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Show Arc We Ungrateful? Today, when Russia is locked in the throes of a strlfo that seems likely to result dlsasterously to her, we, as an American nation, applaud the success of her foe and hope for her ultimate defeat. Somo forty years ago, when wc, as a weak puny nation, were being torn and rent asunder by internal strife that threatened our total disruption dis-ruption as a nation and the probable sclurc of our land by other powers, Russia, against France and England, stood by us as a champion and held at bay forces that might have been our total undoing. Tdday wc fling back to our great benefactor, so the Rus-sains Rus-sains maintain, the basest of ingratitude. ingrati-tude. The situation In which Ilussla took such a decided stand for us, was this: England and France had recognized tho South, during our civil war, as a belligerent the same as the North. This practically meant that tho South was Indeed a government equally to be considered with the Noith and was given, thcicln, a moial suppoitthat might blossom into a more substantial substant-ial one. Mr. John Callan O'Laughlln, Collier's war correspondent In St. Petersburg, In a review of the situation, situa-tion, shows that Hussla, on the other hand, assumed the view that tho two factions were meiely one tempoiarlly dlsagicelng. Hy this assumption she made her stand for the Federal government. gov-ernment. Inactions throughout tho war Kussla still maintained herfriend-ly herfriend-ly attitude; working In many Instances for the passage of such treaties as would diicctly bcnellt us, and, in 180:t, taking a stand against the suggestions sugges-tions of Fiance and England for an Intel vcntlon that would, perhaps, have meant a dismemberment of our country. Russia declared that the war Itself should settle the difficulty, and only Intervened by her consuls seeking to hasten a conciliation between be-tween the waring factions. What, then, today, should be our feelings? Perhaps wc are wrong In our friendly attitude towards Japan; but It is a spontaneous sympathy. It Is a rise of feeling that Is characteristic character-istic of us Americans. Its earliest manifestation was against our mother country when unjust taxation tyrannized tyran-nized the people; it resulted, then, In a revolution that prevailed. It lias manifested itself since then on various vari-ous occasions. When the scent of Injustice In-justice has been snuffed It bajsasa bloodhound docs when on the trail of themurderer. Itbayswhenltsown people peo-ple are wrong; It cannot but bay when Despotism grasps the throat of Peace. The bear which craw Is Into tho hole to steal the honey can not fall to call out the bees and 'louse the dogs. Wo are not ungrateful. Our hearts rise In songs of thankfulness for Russia's Rus-sia's friendly services. Hut wc can not hope to quel our inmost hatred for that oppression which drives a Finlander to becomo an assassin, a Tolstoy to become an apostle against his country. Our sense of Justice freed us from England w hen sho attempted at-tempted to tyrannize us; and now, although we live a bundled jearsor more from then, while wc would not be ungrateful, we hope for the su-picmacy su-picmacy of right and deeply rcgiet that out benefactor Is vviong. |