The New York herald., 1867-04-02


the selection Of their candidates, the result will
esth greatly lselsred by any sensible repsH-
Ecaa. f'- Is'f'f A.'' 'F''''' '-''
Tho Russs-Anericaa -Purohase-The Climax
Of Mr.. seward's Foreign Psiicy.
The treaty trt concluded between the high
contracting parties at Washington for the
transfer Of Russian America to the United
States for the cash equivalent of seven millions
Of dollars in gold may be considered the dis
tinguishing and browning achievement Of Mr..
Stewards foreign policy. With laudable am
bition to leave some conspicuous and enduring
landmark behind him in connection with his
name as the head Of our Executive Department
on foreign affairs, he has at last made decided
hit in this acquisition from Russia of q land
mark which covers superficial area greater
than that Of the empires d France and Austria
combined, and which embraces mountain
peak Mount St. Elias), two thousand feet
higher than Mont Blanc, "the monarch" Of the
mountains Of Europe. With Mount St. Elias,
then, at the very head Of the mighty backbone
Of the American continent, away up yonder
under the brilliant auroral lights of the Arctic
Circle-with Mount St Elias, we say as Mr..
Stewards diplomatic monument, may he not
joyously exclaim, with good old Simeon, "Now,
Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!"
We are inclined to be enthusiastic over this
achievement, like the heroic Dutch veteran In
his description of the great battle of Bien-
helm. We remember, however, that he was
cooled down as with a wet blanket by that
direct question from "his little grandchiid,
Wilhelmine," awhat good came Of it ~ And
what was his answers
s'lndeed, I cannot tell- quoth he,
But 'twas famous victory"
SO, IL we are asked what advantages or
equivalents do we get for Mr.. Stewards pro-
posed seven millions in gold for Russian
America, we are constrained to answer that
we cannot tell, but it is tremendous acquisi-
ton Of territory. II is larger than the original
thirteen United States Of America all put
together! Only think of that And all for
seven millions in gold May not this amount
ten times multiplied be hid away under the
seventeen thousand feet Of perpetual snow of
Mount St. Elias He is the head and front OF
the gold and silver chain Of California, Nevada
Mexico and Central and South America, and
why, therefore, should not old ST. Elias dis
close the richest placer of them all, provided
you can get at it 7 II may be white elephant,
costly keepsake but there can be no mis-
taking its political bearings. II points to an
alliance, political, commercial and military,
offensive and defensive, between Russia and
the United States, against England and France,
in the future adjustments Of the balances Of
power in both hemispheres.
In this broad and important view, leaving
all statistics of beaver skins, seahorse teeth
and fish oil, Mount st. Elias and all conjec-
lures Of gold and silver mines, out Of the ques-
ton, Mr.. Seward has fanked EnGland from the
north pole or northwest passage, and has
gained the icebound key Of Behring Strait
between Asia and America. He has only to
purchase the Strait Of Magellan, the islands
on the one side and the mainland on the other,
in order TO place both extremes Of this CONT
nent within our grasp. Patagonia must be a
splendid country for the development of the
human form; for there the halfstarved abort
gines are said to grow eight feet high. But
Russian America, with Mount ST. Elias,
Behring Strait and Its majestic icebergs, are
glory enough for one day. Mr.. Seward thus
looms up in bold relief as an encouraging ex-
ample OF diplomatic perseverance for grand
result He worked very hard through all the
war, on the rebellion, the slavery question, the
Mason and slidell question, on neutral rights,