The National tribune., 1902-01-23

.ognition on the part of the Washington
Government of the attitude of the Gar
toward the United States in '62. but
doubt if there was any member of either
house of Congress who supposed the Gov
ernment then had any other motive in the
purchase of Alaska than to recognize its
obligations to the Gar.
The fact stated by one of your CORE
spondents that there is no record of such
an understanding i'll the Government De
partments,' is not surprising. Flirtations
between nationalities, as between the sexes.
are not apt TO be proclaimed from the
housetops, nor even made matters OF rec
ord. JOHN BIGELOW.
"21 Grammercy Park, Jan. q"
The Seward letter to Mr.. Bigelow is
here printed:
Unofficial.
Department Of State, Washington, June
%, 1862.
JOHN BIGELow, Eso-My Dear Sir:
The London Times has succeeded in pro
claiming itself TO be universally regarded
as an enemy to the United States; engaged
in urging upon them the calamities of a
foreign war in the crisis of domestic in
surrection sufficiently dangerous. The
Secretary Of War supposes that it is his
duty not to give the London Times the
weight which it would derive from protect
ing, supporting, and cherishing its agent
(the then Times correspondent, Sir Viii
liam II. RussclD. The American people
do not dissent from the Secretary's opin-
ion. They arc being wrought up by the
European press 20 the point Of meeting a
European invasion. 1t seems to them as
If such an invasion gains favor in Europe
just in proportion that excuses for it are
removed.
This explanation is for yourself alone
The Secretary of War does not propose to
have any discussion about it, and certainly
l can afford to engage in none.
Gen. Cameron's vindicatiOn by the
President would have come somewhat ear
lier if he had not assumed to defend him
self against Congress, and in doing so,
hurled back accusations against them.
Your defense Of our financial policy
was right. 1t stands upon necessities. Mr.
Bright should have shown you how we
could have gone through the war with a
peace revenue and fiscal system.
Il do not write, or even talk just now
amout Mexican affairs. / think it prudent
to watch and wait BetUeen you and my
self alone, hare q belief That the European
State, iChicherer ono IL may be, that commits
itself TO interUentiOa anytChere IN North Amer
icd, UiH sooner or later fetch up in the
arms OF q ndtirc Of an Oriental country not
especially distinguished for dmiaJiIty Of
manners or temper.
Our sending Il Minister to Rome was
inst as meaningless as our consenting to
Mr.. Mercier's going to Richmond. We ap-
pointed Rufus King Minister sixteen
menths ago. He declined. We appointed
Mr.. Randall year ago. He waited until
he got the Wisconsin forces into the field
and then went to Rome to save the ap-
pontmcnt.
propositions and debates about medi-
alton and recognition do not tend to make
our people amiable If the debates are
kept up abroad, we shall have a navy that
will be worthy Of a great maritime power.
1t might perhaps be icctL II IL iocrC kHoun
in Europe that ace are no longer alarmed by
demonstrations Of interference
81 am, my dear sir, very truly yours,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD"
Within the limits Of the caution de-
manded by the time and the dciicacy of
the matter under discussion, we fail to see
how Mr. Seward could have conveyed to
Mr.. Bigelow any more clearly his belief
in the intention of Russia to stand by the
United States in the manner OF the tradi-
ton disputed by our correspondent OF
the two passages in italics the first was
ITALICIZED by Mr. Bigelow and the second
by The Sun in the conviction that it was
meant by Mr.. Seward to be especially
significant.