Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-01

ioreig On ship that should dare to in,
terfere with the right of Americans
North and South, to settle their own
controversy.
SAVED THE UNION.
But for those fleets and their pres
ence in American waters, there can be
no doubt that two of the mightiest
nations of Europe would have
mingled in our fight. But for those
two fleets, the American Government
would have been to-day on y q name
IN history. declare before God and
the nation that believe Russia saved
! the United States OF America.
And now | proceed to do what !
told the Emperor and the Empress
and all the Imperial family at the
Palace OF Peterhof would do if ever
got back to America, and that is to
answer some of the calumnies which
have been announced and reiterated
and stereotyped against Russia.
| THE FIRST CALUMNY.
.Calumny the first: The Emperor
and all the imperial family are in per-
petuai dread OF assassination. They
are practically prisoners in the Win
ter Palace, and trenches with dyna-
mite have been found dug around the
Winter Palace. They dare not ven-
ture forth, except preceded and fol-
lowed and surrounded by a most
elaborate military guard.
My answer to this is that | never
saw a face more free from worrlmcnt
than the Emperors face. The Win
ter Palace, around which the trenches
are said to have been charged with
dynamite, and in which heimperial
family are said to be prisoners, has
never been the residence OF the imper-
ial family one moment since the pres
emit Emperor has been on the throne.
ESPIONAGE.
Calumny the Second: If you 60 to
Russia, you are under the severest es.
pionage, stopped, herean questioned
there, and in danger OF arrest. But
my opinion is that if q man is dis
turbed in Russia it is because he ought
to be disturbed. Russia is the only
country in Europe in which my bag
gage was not examined. carried in
my hand, tied together witt a cord so
that their titles could lie seen, a pile
OF eight or ten books, all OF them from
lid to lid cursing Russia, but had no
trouble in taking with me the books.
There is ten times more difficulty in
getting your baggage through the
American Custom House than through
the Russian.
Calumny the third: Russia and it's
ruler are so opposed to any ether
religion except the Greek religion, that
they will not allow any other religion,
that nothing but persecution and
imprisonment and outrage int olerable
await the disciples Of any other re-
ligion. But what are the facts?
had Il long ride in st. Petersburg and
its suburbs with the Pref ct, bril-
liant, efficient and lovely man, who
is the highest official in the city OF
st. Petersburg, and whose chief bust
ness is to attend the Emperor. /
said to him: II suppose your religion
is that CT the Greek church," "No,"
said he liam a Lutheran" "What
is your religion?" / said to one OF
the hig hest and most influential oilc-
ers at st. Peter sburg. He said: 81 am
of the Church OF England Myself an
American, of still another denomina-
ton OF Christians, and never having
been inside a. Greek church in NV lille
until went to Russia, could not nave
received more consideration had
been baptized in the Greek Church
and all my life worshiped at her al
tars. l had it demonstrated to me
very plainly that q mans religion in
Russia has nothing to DO with his pre-
ferment for either Office or social posi-
ton.
| CRASHING TERRITORY.
Calumny thefourth: Russia is so YER,
graspnng OF territory and she seems
to want the world. But what are
the facts. During the last century anG
a quarter, the United States has tax
en- possession OF everything between
the thirteen Colonies and the Pacific
Ocean, and England, during the same
length OF time, has taken possession
OF nearly 100000 square miles, and
by the extent of her domain has add
ed 25O,OOO,0OO population, while
Russia has added during that time
only one-half the number OF square
miles and about 100000 popula.
tiOn--England' advance of domain
by $50, 100000 against Russia's ad-
vance OF domain by $4,000, 900.
What q paltry Russian advance OF
domain OF 1s,OOO,OOO as compared
with the English advance OF domain
by 25O,OOO,OOO! The United States
AMI England had better keep still
about extravaganza and extortionate
enlargement OF domain.
Calumny the fifth: Siberia is den
of horrors, and to-day people are
driven like dumb cattle; no trial is
afforded to the suspected ones; they
are put into quicksilver mines, where
they are whipped and starved and
some day find themselves going around
without any head. Some of them do
not get so far as Siberia. Women,
after being tied to stakes in the streets,
are disrobed and whipped to death il
the presence ofhowling moDs. Offend
ers hear their own flesh siss under the
hot irons.
But what are the fncts? There are
no kinder people on earth than the
| Russians, and to most ofthem cruelty