The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-28
COUNT LAMSDoRFF.

Lamsdorf, for they are firmly convinced
that he is at heart anti-Panslay, and for
/ this they cannot forgive him. They are
wrong in their surmise, however; for he
is neither anti-Panslav nor pro-Pansiav,
any more than he is anti or pro anything
else. Sturdy common-sense being a
marked characteristic Of his. he objects
strongly TO the dragging of sentiment into
public affairs holding that questions Of
policy must be decided on before business
principles. not at The dictates OF feel
ing. He accepts the French alliance,
but, SO far, he has never given proof
of any special liking for France-or in
deed of any other country. Even among
those who know his well the greatest
doubt prevails as to whether he is per-
soaaIy more in sympathy with England
or with Germany, with Austria, Bulgaria,
or Turkey. The truth OF the matter is,
perhaps, that he is not in sympathy at
all with any OF them-thar his attitude
towards them all alike is one of com
pete Indifference. He is bent on doing
his best for his own country, and sees
no reason for troubling himself about
other countries, excepting in so far as
they can nelp him in his work. As
long as he is in power Russia will en-
bark on no adventures for the sake Of
righting other peoples wrongs; if she goes
to war, it viii be solely with view
Of promoting her own interests.
vladimir Nikolajevitch Lamsdorn has
had the usual good fortune to stand high
in the favor Of three Cars in success
sion-he stands high in the favor OF one
of them still. Yet no man was ever
less of a courtier, and rulers differing
from one another, more widely than Alex
ander the Second. Alexander the Third,
and Nicholas the Second, it would be
hard to find. For several years of his
life he was in constant attendance on
Alexander the Second, and always went
with him to Livadia, where he was
brought into the most intimate and con-
fidential relations with him. When Alex
ander the Third became Gar, he was at
tached to his suite for time, and &C
companied him on several of his jour
neys: while with the present Gar, both
before and since his accession, he has
always been in very close touch. For
years past whenever visitors inclined to
talk politics have been expected at the
Russian Court, he has been summoned;
and whenever foreign affairs have been
especially to the fore, each Car in turn
has taken care to have him well within
hail. And by so doing they have given
proof of wisdom, for Count Lamsdorn
is perfect walking encyclopaedia OF the
facts it behooves sovereigns to bear in
mind He was at Skiernewice when the
famous meeting of the three Emperors
took place; he was at Dantzig, too when
Alexander the Third exchanged greet
ings with Kaiser William; and at Krem-
sier whe nthe Car and Kaiser Franz JOS
ef talked together face to face. Then
he was at the Berlin Congress as Prince
Gortschakoff's right-hand man, and there
met the present German chancellor, and
many another parsonage whose acquaint-
ance is well worth having Thus he
has had probably more opportunities Oh
learning 10 know the inner working OF
the European chancelleries than any oth-
or living statesman. lie has turned them
10 GOOD account, too, as even the bitter
est of his enemies allow.
Count Lamsdorff belongs by birth to
the lesser nobility. His. father and his
grandfather seem to have been OF small
importance, but his great-grandfather
was a noted parsonage in lis day he
was tutor TO Car Paul the First, and,
having more brains than the people that
were around him. he succeeded in playing
quite role in the political world. The
present I.amsdorff was born in the late
tbirties; and. after the usual training
hnTfln
fee In 1872. however, he was transferred
10 the foreign Office where he specify
won the hearts of his superiors by DONG
all their work for them, and allowing
them TO take all the credit. He was an
equal favorite with Prince GortschaKoh
and NJ de Giers. while in more recent
davs both Prince Lobanof and Count
Afouravieff always turned to him Tor
help when difficulties arose; and wen II
was 70 rthem sometimes that they mad
hin, IN t11r nto. Already by $50 he was
First Secretary at the foreign office. and
b,d attracted the attention of Alexander
tho Second. In 1881 he was appointed
airac+or of the foreign ONCE chancellery
ord in 1sos became assistant foreign min
lister It is very characteristic Of Count
Tamsdorff that when, on the death OF
Count Mouravieff. the foreign secretary
shin was offered TO him, it was with great
diaicultv that he could be prevailed upon
70 accept it. Had he had his way some
.,raa+ notable would have been appointed
minister and he himself would have con-
tinua5 to act as assistant minister doing
oil tho work. of course. but escaping all
.ba romns and ceremonies. - London
World