The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-25

Apart from It's immediate political sig
niticance in the domain of European poll
tics, the visit of the President OF the
French Republic to the Emperor OF
Russia Is an event of more than pass
ing interest to every American. France
and Russia are the two Oldest friends we
have in Europe, and the ties that unite us
to them were formed more than a century
ago. To the one we are indebted in large
measure for the glorious ending of the Revo-
luton that made us a nation in the union
which followed it; and to the other, when
that union was in peril, are we under an ever
to- be remembered obligation for an exhibit
ton of friendship and good will which was
of priceless advantage to us in a crucial
hour of national tribulation. True, the
relations between France and ourselves
have been cloudcd at intervals, but the
difficulties that arose are clearly traccable,
not to the French people, but to the pas
sions and ambitions of those who had tenn
porarily mastered France in the long
struggle for the freedom she now enjoys.
With Russia, on the other hand, we have
never had the shade of even a passing con-
flict that was worthy Of the name. The
house of RoMANoFF has never wavered in
it's friendship, and If the diplomatic corrc-
spondence between our State Department
and the Russian Government, from the
reign of ALEXANDER I. down, were made
public there would probably be no
slight sensation in at least one Euro
pean Foreign Office. Russia" said ex-
Minister CHARLES EMORY SMITH in a
speech shortly after his return from St.
Petersburg, "was our best friend in the
time of our trial. This is the unchallenged
record of history. You know it from the
traditions. I know it from the archives.
Other Governments, 1 will not say other
peoples, of Europe wanted to see us a dis
severed nation. Russia stood fast as the
one fair. open, unalterable friend OF an I'M
divided American union
To the foundation of this friendship be-
tween the most autocratic Government in
the world and the freest and most powerful
of democracies no one, singular to say, con-
tributed more than the father of democ-
racy, THOMAS JEFFERSON. The illustrious
Virginian during his Presidency had con-
ceived a very warm admiration of the
lofty character and mental attachments
of the first ALEXANDER, who was I'M
q~uestionably the most enlightened mon
arch In Europe at the time, and earn
estly DESTROYS of advancing the inter-
ests Of his people along all the lines
of mental, moral, and material progress.
ALEXANDER also was attracted by JEFFER-
soN and they became correspondents. AS
an important result of their intercourse
JEFFERSON was enabled to write to a leading
ol.t~- - I On-t chat UI, 4 ~
ANDER) has taken peculiar affection to this
country and its Government, of which he
has given me public as well as personal
proofs. Our nation being, like his, habit
ually neutral. our interests as to neutral
rights and our sentiments agree. And
whenever conferences for peace between
France and England) shall take place, we
are assured of having a friend in him. 1
am convinced that Russia, while her pres
ent monarch lives, is the most cordial and
friendly to us of any power IN earth, and
will 90 further to serve us, and is most
worthy of Cancellation"
To ALEXANDER himself about the same
period JEFFERSON wrote as follows:
"When you shall proceed to the pacihcation which
is to reestablish peace and commerce, the same dis.
positions OF mind Will lead you to think OF the general
intercourse OF nations. and to make that provision
for Its future maintenance which. in times past. IL
has so much needed. The northern nations OF Europe.
at the head OF which your Majesty Is distinguished. are
habitually peaceable. The United States of America,
like them. are attached to peace. We have then
with them q common interest in tho neutral rights.
Every nation. indeed. on the Continent OF Europe.
belligerent as well a. neutral. is interested in main.
tanning these rights, in Lberalizing them progros.
sively with the progress Of science and refinement OF
morality. and in relieving them from restrictions
which the extension OF the arts has long since rem.
dered unreasonable and vexatious."
THOMAS JEFFERSON laid broad and deer
foundations of domestic and foreign policy.
1t will not be well to depart from the one
or the other. His profound wisdom is ap,
proved by time,