Evening journal., 1910-04-16

1T seems to be the fashion nowadays
among many Americans TO deny that the
Russian fleet which sailed into New York
harbor in the late summer Of 1868 was
Russia's grim warning to England and
France that she would not allow those ma
tions TO interfere in the war between the
states. ia the interests Of tho Confed-
eracy," said Frederick w. Seward. assist
ant Secretary of State under Lincoln.
when matters re.ating to the lattcr's ad-
ministrations were under discussion. "Yet
Il Is a fact that the fleet was sent to New
York harbor partly for that purpose. and
also to inform the government az Wash
ington that II had Russia's moral support
in its task to preserve the Union.
I'VE of the state Department knew in
the spring ana early summer of 1868 that
England and France were seriously con-
siderng "a proposition for Intervention and
mediation between the Union and the Con-
federacy. We also knew that almost in
formally and unofiicially, Russia had been
aked TO join with England and, France,
and that she had replied: Not unless the
United States asks IT, Then there came
what amounted to "a practical determma-
tlon on the part of lgngan and France to
intervene willy nnly, and, then, at the
height of the administrations anxiety over
possible war with those nations. as well as
with the South. the sudden appearance Off
Sandy Hook Of one warship after another
bearing tho Russian Nag And coincident
with the coming Of the Russian fleet. the
Russian minister at Washington delivered
to my father, as Secretary of state, this
message from the Russian prime minister:
The Russian feet IS visiting the United
states with no unfriendly purpose.
Putting two and two together Russia's S
refusal to join England and France in in
terventon and her message delivered to
my father-the administration was at once
greatly relieved regarding a most serious
situation. II believed that the Union had a
powerful friend in Russia. And you can
imagine how swiftly this belief grew into
a firm conviction when my father was
informed, at an appropriate time. that the
Russian admiral in command of the fleet
had sealed orders which were not to be
opened and delivered by him until he re-
ceived request from Washing on that
this be done.
1T was never necessary thank God
for Washington to make that request Of
the Russian admiral Yet It came authori-
tativcly to our knowledge, after the inter
vcnton crisis was all over. that those
sealed orders directed the Russian admiral
to put himself and his fleet at the dis
position Of the United States whenever it
requested him to do so.
"Why, do YOU know" continued Mr..
Seward during the entire civil war our
formal, or written, diplomatic intercourse
with Russia was so brief and concise that
believe Il could all be contained in a
very small hand bag. This, of itself,
showed the friendly spirit iof Russia,
whose minister at Washington, whenever
he had any diplomatic business to trans
act with my father, usually consummated
Il in ten minutes or so by a personal call,
and from then on until he left they two
would spend the time In a most friendly
chat. No those Americans who say that
Russia was not our good friend during the
civil war are mIstaken-woefully so-and
say this from a fun knowledge Of tho
situation gained at first hand as my faith.
er's first assistant in ali his diplomatic re-
lations with Russia while the civil wal
was being waged"
Copyright, 1910 by T. J.. Edwards)
On Monday Mr.. Edwards will tell o.
"The Nickname That Killed a Party