New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
RUSSIA TO CIvILIzE BARBARIANs.


RUSSIA TO CIVILIZE BABBARIANs
Russia is not q harbaric power. but circum-
stances have given her temperameatal barhar-
ism just as they have given France a temporal
mental civilization and Spain a tcmpcramentai
SdVaSeTy. Russia is of all civlizine powers that
which has the most natural affinity to harbar-
ism and the greatest aptitude for mi9eiing with
and ruling over barbarans. Its position and its
characteristics define without possibility Of mis-
take it's special mission il the world and it is
The sphere Cf Russian influence and power must
neces sary extend from Constantnorla to the
Pacific from the Arctic to AfEhanistan.
Even at tie present day Russia hcI.s Asia in
her hands. and certainly long before the present
century is out Russia will he universally ac-
kn0Wledged the supreme Asiatic power. Be
Yond CCnstanttuCple il is scarcely likely that
Russia viii develop westward. Constantinople,
il is true. naturally belongs to Russia; it is a
source Cf her most sacred traditions, reiigiouSly
and politically. the metropolis of that ancient
Eastern empire to which she is the only possible
successor. Moreover, ii is one Of the natural
outlets Cf Russia. and FOR over century the
SiaV migration has been steadily increasing
throughout this region Any opposition to Rus
Sld : clam 10 the ultimate puSseSSiun ot con
staEtirOpIe is artificial and Fictitious. based on
the jealousies Of other nations for there can be
no question whatever that, failing its present
possessors. no power has Russias claims To Con
stantinople. 1t may certainly be added that
COnstantnople. however important Ii may once
have bean. is now a possession of It'll more than
sentimental value. The whole Mediterranean
indeed once the chief centre and source of hu-
n. q
teresting to tourists and archPologists. Con
stantinople is a specially eligible site for ex-
caVation; il will not henceforth be much more
than this. for the centres OF life are tending 10
pass from this side of the world to the other.
and the Pacific surrounded 10y Russia, Japan.
Australia and America will wash the shores of
all the youngest and most vigorous countries IN
the world without one exception. 1t will be the
special privilege of Russia that she alone among
these lands represents Europe. In the Pacific
Europe viii only exist by reason OF Russia :
presence there For US Europeans the only di-
rect route the New World Of the futur" is
through Russia and all chief interests in
that New World are inevitably placed IN Rus
sia : hands.
With the new century she has wisely ceased
to send her criminals to Siberia, the worthless
majority among them Were weakness precisely
because they were NagrantS ana never became
Il permanent part OF the populations lfut tn'
stronger elements that We're sent To Siberia VIII
not so pass away. The people OF Siberia are al
ready proving their energy; b"ior" long lhcE
Will more than rival tn" people of tha European
mother country. Ey the end f the century Whrn
people say "KuSsia' il Viii he 10 ASiatc rather
than to European Russia that th"IT thoughts
will turn The ONLY rival Of Russia as a
great world power is the United States The
Russians possess, more distinctly than any other
pcoulc a 81. cial mission Of civilization. .
Beyond any other European people tn" ltuSsians
possess q de gree Of rcceptiVity, Iadica! hu-
Iuauity of feeling. a fund of high idealiSm, and
sense of the rcla tiOnship II ideals To pracuca!
life which cannot fail to carry them very far.
-tSir HaVeluck Ellis in The Contemporary ltt-
view.