The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-07
rHE Russ1A OFF TODAY.

The most successful OF all these EFFORTS
may be said to have been the story so
generally circulated In war times, and
so universally accepted as true, that even
Russia was about to unite with other
European nations against us In behalf Of
Spain were it not for the threatened pur-
pose of England to take up arms against
the threatened war coalition. Following
on the complete explosion Of this politi-
cal falsehood, by the authoritative denial
Of the Russian authorities, has come
perfect avalanche of abuse directed
against the Russian empire IN connec-
ton with the alleged deprivation by the
Russian car Of the people of Finland of
the ancient political rights guaranteed
them when they became a part of the
Russian empire.
1t now appears that even this ground
of criticism of the czar and his govern
ment is unfounded, and that the i'm
perialist, pro-Anglican press have wasted
a great deal of valuable printers ink and
rivers of crocodile tears in expressing
tyranny. The car has not deprived the
Firms of any of their ancient rights or
privileges. On the contrary, within a few
days past, he expressly ratifes and con-
firms those rights in the full breadth and
scope of their original concession.
Whatever may be the motive power be-
hind the attacks which are being made
from time to time upon the Russian ma
ton through our periodical press and
otherwise the result will continue the
same. They will remain unavailable to
affect American public sentiment. Rus
STA is the last of the European nations
to emerge from barbarism. Yet she is
in the vanguard of the worlds progress.
Who can gainsay the majesty of her posi-
ton as the great national advocate Of
peace, the initiative power in calling to-
gether the conference now holding its
sessions at The Hague. We Americans
can, on close examination, see little of
essential difference. in principle at least,
between the government Of Russia and
that of any other despotic European
power. There is the same evil genius of
autOcracy animating them all in the last
event. Little beyond dread of popular
clamor or the protests of other nations
restraints the free expression of abso-
lutism in many Of the European countries
which profess to possess an approach to
a responsible governmental system. The
mailed arm of militarism is raised above
| them all, to fall with such force as may
be necessary in any grave popular crisis.
Russia bears honorable comparison with
| the most advanced of the nations of
! Europe today, in the tendencies and polit-
cal activities of its rulers. When we
were in grave national peril we had
staunch friend in the Russian car. There
never was even a moments Interruption
of the happy relations between the two
young national giants. We grasp hands
across Boring sea, and the vast possess
sions of Russia are open to us, West and
East, on terms the most liberal extend
ed to any nation in the world, for they
involve the hearty welcome ever extend
ed by one friend to another. among ma
| lions as among men.
We can hardly conceive, vast as have
been our own undertakings in that same
direction, the marvellous advances which
civilization and peace are making across
the waste places of Siberia and China
under the active auspices of Russia. She
does not longer stand in the way of
| liberty, neither in Finland nor any other
| land. Her avowed absolutism must in
evitably disappear in the glorious light
of Christian progress, which she is
shedding on the continent of Asia at
! the present moment. She is following. in
| Siberia and China, the example which we
set her years ago in our development of
what was then known as the Great
American Wilderness. And millions of
sorely oppressed members of the human
| family will soon feel the beneficent in
| fuence Of the great work which she Is
! pushing forward with the strength of
| veritable national giant from st. Peters,
! burg to the shores of the Yellow and
Japan seas.
Americans will do we'll to scrutinize all
movements which are evidently designed
| to influence American public opinion I'M
| favorably toward Russia, ever and al
ways our closest national ally