Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-09
The United States and Russia.
From the New York Herald

are heartily on the side of Russia in the i'm
pending conflict. a. they were also In the
Crimesn war, and have always been when
Russia has had occasion to fight. with the
single exception Of her interference in the
Austro- Hungarian struggle, when the NOR
Al support of our people was given 70 Nos
-uih aui his compatrio,s. But even then
the object a. our antipsthv was not Rus
ia but Austria. The American govern
ment never exchanged snv diplomatic
notes with Russia on that subject. but two
Of the severe>t and most puugent letters
ever written bv American Secretaries OF
State were directed against Austria in con-
nection with the Hungarian struggle. We
OF course refer to the celebrated and scath-
ing Hulsemsls letter of Webster and the
hardly less noted kosztA letter of Marcy.
But although the defeat of ho-suth Wa
due to Russis oar sncieni friendship caused
u to turn a blind eye la what she had done
In that coniunciure. On ali other occas-
ions our full sympathy has been given u
Russia. When Napoleon was driven DOT Of
Moscow $ large public dinner was held ia
Boston 10 honor o! the Russian deliyerance.
Our friendship for Russia continues a.
warm as II ha. ever been. snd II she gets
involved IN war with England our people
will wish her success and rejoice im her vic
adectionaie friendship for Rus-is, which
has been steadily maintained withort break
or interruption. j. one OF the most remark
able phenomena in international history -
The institutions of the two great countries
thus linked in constant friendship are dia
meiricaliy opposite. Russia j. the great
modern exemplar Of despotism. and the
United States 81 democracy. The interest
they have 80 long tsken In each other cam
not he evnlsiped hv noliiicsl sympathy.
still there i In II nothing like caprice II
can be accounted for on solid and rational
principles, and We trust il NAV long endure.
Before going back to the origin of this
remarkable friendship we will briefly al
lude 10 some OF the later events BY which
il has bees cemenied. The generous mag
nanimity with which Russia acted toward
as curing our civil war Is fresh in the pub
tic recollection. She is the one great ma
ton which stood by Us without faltering.
While England did us all the injury She
could without becoming the open ally Cf
the Confederates. aud France intrigued for
Joint European Intervention IN their ia
vor. Russia promptly rejected all such sd-
rances and kept assuring our government
OF her good will. Not only did her con-
duct during the war establish a claim to
our gratitude. but the most important
event Of the war. the emancipation Of the
slaves, created a fellowship 10 good works.
Russia. in s spirit Of justice and humanity,
having recently emancipated her serfs.-
Soon after the close OF the war she gave
the first and only recognition which hA-
ever been made by q great European Pow
er having possessions on this continent Of
our Monroe doctrine. she made a Nolun-
tary retirement from America by the sale
OF Alaska TO the niied States. thus rem
dering il impossible that there should ever
be conflict OF interest between the two
countries. No other ustloU, with the eN-
ceptiou Of France during our revolution.
has ever treated u with 20 much maguau-
unity - Russia.
Another ground "f American sympathy
with Russia is our ability 10 enter perfect
IL into her point OF view with refereuce TO
the outlets from the Eu1ine into the Medi-
terTsnesn. We were once In similar
predicament. and can therefore understand
the force Of Der motives For the fret
twenty years AFTER our indepe ndence the
lower part OF the Mississippi and it, whole
western bank belonged 10 Foreign Power.
Let us suppose that the opportunity which
Jefferson 30 promptly seized had not oc-
CURED. or that, having occurred. we had
had az that tiu.e President Of less saEac-
ity and decision. sud that the Lower Mis-
slsSippi stiil belonged TO some foreign gov
eminent. What American i there who's.
heart does not tell him tina, 10 such 4 case
IL would be onS Of the steadiest objects of
| American policy 10 gain possession OF that
great outletl 1, would be one OF the a inns
which the country would never think OF
relinqulshng. Now, the free use OF the
/ Bosphorus and Dard4nelles i g. indIspen-
.sble 10 Russia a. the free use Of the Ms
sissippi Is to the United States Every
American who has ever compaI ed a map
of his own couEtry and map OF Southern
a. 81. $50
OF situation must appreciate the yehe-
/ mence and recognize the justice of the
Russian desire for free communication
with the outside world. Besides We are
commercial nation. and II 1.-THE unspeaAa-
bic Turk" were out OF Europe and Russia
! held those ancient seats of wealth Turkey
would become one o. the most prospectus
regions OF the globe and CoDstaniiBople
one OF the Important commercial cities.
Every trading nation would be benefited.
The fact that il would add TO the power Of
Russia is no objection In the minds Of Am
orleans, although that Is the only reason
why Western aud Central Europe will not
consent to what is 90 obviously IN The IN
terest Of commerce. humanity and civil
zation.
These reasons which We have been stat
ihs account for the psrpetuty OF AtDeri-
can friendship for Russia, tot they do not
explain its origin. IL did not become
warm until about the time we sent our first
Minister TO -. Petersburg. In 1909. That
frat Minister was John Quincy Adams and
his published diary enables u to under
stand what was the bond OF attachment AZ
that time. Our relations with Russia were
hardly important enough TO justify the es-
Enlistment OF mission. and il would
have been longer deferred II the view. OF
Russia and the United States had not been
In unison upon what We regarded a. the
most important question OF the period
the question which after more than a
dozen years of diplomatic controversy led
to our second war with England. Daring
the great Napoleonic wars, Englal d. Ly
her naval supremacy, was mistress OF the
seas, and she used her power in arrogant
disregard OF the maritime rights OF other
nations. The United States were the chief
sufferers. Being an adventurous and sea-
fsring people We built up q lucrative car
| rying trade; but England. By the exercise
OF what she claimed as her beliigerent
| rights, searched our vessels and eonfisca-
| ted them and their csrgoes on :he most
I frivolous pretexts. We maintained that
Tree ships make Tree goods. and that the
goods OF a neutral on board the merchant
ships Of q belligerent are not subject TO
capture. Ii was in the height OF that cor
troversy that We first established a mis-
sion AZ the Russian capital. Russia. like
all the other minor maritime Powers, de.
tested the neutrality-suspicious. OF England
and ii was the Interest Of our govern
meut TO encourage the sentiment. Heace
our first Emission to Russia Mr.. Adams
was received with waraiest marks Of cor
dislity BY the Gar, who led the converse.
ton at once TO the oppressive conduct Of
England on the seas. The Gar said that
the system Of the United States Was wise
and just. that the Continent Of Europe
was now 10 manner pscified, and that the
only obstacle TO general pscifieation was
the obstinate adherence Of EngianJ to a
system of maritime pretensions which was
neither liberal nor just; that the only OBJ
ject now 10 be attained by the war was to
bring England TO reasonable terms on this
subject" The Car talked to Mr.. Adams
at great length in the same vein. The
first warm sympathy between Russia and
. kz II - LII