The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-22
American Sympathy with Russia.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
In the tremendous struggle which il now going on
In the peninsula Of the Crimes it is natural that she
respective combatants should desire the sympathies
of great, free and dsinterested nation like the
United States Of America; and it IL equally natural,
and, indeed quite Inevitable that these sympathies
should be given 10 one party or the other. Hence
the anxiety and uneasiness with which the English
journals record the publication in this country of re.
ports favorable to the Russian government; aud
hence the satire, rdcule and even scorn that they
are accustomed to heap upon their authors Hence,
too, on the other hand the kindness courtesy, and
marked respect with which the Gear is accustomed
to treat all Americans.
II is striking evidence of the onward march Of
civilization, and of the reflective influence Of nation
upon nation, that the moral power of this sympathy
Is now 80 potent; and it is especially striking evi
dence Of the expanding power and dignity of the
United States that separated she is by thousands
of miles of watery waste from tina Powers at war,
yet the opinions and sympathies Of her people re-
spectng the merits Of the struggle excite such keen
comments Of condemnation or approval.
The identity of the great body of the American
people, in race religion, laws, and literature wish
the English, and the friendly ties formed in the very
France, added to tie present and ever.increasing
bond Of union to be found in trade with both of
the allied powers would appear, At first sight, to be
influences which would insure for them our cordial
81 mpatby.
None Of these influences exist to any extent in the
case OF Russia. II Is comparatively but few years
since, we, in common with the other nstons Of the
civilized world have ceased 10 regard her people as
race Of barbarians. As b her relis ion it is one
which not ly tie great body Of Protestar t. but
even the small fraction OF Catholics ia our country,
regard with distrust and aversion. In literature
she has as yet hardly assumed place in the repub
lie OF letters and to laws, the pTinci Dles of our
institutions are directly a. variance with those Of
hers, founded as her government is upon tina.
most atr0cious of the generally luminous maxms of
the civil Law, That what pleases the Emperor shall
be taken for law" In this respect, no wever, the
French government OF present is constructed on Nd
better basis.
How comes it, then, that q general feeling OF
sympathy towards Russia pervsoss our people which,
although unsccompsuied with any actual feeling OF
hostility towards the allies ysi induces us TO regard
with certain degree of complscsncy the disasters
and repultes which they Dsve received, aud are
still destr ed to receive, ut the hands of their stub.
born and valiant foe
The answer is to be found in the fact that in
the case Of nations, as well that OF indvi auss
their eympathies are governed by their interests.
Traditional friendship, ties IT blood, and afinties
when great interests are at sskethe safety OF sea-
ports, the free navigation Of the ocean, and the fet
trless now OF commerce, the acquisition Of terri
tory, or the negotiation Of desr able treaties
IL IL Idle To imagine that nation viii he Influenced
by agy fancied ties OF sentiment which conflict
with their interest
The cause of our sympathy with Rnssis, then, Is
to be found principally In settled conviction that
the success Of the allies is dangerous to our in
terests.
This conviction, which noated vaguely in the
minds CT the people at the very aspect OF toe mighty
and magnificent AZ which the allies sent form
to thwsrt and check forever the traditional az.
RrandizDg policy OF Russia has been strengt oened
and 6etpenei by the uHguarded language of Eogish
sta esmen rs to the ultimate purposes of the lies
In respect to us. This language, or rather the con.
structon had placed upon t. it is true has been
but facts can never be satisfactorily
denied.
That the course Of policy and of events, which is
Cuba and Of the sand vich Islands, Is looked upon
with great jealousy and alarm by England and
France, ana especially by the former, Is incontro
vertible.
That the bold espousal Of liberalism and sympathy
with Its supporters, by some Of our diplomatsts on
the Continent has deeply offended the present
government OF FRANCE, 10 common with the OTHER
Even Is and actions trifing in themselves, but in
their aggregate Of great importance, have made this
jealousy and discoDtent amounting In some in.
stances even to insult, quite apparent; so that we
are qute Justneu ID the rear, that In tue event OF
o termination triumphant 70 the allied Powers,
Of the present war, 1t will require
but slight sfront on our part, and Q
slight pretext on tbeirs-either that we are acquir
irg too much territory, or forming uuwgrsantable
treaties vth States under their protection or using
the diplomatic character ss cloak 10 dissem, ate
revolutionary principles on the Coatinept-to bring
down upon our unguarded seaports and defencelsss
commerce the Whole weight Of the combined mill.
tary marine Of France and England.
Il II strange then, that we feel great grief on
beholdng that marine crippled and weakened2
What interest have -e commercially, In the su ,cess
Of the allied p0wersf What interest have we ia the
continuance OF an imbecile Ottoman DO yer on the
shores Of the Bosphorus and the Mediterranean,
hch In TO exist, II II exist at all, TO keep q, the
fiction OF q balance Of power in Europe while It's
soil end re people are to remain a. heretofore the
resnmrcee OF the former nrfexe And Tho mar.