New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
OUR DEBT TO RUSSIA.
Nm. Barnes, Sr., on Friendship Be
treen Her and United States.
-, rd,,or Of The Tribune.


not be lightly severed or destroyed. No Euro
.sn nation has exhibited such uniform friend
shtn 10 the American government and people
ppssIa France rendered us important services
s,r,ng the War of the Revolution but the Ber-
"a, and Milan DEGREES of Emperor Napoleon
end other conduct OF France toward us dur
,ne his reign, and that OF the Directory, almost
6.stroyed American commerce.
In our Civil War OF the Rebellion Prince
c.ortchakoff, the Imperial Chancellor. declined
a. unite with France and Great Britain in a
r-oposed Intervention in American affairs in
1862 Such an Intervention would probably have
sestroyed our republic and substituted two
r,ore petty republics kingdoms more or less
under European control and perpetually war
ring with one another Louis Napoleon and the
mass of the English nobility bitterly hos
.ile 10 the great republic. and intended to ac-
couplish its destruction. Louis Napoleon even
attempted IL alone by his establishment of the
Emperor Macmillan in Mexico. with the ulti-
mate plan of destroying the Union.
Russia not only declined to become party
10 these plans, but Emperor Alexander II
sent over powerful fleet TO New-YOrk Harbor
in 1853 under Admiral Lessovsky. 1t is reputed
that the American Minister at ST. Petersburg
was shown the secret instructions to the ad-
miral. that in the event of French and English
Intervention against AiiiS liccl "dS " De put
under the command of President Lincoln and
10 obey his orders This fleet may have pre-
vented European Intervention in affairs.
Such a favor In such critical period of our
history can never be forgotten by patriotic
Americans who lived during the War of 1861
'65 Possibly but for Russ:a's silent interven-
ton In 1863 we might not have a country
in which even our Southern brethren take pride
and give thanks that the Union, and not
Dixieism was successful in that terrible con-
fict
The friendship Of Car Alexander II and of
the nobility and the masses of the Russian peo-
pie and even the emancipated serfs. was shown
In a remarkable degree in the year 1866, when
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus
vasa Fox was sent by order Of Congress on a
special mission to Russia, in the ironcIad war
vessel Miantonomoh. with the congratulations Of
Congress and the American people to the Car
on his escape from assassination. The mission
vas imperially entertained by Car Alexander
IL his ministers and by cities and distinguished
citizens throughout the empire.
The Emperor toasted the Americans with the
following
II drink to the prosperity of your country, and
that the fraternal feelings which now exist may
continue forever"
Prince Gortchakoff Imperial Vice-Chancellor,
said:
This understanding does not rest geo
graphical proximity. No more does 1t
rest on parchment I do not find the trace of a
single parchment in the archives of the Ministry
intrusted TO me- It is instructive. I even dare
call it proydential. l felicitate myself this
understanding. ! have faith in its duration. In
my political situation all my cares will tend TO
consolidate IL. I say cares, and not efforts, be-
cause no efforts are required when there is a
spontaneous and reciprocal attraction"
? The aged Metropolitan OF the Holy Synod e1-
pressed his wish that all Christian nations
might entertain toward each other such feel
ings as those which existed between Russia and
the United States"
The Emperor wrote to President johnson: I'm !
face of a movement Of national sympathy so |
spontaneous on both sides the task of the gov |
erlment is simply TO fall in with the current, to |
promote il and to direct ii in actual practice TO
the good Of both countries. In this aim we |
count upon the cooperation OF the federal gov |
ernment it may count upon OURS
Americans who love Abraham Lincoln can |
not forget that Alexander II preceded US in |
issuing an emancipation proclamation freeing |
millions of serfs. And we of this generation |
have not forgotten that # was His Imperial |
Majesty Nicholas II who initiated the Peace |
Congress at The Hague and the establishment |
in the worlds history, and that the Car. COM
manding the largest army of any nation in the |
world, recommended disarmament or partial |
disarmament Of the nations, which was very
unWisely rejected by The Hague Congress, not |
even receiving the cordial support OF the Ameri-
can delegates.
The hishineH massacre OF Jews can no more |
be excused than that of st. Bartholomew of the |
Protestants in France under Charles TX and |
Mary de Medici. But Philip II of Spain gloated |
over the massacre. and the Pope ordered a |
medal 10 be struck in commemoration of the |
event and Te Deum Laudamus. The Holy |
synod and the Metropolitan of the Greek Church |
IN Russia did not take any such action on the |
hishineff massacre. Under Philip II and Tor |
quemaoa the Protestants as well as the Jews
ana Mahometans in Spain were prosecuted |
Ourneo and banished by tens of thousands The |
persecution or the Jews by almost every country |
III Europe except Holland few hundred years |
ago was cruel and inexcusabIe. but if generally |
hao religious fanaticism its foundation and |
eaimed that the Deity was particeps crimfnis |
IN all these crueltIes
., MGToer 11 Is murder at Belgrade at Kishineff. |
a. W wilmington, in Delaware Abraham TjncoIp |
- - Ae aIembic Of his analytical mind distilled
sayasI sIsEery question in this apothegm: IF |
Nely ls not wrong, nothing is wrong"
So so: We may say that IL murders for religious |
Wror1 slu IN, iace are not wrong. nothing is |
6, hishlheh Is not excused because of |
oartholomew. or Wilmington, or Chinese |
ssIassacres in this country. Two or more wrongs |
e az Hot 10! make right. The principles of Justice |
Sc Aiinutable. eternal, and doubtless pervade |
-, - @hole universe of intelligence in countless
SIas ~SrIas as well as our own We Americans can
~ eI no sufcient excuse to the civilized world |
r. ouI Trace race persecution Of negroes and Chinese
r,eb. eeo OoioIeo men is denied in many cases the |
--eH' OF ulal by the courts and lynch IaU sl1ner
T1aa; the regular tribunals OF Justice The Holy
sr5 u.s.lon rs revived. and burnngs at the stake
eve, pSi,I ,Iles are committed which would make |
1,st Fhlilp IL, Aiya and Toroueuada blush
NlAh Shame O h. anaan