New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-24
PUSSJA AND THE UNITED STATES.

RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.
Russian relations come much to the fore to-
Gay In another column we print letter 10 'h'
Editor of The Tribune from Mr.. Nladlnl"
HoImsrem Of the ST. Petersburg "Wiedomost'
setting forth unoficially, but with the authorl'!
Of information, the Russian view or the lhcreaS-
ing friendship between this country and Great
Britain and of Great Brtans motives In cult
waiting II. He writes as Russian. ana not Ms "
friend of Great Britain. though an earnest
friend of the United States. His words are
emphatic and unvarnished. Many readers may
disagree with what he says. But at least all VIII
find interest and not little profit in learning
from him what Russia-the Russia that is not
always reported in ordinary news dispatches
thinks of some matters Of great importance To
this country We print also an account Of the
reception Of the Russian Ambassador, Count
Cassini by the President at Washington, and
OF the brief but significant speeches made on
that occasion.
In connection with these utterances IL is
profitable to recall the remarks made by Count
Cassinl on Wednesday, as reported IN our
columns Yesterday In them the Russian Am
bassador treated the public 10 something Of a
novelty in diplomatic methods He openly dis
cussed with a press reporter the relations he
tween his own country and the one to which he
is accredited the relations Of each of them with
other Powers and their attitude toward current
international issues Of prime Importance; and
he did so before he had presented his Gre
| dentials TO the President and had been formally
received as the representative Of the Car. Such
q proceeding Is unusual We hardly dare to sur
mise what would be said by some critics If an
| American diplomat should do such thing But
these are unusual times and It may be that they
call for unusual methods. II Is conceivable that
the Russian Government was willing, even de
| sIrous that Count Cassn at the earliest pos
sible moment and with a drecness and force
| that no merely ceremonous phrases could pos
| sess should impart to the American people au-
| thentic information OF the feelings OF that GOV
| eminent toward this Nation and toward its
present and prospective operations In the war
with Spain. If such was its plan, and II such
J was his intention. both have been amply full
| filled TO the satisfaction Of this Nation.
There was indeed. no essential necessity for
! such an utterance 10 assure this Nation Of Rus
| sa's friendship. Between the Great Autocracy
and the Great Democracy cordial relations have
existed too long to permit any doubts OF their
sincerity or Of their permanence. Russia mas
been 10 the United States that hest Of all friends,
q friend In need and the United States has not
| forgotten IT, Between the two nations there Is
a world OF difference But difference does not
necessarily mean anagOnism. Iussia's ways
are not our ways are our ways hers; but
| Der ways and orr ways do not cross each
other The interests of the two nations may
be divergent; at least they do not clash. and
there is no reason why they should. Each IS
great enough and strong enough to pursue It's
| own course. and at the same time 10 have
the fullest respect and the amplcst goodwill
toward the other Nevertheless. though they
were not needed. Count Casslni's assurances Of
Russla's friendship are gratefully welcomed,
and are sure to arouse sympathetic responses
throughout the United States.
What he says on the specific subject Of the
| PHILIPPINES IS worthy Of special notice. Briefly
summarized 1t is that Russia feels an interest
in the disposition Of those islands that she
does not want them herself; that she does not
want Great Britain to have them, and that she
does not expect them TO prove cause Of contcn-
ton between her and us. That IS eminently
reasonable and TO the point, and we fancy It
expresses the sentiments Of the other great
maritime Powers. Not Of them. excepting
perhaps Japan wants to acquire the islands.
Perhaps that is largely because each knows It's
acquisition Of them would be objected to and
perhaps resisted by some Of the others. Not
one Of them would Ike to see them pass into
the hands Of any Of the others. And not one
Of them has any idea Of quarrelling with the
United States If It exercises It's unqucstlonabc
rights Of conquest over them. Count Cassini
speaks only for Russia. but his words might
well be regarded as the voice OF Europe.
For such assurances on such theme AT such
a time this Nation owes him thanks. Similar
assurances have already been made in behalf
Of Great Britain Thus the attitudes Of the two
great empires which occupy the two extremes
Of European interests and diplomacy are made
known. From them we may reckon the attitude
Of all that stand between them. It was never
necessary. in this case, for us TO hall and can
vass European sentiment. But since that senti-
ment is expressed without solicitation and IS
found to be friendly and favorable to our cause,
there Is all the more encouragement for this
Nation to 60 on In the path marked ont equally
by interest and by honor.