The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-24
RUSSIA AND UNITED STATES

K
| .5 elFron the London Timer, February 6,l 5.+4z
| The saying that .'eytremes meet7
must appeara rs applicable to politics as
| to all other matters when we see Ameri-
cans and Russians protesting the most
cordial and instructive sympathies with
each other. Nor is the phenomenon at
all delusive or uhsubstantial. 1t is per-
feetly certain that the most despotic
government of Europe and the most
/ Democratic government in the world
are uniformly on the best OF terms, and
that the people in both countries sin
cerely participate in that remarkable ac-
cord. But the truth lies little below
the surface in this case, and has in reali-
ty nothing of paradox about it. The
Americans do not, in fact, admire the
institutions of Russia, nor the Russians
those of the United States, but each ma
ton in its own way entertains certain
aspirations SO like those of the other,
that they are content to sink all minor
differences in the identity of an over
ruling view. The late Gar remarked
that America aud Russia were the only
two States with a FUTURE before them
the only two which were still young, still
growing, and still expansive in the midst
of the old countries of the world. Other
States had fought their fights, received
their developments, and attained the
| ends of their careers; only for the Great
Empire and the Great Republic We're
any "destiniesn still in reserve. So, as
destiny and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT involve a
good many contingencies, it is as well
that the only two nations still OH this
track should be good friends and allies.
i, I'M haa., 1ai ,ad
with great frankness at an entertain-
ment given to General Cassius Clay, the
American Minister in Russia, by the
In that ancient Russian city the repre-
sentatives of Russian trade made con-
fession not only of political faith,
but of commercial principles, which
certainly leaves little to be desired
in the way of plain speaking. M.
Gorbof, manufacturer of Mos
COW, explained that what he said
was M only his own political creed, but
the political creed of all Russia. "The
sympathes," said be, (which we feel
and utter are real and heartfelt. They
are based upon a similarity OF interests
and pec,tliarities which will come out
more and more strongly as the develop
ment of both countries progresses, and
which will, we trust, affect the destinies
of the world" Lest this should be
misunderstood the speaker put the case
still more directly What bound the
two peoples together, he added, was
'the love of the strong for the strong,u
and this natural sympathy bad all the
fairer play, because their particular in
terests ''were not likely to clash
Another Russian even limited ut
community of risks as well as prospects,
for he described both Russia and the
United States az exposed to the ''envy
and ill-wil of Europe although, as he
alleged perhaps rather hardly as re-
garded his own country-neither nation
had ever thought of interfering with
European politics, or conquering a slice
of European territory. In these observa-
tons, however graciousiy accepted by
General Cassius Clay and his secretary,
we may sec the natural foundation Of
the political alliance. Both Russia and
America expect and intend to be some
thing more than they are, and they are
reasonably disposed to make common