New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-07
A RUSSIAN RAILER.
4n Extraordinary Outburst from the
Editor of the "NoUoe Vremya."

the pen name of Sigma" and who has of late
been devoting especial attention to American
affairs 1t will be recalled that the "NOvoe
Vremya" has recently begun the publication OF
a series of anti-American cartoons On June
last Mr.. Syromia tniEoff published signed
article on the traditional friendship between
Russia and America, in the course Of which he
took occasion to animadvert upon Secretary
Hays stubborn Anglophilism" and upon the
hapless condition of Americans as being "polit-
ically unripe" and without governmental ira
ditions." and to urge that Russian agents should
create Russian party in American politics and
should use the American press to further Rus
sian ends Upon that strange utterance Of
the eminent Russian editor The Tribune COM
mented at some length June 10. and its
comments were transmitted to Europe by the
correspondent of THE London Times" and
others, and widely reproduced there.
In the "Novoe Vremya' of July appears
Mr.. Syromiatnikoffs rejoinder. under the cap
ton Russia and America" He prefaces it
with the report that his article of June has
brought to him "a number Of sympathetic Ut
terances from the United States" Some of these
he quotes. giving the names of their authors,
among which latter there are none Of consider
able representative Importance. One, quoted at
most length, appears to be bitterly anti-Eng-
lish and makes curious reference to Russia
who furthered the independence Of the States
concerning which something is presently to be
said. Mr.. Syromiatnikoff then proceeds:
Judging by the cuttings that have reached me.
the most unfriendly reference to my proposal
seems to have been The New-YOrk Tribunes
editorial OF June To- under the heading Russo
American Friendship" for only it was tele-
sraphed 10 me Times" u-ondonl ana was IN
cluded in the remarks of the English corre-
spondent June 10. This worthy American
newspaper begins by resenting my words. We
must create a party in America 'Such
intrusion Of alien influences into American
politics." says this newspaper. was tried some
thing more than a hundred years ago by MI.
Genet, of France, with results scarcely en-
cOuraging to further attempts" 1 did
not mean a Russian party voting in the elec-
tons upon orders from st. Petersburg, ike the
German party, but merely party or the 1rleluS
of Russia among the Americans themselves
who would comprehend the advantage for them
selves of an approachment with Russia
Still, I cannot but remark that the example or
Genet is not entirely convincing to me. There
are in America several hundred thousand Slavs,
who, as a matter of course, will never vote for
enemies of Russia, and the measures taken
against Genet can never be taken against sew
eral hundred thousand American citizens
It will be news to Americans that there is in
this country German political party voting In
the elections upon orders from Berlin. and it is
not probable that Mr.. Syromiatnikoff's intima-
ton to that effect will commend his plea or
the cause he pleads to the confidence and favor
of Americans, whether Of German or other
origin Intelligent American citizens of German
or other foreign origin generally prefer the
American political system to that Of the ''old
country too strongly to continue here any sub
serviency to the dictates of their former ruler
As for the bit of bravado about the several
hundred thousand Slavs'' in America. Mr..
Syromiatnikoff must be strangely astray if he
imagines that that number of such people-gen-
orally among the poorest and most ignorant Of
the popua tion-would be able to exert any ap-
probable effect upon American politics, or, in
deed, that America would find 1t impossible to
deal effectively with them if they should prosti-
tute their American citizenship to the dictates
of a foreign monarchy. But to proceed with
translation of Mr.. Syromiatnikoff's article:
The newspaper The Tribune) says further
that not only school histories but no his
tories of any kind contain evidence that Russia
was amicably disposed toward the Americans
during the War for Independence. 1T is true,
says the American newspaper, that Empress
Catherine gave to Paul Jones the Order of st.
Anne. But Russia is not known to have
given this country any moral or material aid
during the Revolution. On the contrary, it Is
related that she was most of the time coquettinS
with England with view to an alliance with
powers rewarded the American privateer but 1
do know that the view of the American news
paper of the relations existing between Cath
crime and England during the American ReVOlu
ton is wholly untrue. Russia did not cOqRet
4cith EngIdnd On September % ITS. Catherine
refused to help King George against the Ameri-
cans. under the following pretext, among others:
Il cannot regard it as beftting our dignity or
the dignity Of two monarchies and two peoples,
to unite their forces to suppress rebellion
which is not supported By any foreign power
On February Is, 1850 there followed the
declaration of armed marine neu-
trality which was of such great assistance to the
young republic. But the American newspaper
hat ole
directed against America. 1T seems to be gen.
orally understood" 1t says. that Russia wanted
10 eAcIuue AIieIIGan MarShlPs from the bditlo
American tcdr UeSselS then. There r6re cOrSGirS
which could injure the English. but not US.
There Mr.. Syromiatnikofr rests his case, so
far as the American Revolution is concerned.
He accuses The Tribune of untruthfulness in
saying that Russia is believed to have been more
friendly to England than to America at that
time. Yet in support Of his charge he can mar
shall only two points. One is GATHERINGS re-
fusal to aid England with troops, for which The
Tribune had already given Russia full credit
quoting the exact words quoted by Mr.. Syro-
miatnikoff. The other is that, in Mr. Syromat-
nikoff's opinion. Paul Jones was a mere
corsair. and all the American warships in the
Revolution were not war vessels but pirates
That is an opinion which will not commend this
Russian publicist or his cause to Americans
But. since NJ. Syromiatnikon accuses The Trib-
une of falsehood, and then so lamentably fails
to support his accusation, it may be interesting
though somewhat supererogatory. to show few
of the ample historical grounds Of truth there
are for The Tribunes statement. Mr. Syro-
miatnikoff himself suggests one. in his quota
ton of Empress Catherine. For that sovereign
refused to help King George against the AYneri-
cans-why? Because she sympathized with them
NN,~s-