The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-23
AMERICA IN THE FAR EAST.
A Russian View Of the Results Of Ex-
pansion.

~ ~
psnsion.
A suggestive article by a Russian,
prominent in public life and In close
touch with public opinion OF western
Europe. on the Spanish-American Wal
and Its Possible Results" recently APP
peared In the Russkya Viedomosti. a
daily paper OF wide circulation and ex-
tensive influence not only In the old
capital OF Moscow, where II Is pub
lshed. but all over provincial Russia.
and throughout the more civilized
parts OF Siberia. The article says In
part:
Now that II appears certain that
the United States are bent on taking
n hand In the Old World affairs, IL Is
timely and fitting to stop and consid-
er to which of the old powers would
the Americans be likely to be drawn
by their own interests; what would be
the stand most likely to be taken by
this newly arisen transatlantic power
toward the two latest diplomatic
groupings of the Old World-the Triple
Alliance n h Franco-Russian ALI
ance-to which is 1t drawn by its own
interests?
Apart from their recently fnaugu-
rated colonia policy, there are four
factors that would seem to have a de-
c.ded weight with the United States In
80 Va ~
ICY they are to pursue. and fac
tors are the holding Of markets for
their crude produce In Europe, the
disposal OF their manufactured wares
in the Old World marts. the importa-
ton Of h produce of European nan
ufactures into the United States, and
the admittance to that country Of en-
igrants from Europe.
Austria and Italy can just as well
be omitted from consideration, since,
on OF the internal disturbances
in the first country and the hopeless
financial straits of the other, neither
Is worth considering either as a polit-
ical opponent or ally. France. of all
the great powers is the least likely to
clash in any way with the interests
of the United States. unless II be on
the subject of the high tariff put on
French articles of luxury imported n
the United States, the latter country
being still unable to compete with
France in that exclusive field; on the
other hand, besides a certain serti-
mental affinity natural between G. I'M
tries having a common republican form
of government. however dissimilar
I'm its workings, the United and rance
could be expected to be drawn tcgcth-
er. as time goes by. by the fact of hav-
ing enemies in common. 1t is a well
established fact that les ennemis de
nos ennemis sont nos amis.
There would be just as little ground
to surmise the possibility OF any con-
fiict of interest between the United
States and Russia. The most sensi-
tive spot i'm their Intercourse lies in
their competition IN the grain trade
with Western. Europe. However. II the
United States. thanks TO he superior
organization of their grain trade, are
enabled to reap steady profits in that
field to the detriment of Russia. which
smarts at every decline in prices. that
Is no reason for marring their mutual
relations. Neither diplomacy nor the
force of arms can be of any help
against such competition. The only
help to Russia in this chronic disad-
vantage lies in the reorganization of
her grain trade and in the increase of
prosperity among her own people,
which IL bound, when IL does come,
to turn a large part of Russia's pres
ent exports toward her home markets.
The emigration of Russians proper
into the United States is practically
nil; while the emigration of Russia's
subjects from her western provinces
and the competition of her manufac-
tured products with those of the Unit
ed States are too utterly insignificant
to cut any figure in he situation or
to effect Russia's politics I'm any way.
There remains. of course. the competi-
ton between Russian and American
oil interests, but even this bids fair
to be soon adjusted by an amicable
partition in the worlds markets. 1t
Is really impossible to conjure up any
field in which Amarica's material in
terests could clash with those of Rus
STA. Meantime both nations are still
bound by ties of mutual sympathy. the
United States still mindful of Russia's
helping hand in the darkest hour of
her struggle to preserve the union,
while the Russians, on their side. keep
in grateful remembrance the timely
help extended by Americans TO their
suffering peasantry in the year OF the
great famine OF 1891.
quite different appears h mutual
position of the United States and Ger
many. The import Of American grain
and natural produce into Germany is
still considerable. but II Is constant
ly confronted with restrictions dictat-
ed by h interests of the German Ag-
rarian party. The export of her man
ufactured wares abroad constitutes the
life's blood OF Germany of to-day. and
in that she is constantly confronted
with the tariff wall erected by Amer
ica's protectionism; and. as the Unit
ed States extend their foreign markets
they are bound TO come In closer and
closer competition with the product of
German manufacturers. Another
point OF a~ntagonism between Germany
and the United States Is likely to be
created by the steadily increasing en-
igration of Germans to America. But
the most dangerous point of conflict
between the two nations lies In their
colonial policy: in the fact that Ger
many. being forced by stern necessity
to find foreign markets for the prod
ucts or her noinously growing man
ufactures. is suddenly confronted by
h Americans in the far East. In the
very region toward which she has
cast her longing eyes. but where she
had had no time yet 20 cast her com