The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-16
HOW WE REGARD RUSSIA
SECRETARY HAY NOT LIKELY To
TAKE HASTY ACTION.
For . Century that Country Has Been
Americas Friend-Great Brit
aims Jealousy.

given by President Lincoln the sincerity
and cordiality of the testimonials of friend
ship that were received from Russia were
emphasized and so far as the convention
alities permitted were recognized by Mr..
Lincoln's especial courtesies to the Minis
ter representing Russia, Mr.. Stoeckel. 1t
was to him and to the Assistant Secretary
of State, Mr.. Frederick w. Seward, that
the President whose attention had been
called for moment to young man, who
was of the company. said: He is one Of
my secretaries, and think he is the most
promising young man whom I have ever
met" This secretary. John Hay. had with
IN the next four years abundant opportun-
ity to meet the Russian Minister as well as
to obtain information then confidential but
Of extraordinary Importance. which re-
vealed the tenacity and the strength Of the
friendship of Russia for the cause of the
Union.
Since that time Mr. Hay in many official
relations and through his profound knowl-
edge Of diplomatic and political history has
been able to obtain what is probably the
best understanding Of the view of Russia
respecting the world Of natural politics and
especially toward the development and the
ultimate pre-eminence of the United States
than Is possessed by any other one In pub
lie life.
Therefore, 1t Is one of the occasions for
congratulation by the American people, of
which since Mr.. Hays high authority as
an American diplomat there have been
many. that at this time. when there are
to be to all appearances desperate at
tempts to create friction and distrust be.
tween the United States ard Russia, there
should be In charge Of the State DEPART
ment a man of Mr.. Hays diplomatic skill
and profound knowledge of Russian char
acter and Of the whole narrative telling OF
the relations established between Russia
and the United States nearly one hundred
years ago and maintained without breach
until this time. There appeared this morn
Ing In this city dispatch from London
which, If it is to be accepted as in all re-
spects accurate, would certainly justify
change or feeling on the part Of the United
= S'a. e tO TOW, i, Hussia' since II De true
on the part of Russia toward the United
States and especially of the character Of
her intercourse with the United States ever
since the administration of Madison.
SAYS RUSSIA LIED"
This dispatch, double-leaded and conspic-
Russia lied when she recently assured Sec
rotary Hay that there was no truth in the
report respecting her demands upon China.
Russia in reply to Secretary Hay said that
1t was not her intention to close the door
OF Manchuria. nor to take any step in that
province which would be regarded by this
country or any other as an unfriendly act.
The dispatch continued that In thus abb
solutely classifying the record Russia has
practically become dn outcast. So far as
diplomatic Intercourse is concerned, since
having with malicious purpose lied. the
her ministers can hereafter never be az
cepted. 1t is also intimated in this dispatch
that Secretary Hay has personally been
grtevousiy imposed upon by these false
hoods.
In any judgment upon the accuracy of
an accusation Of this kind involving good
taken into consideration. First OF all. are
the character, the experience and the COM
prehensive information which have espe-
cially qualified Mr.. Hay in the diplomacy
Of his time and the share that he has had
in it since 1897. In order to persuade him
that Russia has deliberately committed a
breach Of faith both in making demands
in deliberately and formally denying that
these demands were made Mr.. Hay must
be convinced that a radical and funda-
eenecialy in the reaoas Of tbe ea ans
to the United States has taken place. To-
day one OF the foremost American diplo-
mats In experience at Washington. who il
now living in retirement, reviewed rapidly
the history Of the relations Of Russia with
the United States, a narrative with which
Mr.. Hay Is familiar SO far as 1t tells the
story Of these relations before 1861 and I'm
which he had personal share during the
years Of President Lincoln's administration.
He also had knowledge of that later mar
rative which began in 1898.
RUSSIA's FIRST ASSISTANCE.
In 1872. at the time Of the second war with
Great Britain. Russia, having become a far
greater power than she was at the time
the independence Of these colonies was de-
clared and secured, and having already
most friendly feeling for the Republic
across the sea, offered to mediate, so that
the differences between the United States
and Great Britain could be composed with
out bloodshed. This offer was declined. but
the making OF 1t caused the first of the
sentiments Of friendship and gratitude of
which so many have since been expressed
American administration and the American
people.
From the time of the treaty of peace by
which the war Of 1872 was ended until 1861
Russia alone of all the nations of Europe
looked with friendly eyes upon the growth
OF the young Republic toward a maturity
that was to be strong. In 1861, after the
first shot was fired at Sumter, the Russian
minister at Washington having heard from
his government, called upon Secretary Sew
ard to bring messages of friendship from
Russia. He said that he had been in
structed to communicate with the secre-
tary Of state, telling him that Russia would
not recognize the Confederate States, would
not receive any one. whatever his creden-
tails as a representative of the Confederate
States or the President, Mr.. Davis, might
be. But, on the other hand, he was COM
missioned to assure Mr.. Seward of the
warm sympathy felt by Russia for the
cause Of the Union.
These communications and the cordial
manner in which they were delivered by the
Russian minister, Mr. Stoeckel. came to
the immediate knowledge of Mr.. Hay, then
private secretary of Lincoln, and possess
ing the Presidents full confidence. 1t all
impressed him greatly.
WHEN A FRIEND WAS NEEDED.
No man now living knows better than Sec
rotary Hay what the anxiety and the de-
preston were that prevailed during several
months after the capture of Mason and Sill
dell, Confederate commissioners to Europe.
We seemed at one time to be almost or the
verge of a war with England. The En-
peror Napoleon was determined to recognize
the Southern Confederacy. That purpose
had been temporarily postponed through one
of the most romantic and sensational ex-
ploits Of diplomatic history made possible
by the strategy OF Thurlow Weed. But Ma
poleon intended at an early day to recognize
the Confederacy, to ignore the blockade. and
counted with good reason upon the sympa-
thetic action Of Great Britain, action which
doubtless was prevented chiefly by the wis
dom Of Queen Victoria.