The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-16

at gnat and swallow camel?'
The Aggressive Policy Of Russia, ana the
United States.
Our English friends are taking little comfort
in the idea that we shall ere long find out from
experience the aggressive policy of Russia-that
the shadow of the great rock" will be thrown
over some portion of that wilderness we are re-
claiming and populating upon the Pacifc-that
now, since it's designs on Turkey have been defeat
ed, it will look westward for expansion beyond
its present colossal limits
More than year ago clever writer in Taa's
Magazine called the attention of its readers to
the chain of posts established by the Russians on
a succession Of islands which had formerly be-
longed to Japan, dividing the sea Of Okotsh from
the ocean, and also to the Notifications at the
mouth of the Amoor river, which some day will
become, (said the writer,) one of the great chan
nels of European and Asiatic commerce.
In the last number of another British maya
zine, we also find very thoughtful article,
which admits the very unsatisfactory condition of
European affairs, the imminent danger of the
italian question and proclaims the still uncurbed
ambition Of the dynasty Of the Gears. 1t
points with a sorrowful look at the Russian
possessions on the western coast of North Anne
RIGA, and fears the British territories are
about to be threatened. 1t gives us the benefit Of
its sympathy for the wrongs that shortly to be
committed on us too, in that quarter, and bids us
beware of the struggle we may yet have to en-
counter to keep what we have got, upon the Pa
riic.
The Russians have, it must be admitted, good
slice of this continent The company known as
the Russian American Fur Company is chartered
by the government, is authorized to trade not only
in its Northwestern possessions, but to occupy
and bring into subsection all the unoccupied ter
ritores north or south of SIS deg.
In 1855 the territory already SO occupied from
Behring's Straits to "a deg. 40, included
all the Pacific coasts, all the continent west of
l4l deg of longitude, and all the lands along its
shores.
In addition. the Russians have the Aleutian
islands, more than forty in number, lying between
Cape alaska and the peninsula of Rants
chatka comprehending 81 deg. of lon
gitude, and Astounding in the finest furs.
These possessions and this company, fostered and
defended by the Russians from the time of Catha-
rine down, have become more and more valua-
bic. They are divided into districts; each has a
commandant and guard of regular troops, and
at the latest accounts there were thirty-six hunt
ing and fishing stations, all under Russian con-
troll.
There have occurred at various times conside-
4 II
Bay companies. As the latter stretched them
selves over to the westward they came in COLI
sion with the Russians The former claimed
right under the treaty of 1925, to establish post
on the Sitkine river in Sc TO- but the Russians
would not permit it, and resisted by force Of
arms
Negotiations followed, and singular compro-
mise was made, viz that the Hudson Bay
Company should enjoy an exclusive right Of the
continent between "a 40 and Cape Spencer, So
north, on the payment Of 1000 otter skins per
annum, and the privilege should continue for ten
years from the LIST Of June, 1910; this has been
renewed.
We, too, had our boundary difficulties with the
Russians, but they were settled by the defnitive
treaty of 1924; for we must not forget that In
1906 the Russians, under the administration Of
Governor Alexander Baranoff, (whose name may
be pronounced 30 as to indicate his real charac-
ter) were about taking possession of Columbia
river.
The great Russ-American post is Sitka, or as
II il sometimes called New Archangel, and Is not
well described in the gazetteers. II is upon an
island, in what IL called Georges Archipelago,
and IL defended by strong fort mounting about
sixty pieces OF cannon The military force Is
usually about 800 men, paid out Of the imperial
treasury II is also protected by small feet Of
steamers and sailing vessels carrying about 40
guns There are q very superior steam engine
factory and iron foundry at Sitka, where marine
engines are manufactured. Indeed the officers on
the station, own steam pleasure yachts, which
have been entirely constructed there.
The Governor lives in very handsome style;
the religious part Of his government is in the
hands Of a bishop Of the Greek church, and
Lutheran minister is permitted to reside in the
colony.
The trade Of this port is very consider
able. Seal, beaver, sca-otter, fox and mar
ten skins are exported in large guam
titles to Russia and China. Business is con-
Quoted by about 1000 Russians 1900 creoles
and 10000 natives, these being considered A.
subjects In short, the whole colony is high
ly prosperous II u Russia, says Blackwood,
that the Americans have to dread in the North
Pacific. Certain II is, that since the peace, the
Gar and his Cabinet have turned their attention
to their possessions on the Pacific. Expeditions
Of all kinds are projected to reinforce and re-
establish them. But nevertheless we are not in
the least anxious a. to the result. II Is not Rus
STA that We shall ever fear. 1t is not Russia
which has been pcrpetually Earring with Us,
abusing, encroaching and threatening. No, 1t IL
o. lttln s2aad too LARGE for its she'll that l. ner-