Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-12
Words from the Past.

natural. Just so sure as it takes two
in any debated question will there be
two opinions-oftentimcs moIe-On the
subject. In the case in view, that of
the trouble in the Far East, our
American citizens exercise their rights
and decide as they see fit, for or against
either party. AS material matter OF
fact, the United States as a nation is a
friend of both Japan and Russia,
earnestly hoping that the little dispute
may soon be settled with honor and
satisfaction to each. No one has yet
disputed Gen Sherman's definition of
war. His words were none too strong.
That is why the people of our country
SO deplore the war in the Far East,
just as they do any conflict between
any two peoples.
In connection with this subject. an
article recently noticed in the Boston
Globe may be of interest, not only to
our own people of Augusta, but to the
casual or careful observers of the trend
of events in the Russo japanese affair.
Mr.. a. C.. Drinkwater of Braintree,
Mass, remembered the utterances of
the late Hon. James G.. Blaine at Il
reunion of the famous LIST Maine
Cavalry in Augusta, about 20 or more
| he, in
letter to the Boston Globe. Mr.. Blaine
was then United States senator. 1t
I was at the time when Il Russian war
' fleet was OH our coast and feeling was
very strong in the Cars favor. We
: give the words of Mr.. Drinkwatcr'S
letter:
| Following were the remarks of Mr..
Blaine regarding Russia:
| MIR. President-The presence of our
guests on my right here this evening
calls to mind an incident i'll the war
which has not been written and which,
! ] suppose, never can be written until
the secret diplomatic-I don't know
what to call it eXactly-we will call it
|
in Europe, shall be unfolded to the
! world; and the amount of obligation
and debt which the United States owes
to Russia will never be known until
! those annals are published. But l be-
| lieVe l can give Il slight indication or
review of what that will show when
published and what we owe to Russia.
We forget history as rapidly as We
make it. We forget how, more than
once, more than twice, even three
/ times. we had Il force menacing us
which would have probably ensulfed
the union cause, and that was the in
tervcntion of the two great nations in
Europe and just ut the time the union
| cause was darkest-just at the time the
strain upon our people was the heaviest
Just at the time the battles of the war
were most fearful.
Louis Napoleon marched a French
army into Mexico as Il menace to the
union of the states intending, if he oc-
cupied Mexico and could get England
to unite with him on raising the block
tde, to drive up the lines of Mexico to
! the Mississippi river and seize
Louisiana as his share of the spells.
and 1 think that Lord PaImcrston was
anxious that England should unite with
Louis Napoleon i'll that policy. And so
these two leading men. who then held
the destinics of France and England in
their grasp, quite agreed that the
| United States was splendid piece of
game to pluck.
| But there was one trouble, / think
They didn't know how Russia would
View it; and so in one of these beauti-
fui towns on the north side of the lake
Of Geneva Il secret envoy from the
Emperor Napoleon met Gortscliakon
and had an interview with him, and
Gcrtschakor told him that if England
or France laid the weight of hand
upon the interests of the United States
that Russia would actively intervene on
the side of the union; and just after
that conference CT know | never Sh Ill
forget it to the last day l live there ap-
feared very quietly in the Potomac
river just below Washington. steaming
right along between Washington and
| Alexandria. five enormous Russian
ships of war. Col. Hamlin tells mo
there were eight i'll al the fleet.
II am only speaking of what | saw.
| There were five of them there and |
tel YOU we were glad to SEE them.
They were the most civil and politt.
, gentlemen YOU ever saw in your life.
Eut it WAS just q banner hung on the
outer walls little intimation to Louis
/ Napoleon and Palmcrston that if they
attempted to intervene here they had Il
very heavy job on their hands.
Now that, / say. without any sonti-
, mentality between nations-that. / say.
entities Russia ana all her citizens and
subjects, monarch and officers. to the
everlasting gratitude Of every Amcri-
| can us long as both nations survive.
Il am speaking wholly to private citi-
Zcis. ! DO not know. being Il senator
! of the United States. whether I should
speak of international matters with
very great freedom. Still this is free
talk and I am not ashamed to say and
TO repeat that in whatever contest
| Russia finds herself engaged. by what
| ever danger she feels herself mcnaccd.
the active sympathics of tho people and
the government of the United States
| will go with her to the end" Great
, applausc.)