Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-24
HISTORICAL INACCURACY.

A speech made by Chief Justice Paxson,
in Philadelphia, at a farewell banquet
to Charles Emory Smith, on his departure
for Russia, gave the assemblage some histo-
rical information with regard to The sale OF
Alaska by Russia to this Government,
which is slightly at variance with the rec
ords that are accessible to the epublic. The re-
port represents Judge Paxson as speaking of
"the sale during the Civil War;" and refer
ring to the s., ,0O0,OO in gold paid for it as
involving the placing OF the Russian feet at
the orders of President Lincoln, in case
England and France should recognize the
Confederacy. The indication of the reports
that the speech represented the appearance
of the Russian fleet in our harbors as follow
ing the purchase of Alaska, is strengthened
by the editorial summary of the facts, as the
Philadelphia Inquirer understands the Chief
Justice to have put them:
When the negotiations for the purchase of
Alaska for seven million dollars had been COM
pleted the Lincoln administration was riddled
with the shafts of criticism. Why should the
Government be called upon to pay such an i'm
mense sum for a far-of country of ice and
snow, and which. apparently, was of little
value? But the purchase was made, and i'm
mediate a fleet of Russian war vessels ap-
peared in our waters What they were doing
here no one beyond the administration circle
knew, not even the Admiral, for his instructions
were sealed. 1t was just at this time that the
nation was in daily fear lest the Confederate
States should be recognized by England and
France, but the recognition never came. Had
it come, the Russian Admiral would have
opened his instructions and there he would
have found orders to report with his splendid
fleet to President Lincoln for duty.
We can hardly believe that the Chief
Justice stated history in that way. All who
suppose that assertion to approximate the
facts need to refresh their knowledge. For
the fact is that the Lincoln administration
could not be criticised for the purchase be-
cause the public knew nothing OF it until
over two years after Lincoln's assassination
and the close of the war. So far from the
Russian fleet following the purchase, the
fact happens to be that the treaty was made
and confirmed by the Senate in 1867, while
the Russian navy was sent to New York
four years earlier.
That Russia, both from desire to revenge
the Crimean War, and from the sympathy of
Alexander II. with the Northern cause, was
ready to join the United States against
England and France, if the latter powers
had declared for the Confederacy, is we'll
known. But there is no public knowledge
that this was the result of bargain includ-
ing the purchase of Alaska. The friend
ship during the war may probably have
aided the sale, four wears later; but
the statement that the sale was made and
the money paid during the war, is so far
from the fact. as to discredit the theory that
the presence of the Russian navy was
bought by the 100000 promised to be
paid for Alaska.
AS to the statement that the purchase was
made during the Civil War, it Is an inter-
esting question whether the Chief Justice
was incorrectly reported, or the overfowing
sentiment of the occasion was too much for
the accuracy of his recollections.