The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-30
!. THE SHADOW OF THE BEAR.


what might happen should the hand OF
death remove the present pacific ruler of
Russia"
Russia has grown to be the paramount
factor in the destiny OF Europe. The
form of the bear couchant stretches
from the Baltic to the Pacific across an
entire continent, but his shadow falls
upon the court of st. James, the Golden
Horn, the Suez, which is Europe's great
doris of the Indian empire and the land
of the Sons of Heaven, and everywhere
it strikes a chill of terror to hearts of
statesmen.
English statesmen believe that Rus
sia's policy of aggression in Asia, if car
ried out, will eventually mean the utter
ruin of England Russia has great
advantage over other countries, as her
government can inaugurate any policy
deemed necessary for the movement and
the purpose without being required to
ask for the consent of parliament or
people. She can put into the field
trained army of $4,000 men.
In case Of g war with England alone,
Russia could send an immense army to
Ccnstantinople, crush the forces Of the
decrepid Turk like straws, seize the
Bosphorus and the Dardanelles and hold
them against all attack and with the
rest IF the army march through Asia
Minor, seize the Suez canal and cut off
England from direct communication
with her Indian empire. Another inn
mense Russian army might be sent into
India and overwhelm the British pos
sessions there.
England's great fleet would be of little
use to her in war with Russia. No
flying squadron could be sent to keep
the Russian hordes from bursting
through the moutain passes of Afghan
istan to invade India. Britannia might
rule the waves, but what good uld
that do her while Russia was ruling the
land?
But Russia is in no hurry for the con-
fiict. She can still employ her time more
profitably otherwise. Under the iron
heel of oppression, she is grinding down
her conquered races into one general
mass of Russian subjects. She is rapidly
transforming millions of newly conquered
Asiatic barbarians into Russian subjects
and soldiers, to let loose at the opportune
+i,,,o ~, +Ioo o;1,iIi1o+i % Wac+ary, Tn
rope. The Russian bear is but cub yet
What are iron bars to him now, he will
crush like straws fifty years hence. No
wonder English statesmen feel apprehen-
sive.
It is fortunate for England that her
interests and those of Germany are iden-
teal, for otherwise Russia might be
tempted to make short shrift of her be-
fore long. Germany is the only country
that has an army anywhere near large
enough to cope with that of Russia. Rus
sia's natural policy now is to wait until
she feels strong enough to meet and de-
feat both England and Germany to-
gether. That at her present rate of
development she will be able to do this
fifty years from now, is not at all i'm
possible. The world may then see the
great struggle for world supremacy be-
tween the Slavic and Germanic races
1t will therefore behoove both Germany
and England to work together for their
common interests and take such meas
ures as will make their future safe
against Russian aggression. Some
twenty or thirty years ago, Germany
was very anxious for an alliance with
Great Britain but Great Britain at
that time did not yet see and feel
the shadow of the bear and held back
with a naughty aloofness which greatly
offended Germany; and gradually there
grew UP in Germany a strong anti-Eng-
lish sentiment, which was greatly in
creased by commercial jealousies when
Germany began to rival England in the
markets of the world. From the begin
ming of his reign. the present emperor
made it a point to please this anti-Eng-
ish sentiment in contrast to his father
and grandfather, and in this manner be
obtained much of his popularity.
But the commercial jeaIousies have
greatly abated Of late years. The world
is large enough for both German and
English interests to work in honest com
petition side by side and secure ample
success for both. In recent times there
has been marked disposition to inter
pose German interests between those of
Russia and Great Britain. Thus the in
terests which Germany is acquiring in
Asia Minor will make it impossible for
Russia to threaten the Suez canal with
out coming in conflict with Germany. It
will also be noticed that the German
sphere of influence in China lies between
those of Russia and Great Britain.
All this may be merely accidental. and
it may also be the result of a policy on
the part of England to interpose German
interests as a buffer between her and
Russia, By working together in har-
mony it will be an easy matter for Great
Britain and Germany to strengthen their
power so that Russian will never be
able TO make a successful attack upon
them, but if they allow themselves to
hamper each other through petty ieaI-
ousics then they may certainly expect
to get the worst of it.
Here in America, Of course. we do not
yet feel the shadow of the bear" vet
we can hardly afford to look with indif-