New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
RUSSIA AND AMERICA
Their Relations During the STRUGGLE
for independence.
10 the Editor Of &c TrIbune.


accura tely sets forth the two widely dirsra,,
SEES of views OF Russia which are taken ~
Americans and suggests the errors which ma,
be found I'm each. One of those errors L. =.
fragrant that 1 emphasize it somewhat bevon5
the mention OF it which occurs in Mr.. sevarFs
letter II is the view OF Russia which as NJ
Seward truly says. is seen through manv ola
fashioned American spectaCles'', namely fba.
Russia Is the traditional friend Of America
who stood by in all wars. while othar
powers passed by the other side" am
aware that some regard it as ungracious to re-
call unpleasant episodes in the past history OF a
present friend. Doubtless II is so. generally
speaking. For example. when Great Britain
was strongly befrlendIng US during our recent
war with Spain. there was 10 good reason for
recalling that she had been our foe in 17T6 and
in 1872 But neither would the fact OF her
friendship in 1898 have justified any one in
holding her always to have been our friend and
ally. So it would have been Ungraci0us and IN
called for. when Russia doing US a services
in our Civil War, 10 recall that she was IN
sympathetic. II not actually hostile to US IN the
Revolution. But it would also have been IN
called for and a perverslon OF history TO have
said. because of her service in 1868 that she
had always been our friend and had stood By
us in all our wars.
The fact Is that Russia was EnEIand's friend
rather than ours. during the whole period OF
our struggle for Independence. At the begin
ming OF that struggle England turned 10 Russia
for mercenary troops with which TO suppress
the American revolt. before she sought them in
Germany. England had just been befrending
Russia in the latter's war with Turkey, and in
a former reign had actually paid Russia a sub
sdy- For these reasons the Russian Empress.
Catherine the Great, professed much gratitude
III
England in the latters troubles in America and
elsewhere. ThereupOn the British government.
taking Catherine at her word. asked for the
hiring Of an army Of twenty thousand Russian
soldiers. Catherine and her minister. Count
Panin. ternporized. At times they seemed to be
inclined TO grant the request But at last
Panin fell under the influence of Frederick the
Great Of Prussia. who had grievance against
England. and the result was that the British
request for Russian aid was regretsully declined.
Catherine said that she sympathized with King
George. and would be glad 70 aid him IN any
way possible. but there We're some things It was
impossible for her 20 do and this was one OF
them. Not once did she. or Panin. any one
connected with the Russian court or govern
ment. express any sympathy with the Ameri-
can cause. Moreover, KOsciusSO, Pulaski and
other Polish patriots promptly came TO America
and Joined our army. Considering the relations
OF Russia 10 Poland and 10 these very Poles.
ct that time. their action significant. II
Polish patriots fought Cor America, the pre-
sumption is that Russia was not friendly to
America.
So much for the opening OF the struggle.
After our Declaration or Independence. Russia
maintained the same unsyrnpathetic attitude.
While France was openly aiding us, and various
other powers were expressing sympathy and
negotiating for treaties with us. she held alOOf
and coquetted with Great Britain for alliance
with her which Russia willing TO make &
England would give her the island OF NInorca
Russia would not allow our warships Z
enter her ports, Holland did Whs
the United States sent the eminent Franc
Dana as its commissioner TO St. Petersbur
the Russian government refused 10 receN
him or to recognize him: and after vaitr
there for two years without securing recogr
ton he came away in disgust Moreover. wht
France recognized the independence Of Z
United States and Sweden Holland and 9th
powers manifested an inclination 20 do
same. Russia specifically promised Great Bri
ain that she would not do so. end would neve
do so until the British government itself had
first done il. Even when Dana applied 70 tn"
Russian government for the admission OF Ame'-
lea TO the Armed Neutrality Alliance he wa9
coldly refused. The armed neutrality dOubtle "a
was OF service to America But the principle
upon which that alliance was based was not
Russian but OF Prussian. origin. and. VIII
Russia took the lead in prOmulgatng it. 81 .
did so only at the urgent suggestion OF othe-'
powers. That Russia took that stand for ths
sake Of America is, of course. not for a moment
supposable; anc when Holland. who was sin
cerely our friend. needed RUssia's support n
the maintenance OF the armed neutrality, Rus
STA deserted her and left her 10 her foes.
Nor did Russa's attitude toward US becons
more favorable at the close OF the war, when
the diplomats gathered in Paris for Peacemak-
ing. 1t is true that Russia and Austria offered
to mediate between England and America out
there was no Indication that either OF them was
moved by friendship for US. The Russian Am
bassador In Paris and the son OF the Russian
Empress both studIously refused to recognise
Franklin the American envoy, although ne was
not only recognized but actually courted by me
representatives Of other powers ON one occa"
sion thev went so far 20 treat him with
marked fndfsnity Franklin regarded them a.
even worse than unsympathetic. and Dana re-
ported that the news OF our success in making
an advantaSeous treaty of peace with England
was received I'm St Petersburg with dissatisfac-
ton and displeasure. AS for her promise TO
England not TO recognize the Independence or
America; Russia Loyalty kept II. and ala not
recognize our independence or enter INTO treaty
relations with us until lOng after England her
self had done so. In brief. from the beginning
Of our struggle for independence until long after
its triumphal end. Russia showed for US no
friendship or sympathy. but rather. disfavor
and hostility. While other powers stood by US.
she passed by on the other side
There is. Of course. no occasion for cherishins
., ,--,,5oa AGAINST Russia, now on that account