Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-03
ANTI.RUSSIAN SENTIMENT.

ANTI. RUSSIAN SENTIMENT.
Count Casslni, the Russian represent
alive In Washington, has made the an
Il. Russian sentiment In this country
the subject OF conference with Secre-
tary Hay. That proves the Importance
attached by the Russian government to
American public opinion.
Count Cassni seems to be Of the
opinion that the newspapers are TO
blame for the prevailing sentment,and
that a change could be affected, II
both countries were to take measures
to check the press, before II is too
late" II is possible that the ambassa-
dor Is correct as far as RUSSIA Is con-
cerned. In his country the newspa-
pers may be the leaders and creators
OF public opinion, as far as such opin-
ion can be said TO exist there. But In
the United States the press, as a rule.
Hltlely ItHtVtS NiiaN VPh'ioh' INV HN"o-
papers have not created an anti-Rus-
sian sentiment here. They have given
the news, as far as obtainable, and
their readers have formed their own
opinions This opinion has again been
reflected In the editorial columns OF
some papers. Restrictions on the press
would not change public opinion here.
There are several reasons why Amer.
lean sentiment, lately, has to some ex.
tent turned against Russia. One Is the
diplomatic double dealing In Man
churla, American diplomacy is
straight forward, honest and open.
The American people can therefore, not
understand the hypocrisy that die
tates promises which are made only to
be broken.
Another reason is found In Kishineff
Russia has treated her Hebrew popua-
ton with medlgyal cruelty She has,
probably, forgotten that the Jews play
an important part In the commerce OF
the world, and that Hebrew voters are
factor In the politics Of the United
States, Russia cannot prosecute her
Hebrew subjects and yet retain the
good will Of an enlightened nation.
Every Jew In this country has an in
fluence, and this Is not exerted In be.
half OF the country In which his breth-
rem are massacred and prescribed
Another reason Is Finland II IL diff
hcult TO sympathize with a government
that has broken the solemn pledges
given to an enlightened, liberty-loving
people, with view OF crushing It's in
dependence and reducing 1t to the stat
us OF serfs, Thousands OF Finlanders
have found refuge In this country,
and they, too. are exercising an innu-
ence against their oppressors.
The effort TO silence Tolsto Is also
kept In remembrance, by the fact that
that kind OF persecution Ia going on
all the time. Concerning Tolstoi, j. A.
Edgerton says IN Mind
lie sought to follow God The church,
respectable and old
Accustomed but 10 follow form,
Was shocked at one so bold.
TO follow God was blasphemous--
II drove him from the fold.
He sought TO help humanity.
The despots In command
Had never heard of such a thing
They could not understand.
They thought It must be treason, so
They drove him from the land.
That Is very nearly the view taken
by a majority OF American thinkers
about that episode. even by those who
are far from agreeing with the Rus
sian philosopher In Russia a Stats
tician goes to siberia for five years for
expressing his views Of peasant con-
ditions, at technical congress. A
lawyer Is sent TO the dungeon at Arch
angel for opinions expressed at the same
congress, A newspaper writer is I'M |
prIsoned for words spoken at the grave |
Of fellow writer Another man, who
is simply known to be a liberal, Is ban
lshed. How can Russian statesmen ex-
poet u friendly American sentiment, |
Notwithstanding all these stories Of |
prosecutions?
The American people however, will |
not be unfair, The good will OF Russia
expressed toward us, at critical periods |
OF our history. viii not be forgotten. |
This country has declared It's neutral.
ity In the present conflict, and this de.
claratlon win be made good. II is re-.
ported that Russian merchants are al
ready countermanding orders for Amer.
lean goods, That may be a natsral con.
sequence Of patriotism, but there IL no
justification for Il, as long as no repre-
sentative Of our government has been
guilty Of any unfrendly act, In our
little war with Spain, the conduct Of
certain German commanders at Ma
Mia caused some bad feelings but In
the present conflict, nothing parallel to
that has occurred There Is no cause
for Russian III viii. II Russia were |