The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-05-26

European naIlODS appear 10 w ue-
sirous of maintaining friendly relations
Nth our government, which is a good
thing for US at this time.
In the present emergency, England
from the first has rendered us important
service by her friendly attitude and acts.
France, Germany and Austria naturally
sympathize with Spain and have made
efforts to get the great powers of Eu-
rope to intervene in SPANS interest
with America for peace, but England
has consistently refused to be a party to
the project, and thus prevented agree
ment of these powers to our disadvan-
tage.
Now Russia puts in a strong bid for
our continued friendship. In a recent
issue of the st. Petersburg Rishevyie
yiedomosti, the personal organ of the
Gar, there was an inspired article set
ting forth the ancient and continued
friendship of Russia for the United
States and the continued and continuing
anxiety of Russia to keep on the most
cordial terms with us. Especial refer
eDce was made to Russia as sale of Alaska
TO us because Alaska then seemed to be
place in which at some future time the
interests of Russia and the United States
might clash" on account of the Monroe
doctrine.
A diplomat commenting on this cir
cumstance, recalled the fact that Russia
was the only influential European power
| IN favor Of the United States at the time
F Of the Civil war, when it looked very
dark for our country, the Car sending,
At the request of President Lincoln. two
fleets, under special orders to American
waters,
The inspired article from the Cars
personal organ goes on to say:
Alaska was not sold for the reason
that the Russian government wanted
money as is easily understood
''Since then the friendly relations be-
tween ourselves and the great trans
atlantic Republic have not ceased. They
have grown and become stronger, and
when not long ago there appeared in
Russia the horrible phantom of hunger,
who was the first voluntary giver an
swerng the call of our distress? The
United States. But there is still another
point showing the usefulness and expe-
diency of the Russian American friend
ship. Let us be candid. Sincere as the
assertions of few Russophiles on the
banks of the Thames, and Anglophles
on the banks of the Neva may be, our
relations with England must inevitably
come to a bloody war;"
The war may not come tomorrow,
DOR after month, nor even after year,
but il must come.
"0nce such war starts, what i'm
merSe help the ports of the United
States will be to Russia The sympa-
would be for Russia more than wei.
COME"
This article further iustities the
United States in Cuban interferences,
saying
"Ihe United States have the right to
eguided by their own interests. For
several decades at their very doors
exceptional things have happened.
People discontinued at the heavy taxa
lion which is squeeze out OF them have
been murdered. Tens of thousands of
the people OF the rural districts, having
raised no banner of insurrection, but
peacefully following their toilsome vo-
cations, are forcibly torn from their
mother earth and detained in the narrow
confines of the city, where there is lit
lie bread, but many guns and soldiers.
WHAT are they to do in those cities +?
The impartial testimony of European
Consuls shows that in Cuba death from
Starvation is a common occurrence and
mat even now, on the eve of their lib
Grafton, thousands die of starvation.