The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-25
Material Grounds for Preserving Friendly
Relations with Russia.

Material Grounds for Preserving Friendly
Relations with Russia.
The Britt press has been loud in its abuse
Of America siding With Russia" As republi-
cans, we have been accused Of sympathizing
with despotism, and enjoy ny it's success over
the so-called liberal powers Of Europe. But is
it SO? We have certainly expressed our con-
viction that Russia must prove victorious
in the end. We have also pointed out the
advantages to be derived from maintaining
peaceful relations with that empire, but in all
this we have done no more thau give an opn-
ion, al d +, ciprocate, in measure, the kindly
feelings extended towards us by the Gar.
From the supremacy Of the allies we have much
to dread-for war, to commercial and progress
sive nation like ours, may reasonably be dread
ed-while, on the other hand, from the supre-
macy OF Russia we have much to expect. By
the latter the right hand of fellowship mas been
held out to u.s. and we see no reason to refuse it,
thought its government be despotic and its empe-
ror the enemy of our own immediate rival Rus
siaseems, asst were, to have just sprung into lfe
and is no doubt advancing fast along the path
OF greatness. We have now the opportunity
of establishing with her a close commercial
intercourse, which will be greatly beneficial to
both countries, and, as we hope, be the means
of spreading for the first time liberal inha
ence among her people. With her despotism
we do not sympathize, and with the cause Of
the present quarrel we have nothing to do !;
but it is incompatible with our republican
ism, and far less with our material inter-
ests, to destroy the friendly feelings at present
existing between US.
Let us illustrate this last assertion with q
few facts At the present moment the earnest
desire of the Gear is to connect by telegraph
and railroad all the important points of his
vast dominions. Hence the facilities afforded
to Mr.. Shaffner, who lately visited st. Peters
burg, to settle preliminaries and otherwise fur
ther the grand enterprise of placing girdle
round the earth" 1t is intended to ira
verse the Russian empire from the CAPT
tai to Sitka, and the line, throughout, will run
south of sixty degrees, with the exception of a
small portion, which DIVORCES north, for the
purpose of reaching Yatousk, on the river
Lena. 1t has also been determined to build
$500 miles of railway the principal road be-
ing from Moscow to Odessa Iron is required
for this-the native metal being too soft-and
to procure it (he trade with England being
stopped,) the Gear must necessarily turn to
America.
Again. he has seen the destruction caused
among his troops by the screw ships of the al
lied fleet in the Crimea. Both at Eupatoria
and the Alma, the English vessels as they lay
along the coast, beyond the range OF the
enemy's guns, did fearful damage with rocket
and bombshell. The Emperor has already
been taught lesson from experience. To
be even with his opponents he must have a
steam navy. The Russian pine is not TO be
compared with Great Britain's oaken walls
and the Gear must turn to America for timer
and for ships. In working out her destiny
Russia will, therefore, assist America in res
lizing her own. Nicholas has ALREADY
shown not only a willingness, but au
eagerness to import American enterprise into
his empire, and neither our interests nor those
of the republican principles we uphold require
us to draw back. We know that wide field
has been opened to physicians, engineers me-
chanics and manufacturers from the United
States; and who can foresee all the numerous
benefits that will be derived from such a con-
nection, to the furtherance Of liberalism in one
country, and the progress of commerce in both?
Nor is this all. We noticed some time since
that the Russian boundary in Asia had lately
been extended to the River Amour, which emp
ties itself into the North Pacific Ocean. This
new accession Of territory, as large as the whole
of the New England States, was at first neglect
ed as Improbable. But it was subsequently
found to be splendid tea country, and now the
Gar wishes to throw it open to American trade.
Protected by the leland Of Sagalin from the ice
which flows from the Sea of Okhotsk, the mouth
of the Amour-navigable for four hundred
miles-is open during the whole year. To the
north is the fur region of Kamtschatka, and the
advantages of trade here are scarcely inferior
to those recently acquired by the opening of
japan.
Are we, then, to throw away such benefits as
these for an empty shadow? Surely not.
Our admiration may be excited in favor of the
heroes who toll and bleed and die in their
country's cause on the frozen plains of the
Crimea As men, our sympathies may be
especially reused for those whose Anglo
Saxon names sound familiar in our ears. God
forbid that we should fail in doing every justice
to the enduring courage Of that race from
which we ourselves have sprung. But with
the cause Of the war we have no concern and
with the result, it is to our advantage that
Russia should preserve the integrity of her en-
pire, and drive back her opponents.
THE LATE ARSON CAsE-OUR FIRE MARSHAL
On Friday last, Charles A. Peverelly, pre-
viously found guilty of an attempt to burn
down his own store at LAT Front street, was
sentenced to four years and six months i'm
prsonment at hard labor in Sing Sing prison.