ThemostcuriousexampleoftheeloquenceofsilenceinBismarck’scase，whichInoted，waswhenhisstrongestopponent，Windthorst，astherepresentativeofthecombinationofRomanCatholicsandothersgenerallyinopposition，butwho，atthatparticulartime，seemedtohavemadeasortofagreementtosupportsomeofBismarck’smeasures，wenttothetribuneandbeganalongandveryearnestspeech。Windthorstwasamanofdiminutivestature，smallereventhanThiers，——almostadwarf，——andhisfirstwordsonthisoccasionhadacomicaleffect。Hesaid，insubstance，``Iamtoldthatifweenterintoacombinationwiththechancellorinthismatter，wearesuretocomeoutsecondbest。’’AtthisBismarckraisedhishead，turnedandlookedattheorator，theattentionofthewholeaudiencebeingfasteneduponboth。``But，’’
continuedWindthorst，``thechancellorwillhavetogetupveryearlyinthemorningtooutwitusinthismatter。’’
Therewasageneraloutburstoflaughterasthetwoleaderseyedeachother。Itremindedoneofnothingsomuchasasturdymastiffcontemplatingasnappishterrier。
Astohisrelationswithhisfamily，which，tosomelittleextent，Inoticedwhenwiththem，nothingcouldbemorehearty，simple，andkindly。Hewasbeautifullydevotedtohiswife，andevidentlygloriedinhistwostalwartsons，PrinceHerbertand``CountBill，’’andinhisdaughter，CountessvonRantzau;andthey，inreturn，showedadevotiontohimnotlesstouching。Nomatterhowseveretheconflictswhichragedoutside，withinhisfamilythesternchancellorof``bloodandiron’’seemedtodisappear;
andinhisplacecamethekindly，genialhusband，father，andhost。
ThelasttimeIeversawhimwasattheSchnhausenstationonmywaytoBremen。Hewalkedslowlyfromthetraintohiscarriage，leaningheavilyonhisstick。Heseemednotlikelytolastlong;butDr。Schweninger’streatmentgavehimanewleaseoflife，sothat，onmyreturntoBerlineighteenyearslater，hewasstillliving。
Inreplytoarespectfulmessagehesentmeakindlygreeting，andexpressedthehopethathewould，erelong，bewellenoughtoreceiveme;buthewaseventhensinking，andsoonpassedaway。SowaslosttomortalsightthegreatestGermansinceLuther。
EndofVolume1
AutobiographyofAndrewDicksonWhiteVolumeII
byAndrewDicksonWhiteVOLUMEII
AUTOBIOGRAPHYOFANDREWDICKSONWHITE
VolumeII
CHAPTERXXXIII
ASMINISTERTORUSSIA——1892—1894
DuringfouryearsaftermyreturnfromserviceasministertoGermanyIdevotedmyselftothedutiesofthepresidencyatCornell，andonresigningthatpositiongavealltimepossibletostudyandtravel，withreferencetothebookonwhichIwasthenengaged:"AHistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology。"
Butin1892cameasurprise。InthereminiscencesofmypoliticallifeIhavegivenanaccountofavisit，withTheodoreRoosevelt，CabotLodge，ShermanRogers，andothers，toPresidentHarrisonattheWhiteHouse，andofsomeveryplaintalk，onbothsides，relatingtowhatwethoughtshortcomingsoftheadministrationinregardtoreforminthecivilservice。AlthoughPresidentHarrisongreatlyimpressedmeatthetimebytheclearnessandstrengthofhisutterances，mylastexpectationintheworldwouldhavebeenofanythinginthenatureofanappointmentfromhim。Highofficialsdonotgenerallythinkverywellofpeoplewhocommentunfavorablyontheirdoingsorgivethemunpleasantadvice;thisIhaddone，tothebestofmyability，inaddressingthePresident;andgreat，therefore，wasmyastonishmentwhen，in1892，hetenderedmethepostofministerplenipotentiaryatSt。
Petersburg。
