The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-02
TO HOODWINK UNCLE SAM
THAT Is WHAT RUSSIANS ARE sUs-
PECTED OF WISHING TO DO.
They Prefer a Russo-Americnn to .
Not Meeting with Success

high standing, who Is friendly TO Dotn the
peoples in question.
1t is at once impossible to imagine that
a man in his high and favored position
would speak lightly of matters of such
gravity or TO argue that he dees not know
positively the matters Of which he spoke
His position ensures his intimacy with the
statecraft of Europe, and his tact. his
magnetic manners, and the Importance of
his position. all exert a strong influence in
bringing to his ken whatever ii is his bust
ness or his desire to know.
We were old friends, and he knew that,
while L might use what he said. never
would betray his identity. He began by
asking me, as an American. whether /
knew that Russia is making an earnest
effort to come to a good understanding
with America.
1 said 1 had observed that singularly
proRussian newspaper In New York was
making the project of a Russo-American
alliance conspicuous in both its editorial
and its news columns. This interested the
diplomat. The fact was so new that 1t
had not fallen within his observation.
RELIGIOUS ASPIRATIONS.
He asked on what possible grounds such
an alliance was preached to the public,
and 1 amused him by replying, ION reli-
gious and moral grounds. 1t is urged that
as Russia and the United States ask for
nothing from China except peace-do not
seek land and revenue-and have no
enmity toward the Chinese, they should
act In concert not only in China, but
everywhere and always hereafter"
And" said he, what is America to re-
ceive in return for such mighty gift as
her partnership and assistance?"
According to Russia's organ, ! replied,
"she is to get the moral consciousness of
serving Christian ends, and the moral
benefit of an alliance with a great, pious
and Christian power which has just taken
a larger slice out of China than any one
else has dared to appropriate, and promises
not to take any more just at present, while
seeing to it that America shall take none
at all. America is furthermore told that
Russia needs to be supported, in order that
she may assume the place of buffer be-
tween civilization and the Yellow Peril
This is put first In the pro-Russian news
paper; but 1 mention it last because l am
acquainted with China, and know that
there is no such thing as a Yellow PERIL
so far as China is concerned. The widest
imaginings may clothe the Japanese with
I have seen nothing about the japanese
which leads me TO take them very seri-
ously."
OPPOSED TO ENGLAND.
Very good" the diplomat replied: "at
least, what you have stated agrees with
the arguments which Russia's agents are
putting forth here in Europe. But Russia
has another and more pressing point TO
make. which is not explained by her press,
though 1 think it is well understood in all
the diplomatic circles of the continent
She has passed the word all over her cir
cult OF influence that America is growing
too English and that every effort which
can be put forth must be exerted to break
the harmony of feeling between the two
nations. This new attitude is adopted part
~ in the interests of France and more
largely on the general continent behalf.
The policy was arranged few months ago,
when the Beers. having plotted, declared
and begun a war on Great Britain, began
to wish that they had not done so and to
toment in Europe what hostility they could
against Great Britain. Having argued that
the under dog in the struggle, these coun-
tries have now effected SO great a moral
combination against England that it is she
who is now the under dog
she has no frSt-class power, except
America. which offers her the slightest
ground for hope of friendly bearing towards
her, In case the bitter feeling of to-day
generates war against her tomorrow.
Russia's plan, encouraged by Austria,
France and Germany, is to strip Great
Britain naked Of support before such a
war begins. 1t was thought few months
ago that France might make the attack
| believe that danger is over. 1t has been
dissipated by the trouble in China, which
gives to the French people the distraction
their government desired. Had not this
Chinese affair taken place war with Eng
land might have been arranged to turn
the minds Of the French from their own
troubles at home. 1t was in view of the
possibility of war between France and
Great Britain that this project of Russo
ANA n al Wa Caf in 1nti Naco
such an alliance effected England would be
deprived not only Of her sole hope of as
sistance, but of her first and greatest source
of food. When all other ocean lanes were
blockaded against her the American ships
could still bring foodstuffs to her by north
erly routes too far removed from the
busiest ocean channels to be policed by any
navy combination of any two navies
now existing. 1t is true that the financial
loss TO America, were she to enter into
such agreement, would be incalculable.
1t would lose for that country her greatest
chance to enrich herself; but Russia fam
cies that this point will be overlooked, or
will be regarded as Of subordinate interest
in an alliance so grandly moral and so
purely pious-"
THE GREAT OBSTACLE
How is the project progressing?"
asked.
mot satisfactorily to Russia thus far, I
think" was the diplomats reply.
What opposition does it meet within
'The tremendous weight of American
sagacity,' was the reply. 1.-THE Russians
vacated the best position which any coun-
try enjoyed in the competition for Ameri-
can regard. During more than a century
every American cherished bitterness
against Great Britain for the part she
played against them in 1776, 1912, ard, to
an irritating degree in 1861 And at the
same time those. people regarded Russia
with more than ordinary good will, be-
cause of her valuable offer of assistance
during the war between the North and the
South as we'll because of an earlier
proof of kindly interest which Russia gave
to the new country when, as was each time
the case she did not foresee Americas
coming greatness, ambition and activity
But Russia threw away American friend
ship when America went TO war with
Spain.
IF the people of America do not know
government. When that war was declared
Muravieff and the Russian Cabinet felt
like that German statesman who declared
that the United States was a huge and
shapeless monster, which was like as
not to wrest the mastery of the world from
the European powers, If ii be not throttled
there and then 1t was Russia which con-
ceived and tried to ripen the plan of a
European combination against the United
States at that time-only a little more
thanstwo years ago. AL the powers of Eu-
rome were sounded and all those mowers