Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-22
Russian America-Fhe SignIfi-
cance of iGs CessiOn as Viewed
i'm EngIand-WiH RussiR md
, the United States Divide Ihe


been spoken of in rather serious tone. 1t
is not yet certain that any such bargain has
been absolutely completed, but that nego-
tiations have been carried to the point of
completion is an ascertained thing. and
that they will end by making the United
States Government master of Russian
America is more than probable. What
such result may mean for us, is not a
question which we need approach with any
Considerable perturbation. There is noth-
ing in it to make any great difference in
our own position in America, or in with our
relations with the United States. Its real
importance is, in showing US clearly once
more what our position in America ac-
tually is, and what our relations with
the United States are and are likely to be.
If we consider what motives probably in
duced the Presidents Cabinet to enter upon
negotiations for THE purchase of Russian
territory in America, we shall find nothing
to be startled at, nothing that should give
us any alarm for the present, nor anything
which should increase that alarm tor the
future which no Englishman can avoid who
looks around him, and then far forward
Let us remember in the first place that the
energies and ambition of Russia are all
turned out of the course of American am-
bition and American energy. There is no
apparent reason why Russia should care to
keep single foot of territory in America.
There are many reasons why she should
United States as in due time should consti-
tute kind of traditional claim to alliance;
in short, Russia could make the sale with
perfect advantage to herself and without
giving reasonable cause of offense to any
body. On the other hand, it is manifestly
a great point of foreign policy in the
United States also to promote friendly
feelings between their own people and the
Russian Government. 1t eoould be too
much to sag that those poaoers intend
to diuide the toOrld bet,oeen them By
and-by, bat there does undoubtedly er
ist an ideG-G belief not get so sure as
to be permitted to speak OaIt-thdt this IS their
destiny and, what is more, there Is in both
a constant, far-reaching, determinate effort
to that end. The ultimate hope of the
Russian is to rule the East, and so to make
his nation mighty in Europe also. The ul-
innate hope of the American is to fill. the
Continent of America with great republican
States, all governed under the stars aud
stripes, and compacted into union of such
credit, prosperity, and strength as would
not only give them the commerce of the
world, but power to protect it from any foe
or combination of foes by land and by sea.
The ambition of these two powers is no
where opposed; in each case it is vast and
hopeful; it is easy to imagine many contin-
gencies where the prosecution OF the one
could be made to serve the other; and there
between the two peoples as well as between
the two Governments. To have deepened
the feeling at any moment would have been
quite worth the cession of territory COM
paratively valuelesS to one party, and the
expenditure by the other party OF few
millions of dollars for what might not be
very valuable to it either. Even if the
bargain were of that simple char
acter, and if no other considerations
came into it, it would be wise one
for both parties. Russia loses nothing
of more importance to her future than T.
100000 dollars are, probably; but she gains
immensely in political sense, by seeming
to acknowledge readily and gracefully the pre-
tensions drrdyed By the americans against the
rule of dl1y monarch dny,ohere upon their CONT
nent. What the americans gain IS that dc-
kn0aUledgneRt gain of no small importance
in their eyes, and, what Is more, the transac-
tion helps to fix still deeper in the mind of
the whole American people belief in the
erpediency of that ambitious and momen-
tous policy which successfully opposed the
Emperor Napoleon in Mexico, and wilt ul-
timately turn another Emperor out OF 1T.
This alone would be a great gain to both
parties. we repeat, if there were no other
considerations in the matter But we know
that there are. AT the present moment,
when Russia is again very active in pur-
suit of her own cherished designs. it is not
altogether an unimpOrtant thing to exhibit
to the world what at any rate may seem
another proof of good understanding
with America. There may not be much |
in that but there is something in it, and
what there is is clear benefit without
any drawback whatever. While as to the
United States, the acquisition ofthe Russian
American territory, tapping down upon
our own possessions as it does, serves as
timely move in answer to the confedera-
ton Of those possessions. 1t does not, and |
INIT fO q
seem to think. 1t is q hint, a protest. a decld-
ration Of feeling more efectuGI and far more
polite than anything in the shape OF O dispatch
could be. 1t means, 3" ou have established
your American provinces into contedera-
cy; the avowed object of that confederacy
is less to establish relations between the
provinces for their own better government |
than for the establishment of a military |
power-of one great State which in the |
course of time may be able to resist what
you call our rapacity. but which we think
of as something different. There is, in |
vague ideI of setting up strong |
monarchical State at our doors. We do not
intend that any such State shall exist. The |
time must come when the British posses |
sions in America shall be ours. You your
selves know very well that that question
depends more upon what we wish to do
than what you have power to do. Now
this purchase of Russian America is to |
show you that we quite understand the pur-
pose of a confederacy which we have no
reasonable excuse to prevent, and also that
we do not by any means find in it 4 reason
for abandoning those ideas of annexation |
which have hitherto been useful to us, by |
way of alf-hinted threat, in many dis !
patch, many a diplomatic conversation"
This we take to be the real significance
of the proposed arrangement; and even if
it be not carried out, its purpose will be
served. That the purchase was ever de-
signed as necessary or particularly use
full move in a military sense it is difficult
to believe. The United States are strong |
enough, and in all probability will remain
strong enough, to overrun our possessions |
in Canada, and take them aUheneuer they please.
1t is absurd to imagine that they want fresh |
vantage ground tor that operation whenever
the time may come to attempt it, so that
whether they really buy Russian America
or not seems to us matter of no real i'm
portance. What is of importance is the
of intention which the ne
gotiation makes public, and the considera-
tion that, as affairs stand, and as they are
likely to stand for many year to come
during which anything may happen). zoe
should find ourseLues helpless against any Seri-
Gus attempts TO carry the intention into effect.
A LADY IN DISTRESS. days ago
lady named Mrs. III. w. Whittemore, ar
rived in this city from Franklin, Ohio.
She stopped at a hotel on Fourth street,
but falling short of money she was uncere-
elected from the premises. Mrs.
w. came to st. Louis to meet her husband,
but through some unexplained accident |