OnmywayIstoppedinLondon，andsawvariousinterestingpeople，butespeciallyrememberaluncheonwithLordRothschild，withwhomIhadaveryinterestingtalkaboutthetreatmentoftheJewsinRussia。Heseemedtofeeldeeplythepersecutiontowhichtheyweresubjected，——speakingwithmuchforceregardingit，andinsistingthattheirmaincrimewasthattheyweresober，thoughtful，andthrifty;thatastothechargethattheywerepreyingupontheagriculturalpopulation，theypreyeduponitasdotheQuakersinEngland——byowningagriculturalmachinesandlettingthemout;thatastothechargeofusury，theyweremuchlessexactingthanmanyChristians;andthatthemaineffortuponpublicopinionthere，suchasitis，shouldbeinthedirectionofpreventingthemakingofmoreseverelaws。HeincidentallyreferredtothemoneypowerofEuropeasagainstRussia，speakingofAlexanderIIaskindandjust，butofAlexanderIIIasreallyunacquaintedwiththegreatquestionsconcerned，andundercontrolofthechurch。
IconfessthatIamamazed，asIrevisethischapter，tolearnfromapparentlytrustworthysourcesthathisbankisnowmakingavastloantoRussia——toenablehertorenewheroldtreatmentofJapan，China，Armenia，Finland，Poland，theBalticProvinces，andherJewishresidents。Icanthinkofnothingsosuretostrengthentheanti—Semitesthroughouttheworld。
AfewdayslaterSirJulianGoldschmidtcametomeonthesamesubject，andheimpressedmemuchmoredeeplythantheheadofthehouseofRothschildhaddone。Therewasnothingoftheennobledmillionaireabouthim;heseemedtomeagentlemanfromtheheartoutward。PresentingwithmuchfeelingthedisabilitiesandhardshipsoftheJewsinRussia，hedweltuponthediscriminationsagainstthem，especiallyinthematterofmilitaryfines;theirgradualandfinalexclusionfromprofessions;andtheconfiscationoftheirpropertyatMoscow，wheretheyhadbeenforcedtoleavethecityandthereforetorealizeontheirwholeestatesatafewdays’notice。
AtParisIalsohadsomeinterestingconversations，regardingmynewpost，withtheVicomtedeVogue，theeminentacademician，whohaswrittensomuchthatisinterestingonRussia。BothheandStruve，theRussianministeratWashington，whohadgivenmealettertohim，hadmarriedintotheAnnenkofffamily;andIfoundhisknowledgeofRussia，owingtothisfactaswellastohisformerdiplomaticresidencethere，verysuggestive。AnotherinterestingepisodewasthefuneralofRenanattheCollegedeFrance，towhichourminister，Mr。Coolidge，tookme。Eloquenttributeswerepaid，andthewholeceremonywasimpressiveaftertheFrenchmanner。
DiningwithMr。Coolidge，IfoundmyselfseatedneartheDuchessedelaRochefoucauld，——acharmingAmerican，thedaughterofMr。
Mitchell，formersenatorfromOregon。Thedukeseemedtobeaquiet，manlyyoungofficer，devotedtohisdutiesinthearmy;
butitwashardtorealizeinhimthesuccessorofthegreatduke，thefriendofWashingtonandofLouisXVI，whoshowedhimselfsobroad—mindedduringourWarofIndependenceandtheFrenchRevolution。
AtBerlinImetseveralofmyoldfriendsatthetableofourminister，myfriendofYaledays，WilliamWalterPhelps——amongtheseVirchow，ProfessorvonLeyden，PaulMeyerheim，CarlBecker，andTheodorBarth;andattheRussianEmbassyhadaninterestingtalkwithCountShuvaloff，moreespeciallyontheBehringSeaquestion。WeagreedthattheinterestsoftheUnitedStatesandRussiainthematterwereidentical。
Onthe4thofNovemberIarrivedinSt。Petersburgafteranabsenceofthirty—sevenyears。Eveninthatcountry，whereeverythingmovessoslowly，therehadclearlybeenchanges;themostevidentofthesebeingtherailwayfromthefrontier。AtmyformervisitthejourneyfromBerlinhadrequiredninedaysandninenightsofsteadytravel，mainlyinanarrowpost—coach;nowitwaseasilydoneinonedayandtwonightsinverycomfortablecars。AtthatfirstvisittheentirerailwaysystemofRussia，withtheexceptionoftheroadfromthecapitaltoGatshinaonlyafewmileslong，consistedofthelinetoMoscow;atthissecondvisitthesystemhadspreadverylargelyovertheempire，andwasrapidlyextendingthroughSiberiaandNorthernChinatothePacific。
ButthedeadeninginfluenceofthewholeRussiansystemwasevident。PersonswhoclamorforgovernmentalcontrolofAmericanrailwaysshouldvisitGermany，andaboveallRussia，toseehowsuchcontrolresults。InGermanyitsdefectsareevidentenough;
