The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05

tension of the Russian domain in Asia
or Europe.
Henry Norman, the English Radical
gives in the Contemporary Review a
graphic account of the advantages that
Russia has acquired within the past
few years. BY the cars alliance with
France, Russia has secured the aid of
the French army and navy, and of the
powers, and is supposed not to have
given anything in return more valu-
able than a shadowy promise to aid
France if the republic ever risks a war
of revenge with Germany, which is also
. great commercial rival of Russia. To-
day Russia holds a practical protector
ate over Turkey, with the prospect
that it will get the best picking when
the Sultan's dominion finally falls to
pieces. Bulgaria is completely under
Russian influence. Montenegro is
friendly, and Servia and Roumania are
slowly but surely losing their indepen-
dence under the all-compelling pres
sure of the great Northern power.
Even Abyssinia down in Africa is now
designated as Russian ally.
SITUATION IN ASIA.
But in Asia the situation is most
alarming, viewed from English eyes. A
few years ago England was aroused to
a patriotic fury by the cry that Rus
sia was at the gates of India. Yet to-
day Muscovite engineers are building a
railway straight to the city of Herat,
| which is the most important position
from a strategic viewpoint on the
frontiers of India. Persia has come en-
tirely under the influence of the czar'a
diplomats. But the greatest of all its
| achievements has been wrought BY the
new treaty between Russia and China
by which the Chinese grant not only
the right to construct the great Trans-
Siberian railway across Manchuria, but
many commercial advantages as well.
The New York Tribune thus summar-
| ICES MIR Norman's statements regard
| ing the treaty:
THAT extraordinary instrument
places the whole of China north and
east of Peking, and Peking itself un-
der Russian control. Russia is to grid
| iron it with railroads, dot it with fort
resses and garrisons, make its best
| ports armed naval stations for her
| fleets. She is to have a practical
monopoly of developing it's trade, mines
and agriculture, and it comprises some
of the richest provinces of the whole
empire. Manchuria alone has a popu-
lation of more than % 900, 900. She is to
occupy positions giving her absolute
control of the Gulf of Pe-Chili and OF
the seaweed approaches to Tien-Tsin
and Peking. In brief, not the AmooI
but the Hoang-Ho is to be the south
ern boundary of Eastern Siberia. The
total foreign trade of China in 1896
was nearly 315, 900 taels, of which
Great Britain had 213,5OO,O 900 and Rus
sia only 17,500,000; yet henceforth Rus
sia is to have the regulating of the
whole"
Strangely enough Great Britain
raised no protest against this great
blow to its power in Asia. The Brit
ish lion allowed the Russian bear tC
take up his abode in China without sc
much as roar. Taking, advantage OF
China's weakness, resulting from the
war with Japan, Russia relentlessly
grasped at everything in sight and
of China without the firing of gun
So much has diplomacy accomplished
for Russia. What limit would there be
to it's empire if a really great ruler
should arise, another Peter the Great
to recognize its antiquated system OF
government and lead its united people
against the nations of Western
Europe? Militarism is the controlling
spirit in Russia. In spite of misgov-
ernment the Russian masses show a
devotion to their Emperor that is not
found elsewhere. in Europe. What
could not a military despot accomplish
~ a few wise reforms shOuld give hin
a united Russia at his back? Every
European nation has had it's dream o.
universal conquest. Spain, England
Sweden, Germany and France, have al
played the part of the world conquror
| If it is now Russia's turn, Europe may
we'll tremble. There is something very
like destiny in these constant advances
of Russia.