The National tribune., 1902-01-23
RUSSIA'S ATTITUDE IN 81.
Ample Evidence Of the Cars Actual Friend
chip for the United states.
New York Sum


cd European coalition against the United
States Just before the declaration of war
| against Spain. YOU say that Russia at
tested her friendship for the United
! States by an act identical with that per-
formed by Alexander II at a critical con-
| juncturc during our civil var OF coIrse.
you refer 10 the historical myth that Rus
! sia sent a squadron to the United States.
/ to be used by this Government in the event
! of certain things happening: but what |
should like to know is, has the Sun any IL
| rcfragabie proof TO sustain this historical
myth; can it produce such testimony that
| will be accepted as conclusive by dis
| interested, unprejudiecd, and intelligent
! jury? In all my researches | have never
! been able TO obtain 4 single scrap of cvi-
| dence in support of the assertion, except
| from Russian sources long after the event:
| evidence that no jury would accept. with
| out coIroboration; evidence as valuable as
the later assertion that Russia tied the
hands of Europe against the United States.
For the truth of history cannot the Sun
| produce the proof:
"a. MAURICE Low.
washington, d. c., Dec. 23.'
It is true that in the records of the
State Department at Washington there is
not to be found a particle of evidence re-
garding the alleged action of Russia, but
in the Life Of Thurlow Weed" there are
two or three interesting observations on
the subject worthy of quotation. Here are
parts of pages 346 and 347 of Vol. II:
"It will he remembered that early in the
rebellion a Russian fleet lay for several
months In our harbOr, and that other Rus
sian men-of-war were stationed at San
Francisco. Admiral Farragut lived at the
Astor House, where he was frequently Wis
tied by the Russian Admiral, between
whom, when they were young officers serv-
ing in the Mediterranean, a warm friend
ship had grown up. Sitting in my room
one day after dinner. Admiral Farragut
said TO his Russian friend: Why are you
spending the Winter here in idleness? !
am here replied the Russian Admiral,
under sealed orders, TO be broken only in
a contingency that has not yet occurred
He added that other Russian war vessels
were lying off San Francisco with similar
orders. During this conversation the Rus
sian Admiral admitted that he had re-
ceived orders TO break the seals if, during
the rebellion we became involved in q war
with foreign nations. Strict confidence
was then enjOined.
When in Washington a few days later,
Secretary Seward informed me that he had
asked the Russian Minister why his Gov
ernment kept their ships, of war 50 long
in our harbors, who, while in answering he
disclaimed any knowledge of. the nature of
had no unfriendly purpose.
Louis Napoleon had invited Russia, as
he did England, to unite with him in de-
mandtng the breaking Of our blockade The
Russian Ambassador at London informed
his Government that England was prepar-
ing for war with America, on account of
the seizure of Mason and Slidell. Hence
two fleets were Immediately sent across
the Atlantic under sealed orders. so that
If their services were not needed, the in
tentlons OF the Emperor would remain, as
they have to this day., secret 1t is GER
tain, however, that when our Government
and Union were imperilled by formidable
rebellion, we should have found a powerful
ally in Russia, had any emergency oc-
CURED"
"The latter revelation" says the sditor
Of these memoirs, ''is corroborated by a
well-known New York gentleman, who |
was in st. Petersburg when the rebellion |
began, and who, during an unofficial call |
upon Prince Gortschakoff, was shown by
the Chancellor an order written in Alex |
ander's own hand, directing his Admiral
to report to President Lincoln for orders |
in case England or France sided with the !
Confederates"
The editor N question, Mr.. Thurlow |
Weed Barnes, undoubtedly referred here |
to Mr.. Bayard Taylor, who was Secretary
Of Legation al St. Petersburg at t-the time |
OF the incident here related, and who was
on intimate terms with Prince Gortscha- |
kof. IN the Nicolay. ard Hay life of Lin
coin full account is given of the effort |
Of France to get England and Russia to
join in an interference with the United |
States. 1t is there said:
. 'Many years elapsed before it became
generally known how near the British !
Government had come to accepting or even |
anticipating the oyertures Of the French |
foc mediation"
The Sun has the privilege of offering
now the testimony of one who was at the |
time Consul at Paris, and who speaks with |
the highest personal authority, backed by |
documentary evidence never before pub |
lighed:
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: !
Your representative has shown me some |
letters to you questioning what the writers |
call the historic myth which credits Rus |
sia with haying attcsted her friendship for |
the United States in our civil war by send |
ing squadron to our shores, to be at the |
service OF our Government in case Of need |
lie also asks me on your behalf If can
throw any light upon the subject ! think |
l can, though ! do not know how cOnclu- |
sIve II may appear to those who are pre-
disposed TO doubt it.
I'm the Summer Of 1862, and before | |
had heard of the arrival Of the Russian |
squadron in New York, / received letter |
from Mr.. Seward, of which ] inclose a |
copy. II was reply to rumors of coali- |
tons and combinations against the United |
States, put in circulation by Confederate |
agencies In London and Paris, which | !
communicated 10 the Department have |
marked the paragraph which l believed |
then TO be, and still believe TO have been. |
sufficient warrant for the inference that |
the Secretary of State had an understand /
ing with the Russian Government. What
he wrote certainly warrants more even
than would be implied by simple display .
OF the nag Of the Car in the harbor of !
New York.
Shortly after my return from France |
IN 1861, spent few days in Washing
ton, during which time had frequent in |
teryiews with Mr.. Seward, and occasional |
ly met at his house Monsieur Budisco, the |
Russian Minister at Washington. The !
purchase Of Alaska from Russia had lust
been consummated. OF course, neither |
Mr. Seward nor Monsieur BOdisco said |
distinctly TO me that that purchase was !