peoplearemadetotravelincarriageswhichourmainlineswouldnotthinkofusing，andwithalackofconvenienceswhichwithuswouldprovokearevolt;butthemostamazingthingaboutthisadministrationinRussiaistoseehow，afterallthisvastexpenditure，thewholeatmosphereofthecountryseemstoparalyzeenergy。DuringmystayatSt。PetersburgItraveledoverthelinebetweenthatcityandBerlinsixoreighttimes，andthoughtherewasusuallybutoneexpress—trainaday，Ineversawmorethantwentyorthirtythroughpassengers。Whenonebearsinmindthefactthatthisroadisthemainarteryconnectingonehundredandtwentymillionsofpeopleatoneendwithovertwohundredmillionsattheother，thisseemsamazing;butstillmoresowhenoneconsidersthatin。theUnitedStates，withapopulationof，say，eightymillionsinall，wehavefivegreattrunk—linesacrossthecontinent，eachrunninglargeexpress—trainsseveraltimesaday。
TherewasapparentlylittlechangeasregardsenterpriseinRussia，whatevertheremightbeasregardedfacilitiesfortravel。St。Petersburghadgrown，ofcourse。Therewerenewstreetsinthesuburbs，andwheretheoldadmiraltywharveshadstood，——forthespaceofperhapsaneighthofamilealongtheNeva，——finebuildingshadbeenerected。Buttheseweretheonlyevidentchanges，therenownedNevskiiProspektremainingasformerly——alonglineofstuccoedhousesoneitherside，almostallpoorinarchitecture;andthestreetitselfthesameunkempt，shabby，commonplacethoroughfareasofold。NonewbridgehadbeenbuiltacrosstheNevaforfortyyears。Therewasstillbutonepermanentstructurespanningtheriver，andthegreatstreamoftravelandtrafficbetweenthetwopartsofthecitywasdependentmainlyonthebridgesofboats，which，atthebreakingoftheiceinthespring，hadsometimestobewithdrawnduringmanydays。
Achangehadindeedbeenbroughtbytheemancipationoftheserfs，buttherewaslittleoutwardsignofit。Themuzhikremained，toallappearance，whathewasbefore:infact，asourtraindrewintoSt。Petersburg，thepeasants，withtheirsheepskincaftans，croppedhair，andstupidfaces，broughtbacktheoldimpressionssovividlythatIseemednottohavebeenabsentaweek。Theoldatmosphereofrepressionwasevidenteverywhere。IhadbegunmyexperienceofitunderNicholasI，hadseenamoreliberalpolicyunderAlexanderII，butnowfoundarecurrenceofreaction，andeverywhereapressurewhichdeadenedalleffortsatinitiatingabetterconditionofthings。
ButIsoonfoundonechangeforthebetter。DuringmyformerstayunderNicholasIandAlexanderII，theairwasfullofchargesofswindlingandcheateryagainstthemainmenatcourt。Nownexttonothingofthatsortwasheard;itwasevidentthatAlexanderIII，narrowandilliberalthoughhemightbe，wasanhonestman，anddeterminedtoendthesortofthingthathaddisgracedthereignsofhisfatherandgrandfather。
HavingmadetheusualvisittotheForeignOfficeuponmyarrival，Iwasaccompaniedthreedayslaterbytheproperofficials，PrinceSoltykoffandM。deKoniar，onaspecialtraintoGatchina，andtherereceivedbytheEmperor。Ifoundhim——thoughmuchmorereservedthanhisfather——agreeableandstraightforward。Ashewasaversetosetspeeches，webeganatonceadiscussiononvariousquestionsinterestingthetwonations，andespeciallythosearisingoutoftheBehringSeafisheries。HeseemedtoenterfullyintotheAmericanview;
characterizingthemaraudersinthatseaas"cespoachersla"——usingtheEnglishword，althoughourconversationwasinFrench;andonmysayingthattheRussianandAmericaninterestsinthatquestionwereidentical，henotonlyacquiesced，butspokeatconsiderablelength，andearnestly，inthesamesense。
HealludedespeciallytotheChicagoExposition，spokeinpraiseofitsgeneralconceptionandplan，saidthatthoughincertainclassesofobjectsofartitmightnotequalsomeoftheEuropeanexpositions，itwoulddoubtlessinverymanyspecialtiessurpassallothers;andonmyexpressingthehopethatRussiawouldbefullyrepresented，herespondedheartily，declaringthattobehisownwish。
