The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-02
RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.
The London Standard publishes the fol-
lowing from its correspondent at Moscow:
Public opinion in Russia, so far as it is
expressed, sympathizes with Spain. Apart
from admiration of the courage that Ven-
lures upon a conflict with an overwhelming
ly superior antagonist, Russia has received
a severe blow in the suspected friendly
agreement between the United States and
ing their fleet at the disposal of the North
In the war of secession in 1861. and they
are bitterly aggrieved that the United
States is not equally mindful Of this service
now.
1t is not likely that the United States will
Intentionally do anything to excite the hos
tility or weaken the friendship Of Russia.
That friendship has been of such a charac-
ter that the United States should not forget
it. The statement that Russia put her. fleet
at the disposal of the North during the
civil war puts the case rather strongly, but
she did what was tantamount to that. OF
all European nations Russia was our best
and almost our only friend during the civil
war. Before the beginning of actual hos
tilities she showed an earnest desire to avert
them. On the 10th of July, 1861, before the
first battle of Bull Run, Prince Gortchakoff.
the Russian premier, sent a communication
to the Russian minister at Washington, in
which he said:
From the beginning Of the conflict which
divides the United States of America you
have been desired to make known to the
federal government the deep interest with
which our angus master was observing
the development OF a crisis which puts IN
question the prosperity and even the ex-
isteneS Of the Union: The En- SnOs d pro- =
peaceful solution is not realized, and that
American citizens, already in arms against
each other, are ready to let loose upon tneir
of political society-a civil war. For the
more than eighty years that It has existed
Its towering rise and its progress. to the
concord of its members, consecrated, under
the auspices of it's illustrious founder, by
institutions which have been able to recon-
been fruitful. 1t has exhibited to the world
the spectacle of a prosperity without ex-
ample In the annals of history. 1t would be
deplorable that, after SO conclusive an ex-
perience, the United States should be hur-
ried into a breach of the solemn compact
which up to this time has made their power.
This union is not simply, in our
eyes, an element essential to the universal
political equilibrium. 1t constitutes, besides,
all Russia have pledged the most friendly
interest; for the two countries, placed at
the extremities Of the two worlds, both in
the ascending period Of their development,
appear called to a natural community of in
terests and of sympathies, of which they
have already given mutual proofs to each
other. . . y 1t is in this sense, sir, that 1
desire you to express yourself, as well to the
members of the general government as to
influential persons whom you may meet, CIV
ing them the assurance that in every event
the American Nation may count upon the
most cordial sympathy on the part Of our
august master during the important crisis
which III 10 ma SCinO fhTnIlOh ar nrpCpnf
This communication is remarkable in dip
lomatic annals for its clear perception of a
foreign issue and for the unusual warmth
OF friendship it expresses. 1t shows that
Russia foresaw the Importance of c~ultivat-
ing the friendship Of the United States
nearly forty years before England did.
Later in the war, when England and France
were preparing by joint action to break our
blockade of Southern ports. thus practically
intervening in behalf Of the Confederates,
Russia, without any diplomatic exploitation
on the subject, dispatched a fleet Of war
ships which entered New York harbor and
remained there. several months. Admiral
Farragut lived at a New York hotel at the
time, where he was frequently visited by the
Russian admiral, whose acquaintance he
had made when they were both young Of
fcers serving in the Mediterranean. "Sit-
ting in my room one day after dinner" says
the late Thurlow Weed in his memoirs.
Admiral F%arragut said to his Russian
friend: Why are you spending the winter
here in idleness?' I am here replied the
Russian admiral. under sealed orders, to be
broken only in a contingency that has not
yet occurred" Later in the conversation
Mr.. Weed says: 1.-THE Russian dmiral adj
mstted that he had received orders to break
the seals if, during the rebellion, we be-
came involved in a war with foreign ma
TONS" Although there is no record or
documentary proof of the fact there is ev-
cry reason to believe that the orders were,
If England and France attempted to inter-
vene in behalf of the Confederates, the Rus
sian fleet was to take a hand on the other
side. The United States should not forget
this passage in their history, and while they
should not repel the friendly advances of
England they shoul try to avoid offending
Russia.