The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-01
The visit OF tho Russian Fleet TO
IoulOn.


II we were TO accept literally the assur-
ances OF the Russian Foreign Office. we
should have to admit that the coming visit
OF the Russian feet TO Toulon will have no
political significance. M. DE GIERs has In
structed the Cars Ambassadors ut several
European courts to explain that the visit is
simply an acknowledgement of that OF the
French fleet to Crons,adt. and that care
will be taken to render the one act of cour-
tesy IN exact copy OF the other. This. Of
course signifies that the st. Petersburg Gov
ernment does not intend to have Its hand
forced by French enthusiasts, but wishes to
reserve to itself complete liberty Of action.
The situation Is curiousiy analogous to
that which existed In Versailles In the year
lit. when the representatives Of the Ameri-
can colonists were endeavorlng to secure
an offensive and defensive alliance with
France. 1t will be remembered that until
the surrender OF BuRGoYNE at Saratoga was
made known, the French Government re-
fused to render any open and official assist
ance to the colonies which had revolted from
Great Britain. LOUIS XVI. was at that time
as complete an autocrat as ALEXANDER III.
Is to-day. and. as such. he felt natural
antipathy to revolutionists and republics.
His preiudices were shared by his Minister.
the Comte DE vERoENNEs. but the latter was
keenly sensitive to the feelings and opinions
Of the aristooratic and military class.
which detested England on account OF
her conquest of Canada and her
rapid progress toward ascendancy' In
India. 1t was because he desired to see
British prestige eciipsed and the British
empire dismembered, that the French
Minister. in his heart, desired the triumph
OF the American rebels and connived at for
wardng supplies to them. even going 30 far
as to secretly advance money for the pur-
pose. Yet, up almost to the hour when
treaty OF alliance with the United States
was signed, and French feet and army
were ordered to cross the Atlantic, YER
aENNEs made repeated and solemn profess
tations Of neutrality to England's repre-
sentative. He did not throw of the mask
until tho only kind Of public opinion which
affected the ancier regime had expressed IT.
self so strongly in favor Of the Americans
that LOUIS XVI. yielded with reluctance to
advice that brought an autocrat into part
nership with rebels.
What was true Of France under the an
CIeIb TEyVNS - LEuo VI lueSlb uOWs 1hSlo 10
one thing stronger even than the Gar. and
that is the sort OF public opinion which
alone finds utterance In Russia. that OF the
aristocratic and military class. When the
feelings OF that class are strongly excited.
no Car can disregard them with IMMUNITY:
to that fact the history Of the RoMANoFF
dynasty bears witness In many tragic ex-
amples 1t was In submission to pressure
from that source that NICHOLAS entered
upon the ruinous war OF the Crimea, aud
that ALEXANDER II. engaged in the almost
equally frutless war Of 1878. A Cars adj
visers are certain. sooner or later. to reflect
the wishes and convictions of the class from
which they are drawn and. unless the SOW
ereign Is man Of extraordinary strength
Of will. he is certain. in the end. to lie in
luenced by his advisers.
We see, then, that official reassurances
cannot belittle the moral significance OF
such incidents as the visit OF the French
fleet to Cronstadt. and the return visit Of
the Russian fleet to Toulon. Such Incidents,
coupled as they are. with hundred preced
ing and concurrent proofs Of reciprocal
good will. have the Importance Of political
events; for they powerfully help to gener-
ate the public opinion OF which events are
the outcome. Self-interest might not suf-
flee to knit Russia and France together. al
though the league OF the three central
powers seems to irnpel them. by a law OF
natural attraction, into counterbalancing
alliance. But when seli-interest Is con-
joined with sympathy. nothing can long
avert the combination. Such an inter-
change OF courtesies as Is about to be wit
messed at Toulon is AZ once an outgrowth
and stimulant Of international sympathy;
and, therefore, it is reasonably regarded
with suspicion and apprehension by those
who dread coalition OF the French re-
public and the Russian empire.
rhe Infidelity OF the Jews.