Amongthevarioussubjectsnotedwasonewhichwasrathercurious。IntheanteroomIhadfoundtheGreekArchbishopofWarsawarrayedinapurplerobeandhat——thelatteradornedwithanexceedinglylustrouscrossofdiamonds，and，engaginginconversationwithhim，hadlearnedthathehadafewyearsbeforevisitedChinaasamissionary;histalkwasthatofaveryintelligentman;andonmysayingthatoneofourformerAmericanbishops，Dr。Boone，inpreparingaChineseeditionoftheScriptureshadfoundgreatdifficultyindecidinguponaproperequivalentfortheword"God，"thearchbishopanswered，"Thatisquitenatural，forthereasonthattheChinesehavereallynoconceptionofsuchaBeing。"
TowardthecloseofmyinterviewwiththeEmperor，then，I
referredtothearchbishop，andcongratulatedthemonarchonhavingsoaccomplishedanddevotedaprelateinhischurch。Atthishesaid，"YouspeakRussian，then？"towhichIansweredinthenegative。"But，"hesaid，"howthencouldyoutalkwiththearchbishop？"Ianswered，"HespokeinFrench。"TheEmperorseemedgreatlysurprisedatthis，andwellhemightbe，fortheecclesiasticsinRussiaseemtheonlyexceptionstotherulethatRussiansspeakFrenchandotherforeignlanguagesbetterandmoregenerallythandoanyotherpeople。
Thisinterviewconcluded，Iwastakenthroughalongseriesofapartmentsfilledwithtapestries，porcelain，carvings，portraits，andthelike，tobereceivedbytheEmpress。Shewasslightinfigure，graceful，withamostkindlyfaceandmanner，andsheputmeateaseimmediately，addressingmeinEnglish，anddetainingmemuchlongerthanIhadexpected。She，too，spokeoftheChicagoExposition，sayingthatshehadorderedsomethingsofherownsenttoit。ShealsoreferredverypleasantlytotheRev。Dr。TalmageofBrooklyn，whohadcomeoverononeoftheshipswhichbroughtsuppliestothefamine—stricken;andshedweltuponsundrysimilaritiesanddissimilaritiesbetweenourowncountryandRussia，discussingvariousmattersoflocalinterest，andwasineverywaycordialandkindly。
TheimpressionmadebytheEmperoruponmeatthattimewasdeepenedduringmywholestay。Hewasevidentlyastrongcharacter，butwithinveryunfortunatelimits——upright，devotedtohisfamily，withastrongsenseofhisdutytohispeopleandofhisaccountabilitytotheAlmighty。Butmoreandmoreitbecameevidentthathispoliticalandreligioustheorieswerenarrow，andthattheassassinationofhisfatherhadthrownhimbackintothehandsofreactionists。AtcourtandelsewhereI
oftenfoundmyselflookingathimandexpressingmythoughtsinwardlymuchasfollows:"Youarehonest，true—hearted，withadeepsenseofduty;butwhataworldofharmyouaredestinedtodo！Withyourimmensephysicalframeandgiantstrength，youwilllastfiftyyearslonger;youwilltrybymainforcetoholdbackthewholetideofRussianthought;andafteryouwillcomethedeluge。"Therewasnothingtoindicatethefactthathewasjustatthecloseofhislife。
AtalaterperiodIwaspresentedtotheheirtothethrone，nowtheEmperorNicholasII。Heseemedakindlyyoungman;butoneofhisremarksamazedanddisappointedme。Duringthepreviousyearthefamine，whichhadbecomechronicinlargepartsofRussia，hadtakenanacuteform，andinitstrainhadcometyphusandcholera。Itwas，infact，thesamewide—spreadanddeadlycombinationofstarvationanddiseasewhichsimilarcausesproducedsoofteninWestern—Europeduringthemiddleages。FromtheUnitedStateshadcomelargecontributionsofmoneyandgrain;andas，duringtheyearaftermyarrival，therehadbeenarecurrenceofthefamine，aboutfortythousandrublesmorehadbeensentmefromPhiladelphiafordistribution。Ithereforespokeonthegeneralsubjecttohim，referringtothefactthathewaspresidentoftheImperialReliefCommission。Heansweredthatsincethecropsofthelastyeartherewasnolongeranysuffering;thattherewasnofamineworthyofmention;andthathewasnolongergivingattentiontothesubject。Thiswassaidinanoffhand，easy—goingwaywhichappalledme。Thesimplefactwasthatthefamine，thoughnotsowide—spread，wasmoretryingthanduringtheyearbefore;foritfoundthepeasantpopulationinFinlandandinthecentraldistrictsoftheempireevenlesspreparedtomeetit。Theyhad，duringthepreviouswinter，verygenerallyeatentheirdraught—animalsandburnedeverythingnotabsolutelynecessaryfortheirownshelter;fromFinlandspecimensofbreadmadelargelyoffernshadbeenbroughtmewhichitwouldseemashametogivetohorsesorcattle;andyethisimperialhighnesstheheirtothethroneevidentlyknewnothingofallthis。
