New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
RUSSIA'S AMERICAN VIEWS
ANXIOUS TO STRENGTHEN HER RELATIONS
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
rpoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF mn TRIBUNE;

the Russian Empire, he made the following re-
marks. which are here Transcribed nearly YER
batim as it is possible after the lapse of twenty
four hours:
Il cannot understand" said he. why you are
roing TO so much trouble and expense to obtain
markets in South America and you so entirely
neglect 10 make the slightest efforts 10 enter into
commercial relations with us You are aware of
our warm sympathy for the United States both
politically and individually. and you are equally
cognizant of our deep aversion to both Germany
and Engand-two countries that are inimch
to Russia in every way. and with which we are
bound to go to sooner or later Yet, not
withstandng this. almost our entire import trade
is in their hands. and it is Russian gold Wi''n
contributes TO the success of the manufacturing
and mining industries. OF course we should i'm
mcnsey prefer that if any one country IS to be
benefited by our trade il should be our friend.
the North American Republic. rather than our
lifelong enemies Germany and England. For
many wears TO come our import trade Will ncccs-
sarily 20 on increasing. For the industrial de
velopment of our great country Is bat III IFS
infancy. Why should moi the United States step
in and suppant the British and German imports
! have good reason TO know that the anxiety of
our Government TO foster commercial relations
with America and to transfer our import trade
from Germany and England TO you on political
as well as economical grounds would lead it
readily to grant certain reductions of tariff In the
case of goods from the United States.
Just look at the field which there is for
American trade. Over 40 per cent of tie entire
enormous of Russia is under cultivation
and devoted TO agriculture which vet is carried
on in the most primitive fashion. Surely there
is 10 reason why we should not obtain our agIi-
cr1tn i,np1 nd oh inc
rather than from England. At the present mo-
mcnt almost all our locomotives. our steel rails
and our rolling stock arc obtained from En~land.
II is hut year or TWO since that the Minister
of Railroads gave a single order for 500 loco
motives and 90. 900 freight cars. AsSurcdy the
United States could have filed this order Just
well as the English. Indeed. the opportunl-
ties in the metal trade are enormous. The de-
mand for iron in Russia is exceedingly vast
but our native supply is little larger than that
of Sweden. The fact is that Russian iron is of
q very inferior quality 1t is smeltei with wood
instead of coal Moreover. our manufacturers
have not yet taken any considerable advantage
of the scientific discoveries and experiments of
the past forty years; and then. TOO. the centre
of our metal trade. such it is, is in the Trial,
whence transport is both difficult and costly.
Another article with which the United States
enormous quantity, and at present nearly all that
is used is obtained from England. Until recently
wood fuel alone has been used, but the terrific
destruction of the forests has ended by seriously
alarming Government.
"Of course the great difficulty lies in the fact
that there is no direct Intercourse by between
our two nations. OF the $1,000 vessels that en-
tered Russian ports last year, not one bore the
American flag Tie few transatlantic goods that
are shipped TO us are landed at German ports and
conveyed from thence by rail into this country at
a great loss and expense line Of steamers run
ming on alternate fortnichts 10 Odessa on the
Black Sea and Riga on the Baltic would vastly
benefit our trade with you. Odessa is the finest
port Of the Black Sea-in fact it is our Liverpool
Riga is the best port Of the entire Baltic. It's
winter harbor of Boldcraa is open all the year
round. Riga is. moreover. the second largest
trading town of Russia, with a population of
100000. in vast agricultural centre
where a great trade might he done in agricultural
implements and machinery. 1t is within 900
miles by rail of St Petersburg, and forms the ter
minus of a direct line to Moscow
"Of course | am only speaking as a private per
son, and not in my official capacity; but person
ally think that the above reasons, if properly
presented to our Government, would be of weight,
not onr in procuring tariff advantages on Amer-
lean imports, but might even lead our people 10
grant subvention TO a Russo-American line Of
steamers
Russia has always in view the Inevitable con
fIct with Great Britain, which, under tie appear
ance of fight for the possession Of India, Will
develop into a struggle for the very existence Of
Great Britain as a frst-class commercial and
political power Tie Russian Government apprc-
hends the latent existence Of feelings OF Anglo
Saxon brotherhood between Americans and Ing
lish and fears that in the case of a struggle for
the very existence of Great Britain she may find
tie whole Anglo-SaXon race united against her.
England is convinced that while the Americans
feel but little interest in her petty struggles for
commercial and territorial agsrandlzcment, yet IN
the event of a struggle such as mentioned above
the American Nation would show is true feelings
toward its English relative, by sending large
contincents of volunteers to fight for them even II
there were no actual alliance between the CAB
incnts of Washington and 81. James
All this may be considered as Ctopian, but
there is 10 doubt that the feeling does exist IN
England and that tie Russians apprclend the pos
sbiity of its being put into execution. WIN
this fear before their eyes, and knowing that hard
solid commercial advantages are of much more
avail than any hahhown sentiment, the C1ar S
Government might without much difficulty and
Ivy means Of careful negotiation with the proper
PEOPLE be induced 20 grant special advantages 10
American imports and thus strengthen the com
mercial bonds and interests between the United
States and Russia TO such an extent as 10 render
impossible any display of hostility on the part OF
the American people.
The rumor that the ProcWator Of the Most
Holy Synod, NJ Pobedonostscn. will shortly be
deprived of his post and rclegated - the i'm
penctrable obscurity of Russian private life, has
no truth in it. Pastor Daltons fcebly written
phampltets against Russian religious persecution
have in reality done him no harm The facts Of
the case. if absolute truth be told. the fol-
lowing: Many years ago, Professor Pobedo-
nostsef was appointed tutor to the two sons Of
the late Emperor-the present Gar and his elder