The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

toman empire, has been working and
lfermenting for years and ages.
Peter the Great ascended the throne
when he was seventeen years old. He
was a gawky and uncouth youth, but
was dominated by a will as cruel and
unrelenting as the wolves that roamed
the vast steppes of his north country.
Autocracy he bought with the tmpri-
sonment OF his own mother and the tor
ture of his own brother.
Surveying his domain he found Rus
sia a conglomeration of wild Asiatic
tribes that were almost Isolated from
the civilized world. At his ascension
the barren land boasted one port, Arch
angel, on the White Sea. For the
greater part of the year icy fetters
locked that one outlet against nayiga-
tion.
Grew to Mighty Country.
This was the Russia OF the seven
teen-year-old Peter the Great but
through all manner Of cannivinG he left
the country a great empire with ports
on the Baltic. Caspian and Black seas
an empire that year by year was
stretching its powerful arms out to-
ward Asia.
Much had been accomplished by that
wolfsh mind, but the dream OF years
an empire stretching between Europe
and Asia with its head in Constantt-
nOple. had to be left to rulers to come
for realization.
Peters Dying Injunction.
This was the injunction OF Peter the
Great to his SUCCESSORS and IL has rung
in the ears OF Great Britain ever since:
Keep in mind that the commerce OF
India is the commerce of the world. and
haf ho hn rnnfrOl IL
is the dictator of Europe"
|. Certain historians have denied that
the great father OF Russia quit his mis-
sion with these instructions but the
records OF the rulers that came after
him speak for the authenticity OF the
charge.
Russia has never swerved from the
goal pointed out in that parting COM
mand. There can be no doubt that IT
has been the guide of Nicholas ii and
the governmental machine he controls.
The 300 intervening years with their
reverses and discOuTagements have not
dimmed in the smallest particle the les
> - taught by Peter the Great. Nor
hav> they smoOthed the edges OF the
barbar rous methods of Peter by which
he planned to win his goal.
Bears Progress Unchecked.
The Russisn bear set his eyes on Con-
stantinopIe az the milepost in his march
toward India and steadily and unrelent-
ingIy he has ambled toward that goal
crushing all before him in his progress.
The progress necessarily has been slow.
Others of the powers have been vitally
interested in the future OF CONSTANT
nopIe and there have been many OBJ
stacles to overcome. but each year has
seen the bear nearer the hOneytree in
the near East.
The great gate in Moscow named On
the Way to ConstantinOple." set up by
Catherine the Great and the similar
gate al the mouth OF the Dnieper called
Opening Toward COnstantinOple. are
only a few OF the evidences that the in
junction OF Peter the Great was not
forgotten by the later occupants OF the
throne.
Russia's eyes have not been con-
tinualIy on the East. however There
were fair lands in the other direction
and Catherine did not hesitate to ac-
ccpt from Frederick the Great of Prus-
sia her share of Poland as the door
mat upon which she could step into
Europe" but she also seized Crimea
from Turkey and named one of her
Crandsons Constantine just to show
that the concerns of Russia still re-
mained over there toward the rising