Inexplanation，Iwasafterwardtoldbyapersonwhohadknownhimintimatelyfromhischildhood，that，thoughcourteous，hismaincharacteristicwasanabsoluteindifferencetomostpersonsandthingsabouthim，andthathenevershowedasparkofambitionofanysort。ThiswasconfirmedbywhatIafterwardsawofhimatcourt。Heseemedtostandaboutlistlessly，speakinginagood—naturedwaytothisorthatpersonwhenitwaseasierthannottodoso;but，onthewhole，indifferenttoallwhichwentonabouthim。
Afterhisaccessiontothethrone，oneofthebestjudgesinEurope，whohadmanyopportunitiestoobservehimclosely，saidtome，"Heknowsnothingofhisempireorofhispeople;henevergoesoutofhishouse，ifhecanhelpit。"ThisexplainsinsomedegreetheinsufficiencyofhisprogrammeforthePeaceConferenceatTheHagueandfortheJapaneseWar，which，asI
revisetheselines，isbringingfearfuldisasteranddisgraceuponRussia。
TherepresentativeofaforeignpowerinanyEuropeancapitalmustbepresentedtotheprincipalmembersofthereigningfamily，andsoIpaidmyrespectstothegranddukesandduchesses。ThefirstandmostinterestingofthesetomewastheoldGrandDukeMichael——thelastsurvivingsonofthefirstNicholas。Hewasgenerally，anddoubtlessrightly，regardedas，nexttohiselderbrother，AlexanderII，thefloweroftheflock;
andhisreputationwasevidentlymuchenhancedbycomparisonwithhisbrothernextabovehiminage，theGrandDukeNicholas。ItwasgenerallychargedthattheconductofthelatterduringtheTurkishcampaignwasnotonlyunpatriotic，butinhuman。Anarmyofficeroncespeakingtomeregardingthesufferingofhissoldiersatthattimeforwantofshoes，Iaskedhimwheretheshoeswere，andheanswered:"InthepocketsoftheGrandDukeNicholas。"
Michaelwasevidentlydifferentfromhisbrother——nothaughtyandcarelesstowardallothercreatedbeings;butkindly，andwithastrongsenseofduty。Onethingtouchedme。IsaidtohimthatthelasttimeIhadseenhimwaswhenhereachedSt。PetersburgfromtheseatoftheCrimeanWarinthespringof1855，anddrovefromtherailwaytothepalaceincompanywithhisbrotherNicholas。Instantlythetearscameintohiseyesandfloweddownhischeeks。Heanswered:"Yes，thatwassadindeed。Myfather"——meaningthefirstEmperorNicholas——"telegraphedusthatourmotherwasinverypoorhealth，longedtoseeus，andinsistedonourcomingtoherbedside。Onourwayhomewelearnedofhisdeath。"
Oftheyoungergenerationofgranddukes，——thebrothersofAlexanderIII，——thegreatestimpressionwasmadeuponmebyVladimir。HewasapparentlythestrongestofallthesonsofAlexanderII，beingofthegreatRomanoffbreed——big，strong，muscular，likehisbrothertheEmperor。Hechattedpleasantly;
andIrememberthathereferredtoMr。JamesGordonBennett——whomhehadmetonayachtingcruise——as"myfriend。"
AnotherofthesebigRomanoffgranddukeswasAlexis，thegrandadmiral。HereferredtohisrecollectionsoftheUnitedStateswithapparentpleasure，inspiteofthewretchedCatacazyimbrogliowhichhinderedPresidentGrantfromshowinghimanyhospitalityattheWhiteHouse，andwhichsovexedhisfathertheEmperorAlexanderII。
Theladiesoftheimperialfamilywereveryagreeable。Aremarkofoneofthem——abeautifulandcultivatedwoman，bornaprincessofoneoftheSaxonduchies——surprisedme;for，whenIhappenedtomentionDresden，shetoldmethathergreatdesirehadbeentovisitthatcapitalofherowncountry，butthatshehadneverbeenabletodoso。ShespokeofGermanliterature，andasI
mentionedreceivingaletterthedaybeforefromProfessorGeorgEbers，thehistoricalnovelist，shesaid:"Youarehappyindeedthatyoucanmeetsuchpeople;howIshouldliketoknowEbers！"
