The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-30
PJOI11SO1l OH T\IVdT1cS
and Alliances of Nations
an1ous Norwegian Regrets Friendness of United
States for Russia and Predicts 1t Will Lead
to Disaster-The Union of Opposites

your civil war. The Car then per-
formed u great service, not only for
your country but for civilization, in
preventing the other European Powers
from meddling in the family quarrel
which might have destroyed the great
republic. I am glad that your people
acknowledge that service, but In that
incident was developed the most con-
Trajectory alliance OF all that we now
have i'm any part Of the world. Russia
made herself your ally In time OF
sore need and In all Europe these two
great resourceful Powers are now rec
ognzed as allies.
But see the incongruity OF the al
lance. They represent not only OPP
posing ideals Of government but the
opposites in civilization. The United
States Is tho haven of liberty for all
the world Russia Is the home OF OPP
preston and autocracy. In the United
States there is political and religious
liberty for all: In Russia there is
neither for any one. You teach that
no man is good enough to rule an
other; Russia teaches that no man is
good enough to be more than slave TO
the will of the Car. You ennoble
NbTlci anu fhusSlu Hidhcb women t0t
slaves of mems passions. You are gov
ernlns by education. enlightenment and
the broadcast kind OF liberty to the cti
zen: Russia Is ruling by suppressing
every effort at education and enlighten-
mcnt and every impulse for liberty.
These two great giants represent the
extreme In everything except strength.
and the other Governments Of Europe
which have for hundred years been
making slow but sure advancement tow
ard the standards of the United States
are regarded as her enemies. England
and France are nearest to the Ideals OF
government In your country. but you
look with suspicion II not with enmity
upon both. Germany Is nearest to your
country In the policy Of industrial de-
velopment and scientific discovery, but
you will have nothing to do with Ger
many My own country has sent mill
ions OF her people to the United States
to develop your natural resources and
become valuable part OF your citizen
ship, hut you have no thought OF Nor
way and Sweden as nations. Your one
great friend in all the Eastern Henri
sphere is the Russian Bear. whom all
Europe and all Asia fear"
Bjornson shook his head. and there
was u note of sadness in his voice as
he Resumed. 1T is a strange alliance,
Beauty and the Beast, and II will lead
To disaster to the Armageddon. Rus
STA is great and ambitious so is the
United States. Russia believes In au-
tocracy as sincerely as the United States
believes in democracy. Russia believes
In the divine right OF the Car to rule
and that ii Ii his destiny TO rule all the
Eastern continent Russia has ex-
banded across Asia to the Pacific and
has gathered under her dominion mill
ions of people of multiplied races and
a babel of tongues. She is reaching
south to the warm waters Of the In
dian Ocean and the Mediterranean
with an ambition to occupy the Old
World capital Of Constantinople. She
Is reaching to the west to have her
boundaries on the Atlantic. and some
day she will take Norway and Sweden
because we have no powerful protectors