevertheless the principle remains immutable: evil is evil in itself, without regard to its results; whether it ministers to the loss or the aggrandisement of a people, to the for-