The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-09
THE PLUM;
OR. WHAT WILL WE DO WITH ITY


The other said it was church
Win the steeble cut away"
This was joke, and they all laughed at it
quite heartily, but in due course of time they
came across young elephant, when
zone said il was a COW
Another said nay,
The other said 10 was old Nick
And they all ran away"
This was no joke, and so the boys did not
laugh at it.
But all of this is like an event in modern
times. There has recently been made treaty
between the "Great Bear of the North' and
the "Hunkee-Doree Bald Eagle of the West
which the latter has been allowed the
privilege of purchasing, for a very small
amount Of money, very large tract of land.
The said tract, called Russian America, is
like the young elephant-nobody knows ex-
actly what it is. The question has racked
and divided parties, and has puzzled the
brains of statesmen, diplomatsts, editors, and
politicians. No one can tell what kind of a
bargain has been made, or what advantage
will accrue to us from this gift.
Mr.. johnson, a citizen of Tennessee, looks
upon the cession as a gift. 1t appears so
cheap that the sum asked can only be re-
garded as earnest-money.
Mr. Seward, who has "fxed this little affair
up" thinks that unless we accept the gift of
Russian America ''no great war can last more
than sixty days." and that it will be neces-
sary to bring again into requisition that famous
'little bell" In fact, unless we have Russian
America the Union cannot be saved.
The Car of all the Russias desires us to
accept his ''almost gift, " because he can no
longer take care of it with profit to himself
1t is so isolated, and then, too, he loves the
Monroe doctrine, and has no doubt that the
"boundless continent is ours" God bless the
dear soul for those few words of comfort
Napoleon looks upon the matter with pure
nonchalance. He is absorbed in his attentions
to the sick Prince Imperial, and the Paris
Exposition.
England fumes over the matter. She sees
danger in the ole hafair. By accepting this
gift the continent will be turned into a huge
pair of shears, and they some day may cut
some poor Giles of an English Princes love in
twain. Besides, it savors of aggrandisement.
1t looks as if Russia desires to divide the
world with the United States and that would
be 'orrible to the subjects of her Majesty, ''on
oose dominions, by eavens, the sun never
sets ~
Senator Sumner, the Chairman of the Senate
Committee ON Foreign Relations, thinks the
treaty is a neat thing, and quotes the classic
Penn on treaties generally in support of his
position. Yet he bids us look to the helm,
lest by avoiding this Scilla (silly?) rock in
the .oof affairs we wreck our ship of state
(the radical partyO on the Charybdis of
Democratic success in the coming campaign.
General Halleck Gold Brains) is sure that
Russian America is worth having, and thinks
that the inhabitants of the Pacific will demand
its purchase.
Simon Cameron says "wigwag," and Colo
mel Forney ''sees disaster in the whole thing,"
unless more radical influences can be brought
to bear upon ellis Accidency."
General Meigs goes into exstacies over the
new acquisition, He wants to see the doings
of the old Morse kings repeated in that coun-
try. General Meigs is probably the most
poetic Quartermaster-Genera that has ever
lived.
The New York World thinks Russian
America is "sucked orange" but the world
is full of snap Judgment.
The Herald thinks it is a "pretty good
egg" and is probably worth taking as a gift.
The Tribune opines that it would have been
all well enough if we had carried Connecticut
The Times, in ''little villanish" way, com
pliments Mr.. Seward for his diplomacy in the
matter.
The Commercial AdcetiSer is non-committa
like most of our Philadelphia journals. Mr.
Thurlow Weed would not refuse the gift if il
could be shaped into plank for the new
conservative platform, with Grant and Farra
gut for the Presidency.
But we must have done. We have got intC
such Iabyrinthine muddle over the opinions
of these great men, that we are almost dis
tracted. soberly speaking, THE EvENIN'
TELEGRAPH advises prompt ratification OF tn
treaty. We can lose nothing by 1t, and W
may gain much. Ten years ago we coul
have had British America for the asking
We asked not because we thought its posses
sion would not be at once advantageous. w
can see now what we have lost-a country III
ofwealth and vitality. We have gained vicero
and a quantity of humiliation. Ten years ag
we could haye had Mexico, on the promise
exclude slavery. We refused to do this, an
the result is country torn and bleedin