The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-21
EAGER TO RECOVER ALASKA
Russia Bitterly Repents Her Rash Sale
Of Rich Gold Fields.
The GRAND DUKE PAUL SCHENING.
Youthful Head of Party That Would
Like to Pick Quarrel With Us.
The Grand Dukes
Plans.

JfN Americans dit aware "a N''N 49,
that Russia, huge, powerful, despotic
Russia, now bitterly regrets the selling
OF Alaska to the United States, and
that in the more intimate, political cir
cles I'm the Cars capital to-day there
is a deal OF buster about the mistaken
policy which turned over so rich terri
tory TO another nation.
This sentiment has been growing Tor
several years, but the discovery or the
Alaskan gold fields has greatly stlmu-
lated il. For Alaska, with all its for
ests, fisheries, and gold-stocked noun
tains. was Russna's own domain, ana
Russian subjects should have had the
mining of those vast deposits OF the yei-
low metal
But the encroachments with when
Catherine and her successors stealthily
and steadily extended their frontiers
toward the South and West, were given
a distinct setback when Stewards ne
gotiations resulted In the transfer OF
Alaska TO the United States. The
views OF the French monarch who SO
carelessly cedcd TO England the row
square miles OF snow which constitute"
the Province OF quebec would meet no
sympathy IN the land Of the white Gar
Expansion has been the rule OF Russl@
ever since the overthrow Of the Tartar
yoke: and when IL became generaHy
know I'm PETERSBURG that the prrchase
had hrtn concluded, the disapp ooa'ioh
scarcely restrained itself.
But To lose country full Of gold
mines-nav not TO lose. to willingly barter
awav land in which gold was even then
known to exist. Ay there's the run.
PERHAPS there would have been no need
to welcome President Faure so royalty
TO Russia had the United States not alb
eorbed Alaska. No need. then. Of the
friendship Of French fnanciers.
Among those who to-day are an1iousiy
looking up all correspondence relating 10
the sale. TO discover whether or not some
technical flaw may perchance be brought
to light. the Grand Duke Paul IS the most
prominent figure. The eve of military
Russia is anxiously fixed upon this young
mamie IS only thirty-seven-as he would
play no unimportant part in event Of any
difficulty between Russia and other ma
lions.
His military experience has been con-
siderable. He served on the general stan
of Shobeloff in the Turco- Russian cam
palen IN 1871. where he distinguished HIM
self by bravery al the taking Of Plevna.
He was present at the treaty Of Santo
StefanO by which the European coalition
DfeNenteu tne fkuSNldN~ rum fIAFiAAN -
stantinople. and at the battle OF Pen1deh.
under General Komaroff. he won great
honors in the contest against the English
for the supremacy Of Central ASIA Such
Is the opinion Of his military and strategic
ability that. IN the event OF any war with
Russia. he would unquesti0nably be re-
garded as the Russian Moltke.
From the commencement of the Trans
Siberian railway project which. starting
from Moscow. will plough its way across
Siberia to Vladivostok. Grand Duke
Paul has been its deeply interested advo-
cate. lie has great faith in the Inn
menso undeveloped resources Of Russian
Asia. and the advantages that will be
gained by the opening of the new line.
The total length of the road is about
five thousand. six hundred miles run
ming through what may aptly be termed
Russia's finland Australia" and the
Grand Duke devoted much Of his en-
ergy and his fortune to the wheat lands
Of the Siberian plateauX. IL Is expected
that the road will be completed in 1905.
He was one of those most active IN
endeayoring to demonstrate the advan-
tages of the FrancO-Russian alliance,
which in his opinion are as follows: that
French consent is thereby practically as
sured to any of Russia's aspirations
either in Asia or towards the Mediterra-
mean: also. what is Of prime Importance.
that the negotiations cf any Russian loan
will be sure Of acceptance uron the Paris
exchange.
In person. the Grand Duke Is hand
some man of thoroughly Russian type
with commanding presence. He Is
deyout member Of the Orthodox church
Of his nation, a firm believer in death
as a punishment for Nihilism. and a
leader of the party which has for its OBJ
iect the expulsion Of the Jews from Rus
STA Among his personal friends may
be mentioned Verestchagln painter ana
writer; Tolstoi. the novelist, and the late
Anton Rubinstein, the famous musician
In an extract from the Grand Duke
speech. made at dinner given In his
honor by the Patriotic League for the
Defence Of Russia" since the discovery
Of the Alaskan gold fields, he Is quoted
as saying:
The branch road from the Anon
Daria. through the Verkhoyansk noun
tains could easily move towards the Bel
ring Sea. and from there become great
menace to United States interests. while
France. by preventing the English army
from giving aid 10 the Americans. would
harmonic with the operations OF the ST.
berian notilla. Japan also would indi-
rectlv assist US influenced by the hope
Of our support In Hawaii. e"
GIUSEPPE ANTONA.