River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-08
INTERNATIONAL CoURTEsIEs.
Acts OF PoIideness and FriendlineSs
That Have Coat the Worlds
Powers Heavily.

there is apparently no way out of it,
as it is an essential to the peace of
| nations.
The visit of Prince Henry of Prus-
sia to the United States is good eX-
ample of the sums that are applied
to the polite relations of one gov
eminent with another. The little
journey to this country cost the
kaiser somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of 100000, but it was consd-
cred worth the cost, as it put the
two nations on far better footing
than they were before, says the Chi
cago Tribune.
An illustration OF the same spirit
of courtesy is shown in the ease OF
the relief ship Resolute, sent out by
| England in 1852. The ship was
caught in the ice, and, being in ex
IRENE danger, was abandoned and
was supposed TO have sunk. But two
years later it was found quite intact
by Mr., George Henry, an American
whaler, who brought it back to New
York.
Being a derelict, and the British
1
became the property of the finder,
The American government thereupon
bought it and thoroughly fitted II
out at a cost of no less than 5000,
000 Under command of Capt. Hart
stene it was sent across the Atlantic
and presented to Queen Victoria. 1t
arrived at Southampton on December
12 1856, was visited by her majesty
four days later, and formally handed
over on the 30th.
When, "A years later, the old ship
was broken up, handsome desk was
made of its timber and sent by the
queen as a present to the president.
1t still stands in the white house in
Washington.
The visit of President Loubet to
Russia in April last was no cheap
matter, either. Both countries paid
pretty heavily for it. An immense
portable dining-room was construct
ed and put aboard the Montcalm be-
fore the president sailed. This was
put together at Cronstadt, and in it
the head of the French republic gave
luncheon to all the Russian royal
ties. The cost of this building alone
was $12, 1000. The presents which the
president took with him for the
cars little girls cost as much more.
In Russia the great expense was the
police precautions. An anarchist
plot was discovered just before the
president landed. 1t is said that be
tween $375,O0O and $50O,000 was the
cost of bringing up police and sol
diers to guard the visitor. 1t is com
puted that during the last six or
seven years France has bought ST.
800, 600, 900 worth of Russian securi-
ties, for which there is little or no
market outside Paris and Brussels.
1t is to be hoped, for her own sake,
that France has not paid this gigantic
sum away merely for politeness'
sake,
Just at present Great Britain is run
ming up a big bill for fencing for the
sole purpose of keeping the good will
of the United States. The Dominion
government is out Of pocket to the
extent of $125000 in such matter.
For many years past there have been
constant disputes between the cattle
men of Canada and those of the United
States about animals which have
strayed across the border line. The
matter is of just as much concern
to one country as to the other, but
Canada has willingly saddled herself
with the whole burden. She is build
ing strong wire fence some 500 miles
in length along the boundary line be
tween Alberta and the state of Mon
tana. This, it is hoped will put an
end to all bad blood.
The most striking example in recent
wears was the action Of the United
States when the news was received
that the island Of Martinique had been
devastated by an earthquake. At the
| suggestion Of President Roosevelt con
gress voted the sum of 100000 for
the relief of the sufferers, although
there was no actual precedent justify
ing the act. The assistance from the
United States was given far in advance
Of that from France, to which the is
land belonged, and while the deputies
were still talking about what to do
the help from America was on the
way. The action won the approval
of every civilized nation in the world,
and placed American tact far to the
fore.
Another case of American good will
was shown during the recent famines
in India.
big subscription was got up among
people all over the union to buy wheat
for the starving Hindoos. No less than
$500, 600 was raised from various pri-
vate sources, and 5000 tons of grain
were purchased. So far the matter
had been one of private charity, but
at that point the government stepped
n. Congress chartered, at cost of
several thousand dollars, the steamer
Quito, and told the contributors to
put their wheat aboard her. Rear Ad-
miral Erben was sent to see the vessel
off from New York, and all expenses
were paid by the nation. AS the Quito
steamed down the river the British
and American flags were displayed to-
gether, and hearty cheers given by
| great crowd.
Long Way from the Finish.
The Cape-to-Cairo railway would be