Sucharethelimitationsofroyalty。
Meantime，Imadevisitstomycolleaguesofthediplomaticcorps，andfoundtheminterestingandagreeable——asitisthebusinessofdiplomatiststobe。ThedeanwastheGermanambassador，GeneralvonSchweinitz，amanideallyfitforsuchaposition——ofwideexperience，highcharacter，andevidentlystrongandfirm，thoughkindly。WhenambassadoratViennahehadmarriedthedaughterofhiscolleague，theAmericanminister，Mr。JohnJay，anoldfriendandcolleagueofmineintheAmericanHistoricalAssociation;andsocameverypleasantrelationsbetweenus。Hisplain，strongsensewasofusetomeinmorethanonedifficultquestion。
TheBritishambassadorwasSirRobertMorier。He，too，wasastrongcharacter，thoughlackingapparentlyinsomeofGeneralvonSchweinitz’smorekindlyqualities。Hewasbig，roughish，andattimessobrusquethathemightalmostbecalledbrutal。Whenbullyingwasneededitwasgenerallyunderstoodthathecoulddoitconamore。Astorywastoldofhimwhich，whetherexactornot，seemedtofithischaracterwell。Hehadbeen，foratime，ministertoPortugal;and，duringoneofhiscontroversieswiththePortugueseministerofforeignaffairs，thelatter，becomingexasperated，saidtohim:"Sir，itisevidentthatyouwerenotbornaPortuguesecavalier。"ThereuponMorierreplied:"No，thankGod，Iwasnot:ifIhadbeen，Iwouldhavekilledmyselfonthebreastofmymother。"
Andhere，perhaps，isthemostsuitableplaceformentioningavictorywhichMorierenabledGreatBritaintoobtainovertheUnitedStates。Itmightbeahumiliatingstoryformetotell，hadnotthefaultsoevidentlyarisenfromtheshortcomingsofothers。Thetimehascometorevealthispieceofhistory，andI
dosointhehopethatitmayaidinbetteringtheconditioninwhichtheCongressoftheUnitedStateshas，thusfar，leftitsdiplomaticservants。
Asalreadystated，themostimportantquestionwithwhichIhadtodealwasthatwhichhadarisenintheBehringSea。TheUnitedStatespossessedthereagreatandflourishingfur—sealindustry，whichwasmanagedwithcareandwasasourceoflargerevenuetoourgovernment。ThekillingofthesealsunderthedirectionofthosewhohadchargeofthematterwasdonewiththeutmostcareanddiscriminationonthePribyloffIslands，towhichtheseanimalsresortedingreatnumbersduringthesummer。Itwasnotatallcruel，andwassoconductedthatthesealherdwasfullymaintainedratherthandiminished。Butitisamongthepeculiaritiesofthesealsthat，eachautumn，theymigratesouthward，returningeachspringinlargenumbersalongtheAlaskancoast，andalsothat，whileattheislands，thenursingmothersmakelongexcursionstofishing—banksatdistancesoffromonetotwohundredmiles。Thereturnofthesesealherds，andthesefoodexcursions，weretakenadvantageofbyCanadianmarauders，whoslaughteredtheanimals，inthewater，withoutregardtoageorsex，inawaymostcruelandwasteful;sothatthesealherdsweregreatlydiminishedandinafairwaytoextermination。Ourgovernmenttriedtopreventthisandseizedsundrymaraudingvessels;whereuponGreatBritainfeltobliged，evidentlyfrompoliticalmotives，totakeupthecauseoftheseCanadianpoachersandtostandsteadilybythem。Asalastresort，thegovernmentoftheUnitedStatesleftthemattertoarbitration，andinduetimethetribunalbeganitssessionsatParis。Meantime，aBritishcommissionwas，in1891—1892，orderedtopreparethenatural—historymaterialfortheBritishcasebeforethetribunal;anditwouldbedifficulttofindamoremisleadingpieceofworkthantheirreport。ShamscientificfactsweresuppliedforthepurposesoftheBritishcounselatParis。
WhileIcannotbelievethattheauthoritiesinLondonorderedorconnivedatthis，itissimplejusticetostate，asamatteroffact，that，asafterwardintheVenezuelacase，[1]sointhis，Britishagentswereguiltyofthesharpestofsharppractices。
TheRussianfur—sealislandshavingalsosufferedtoaconsiderableextentfromsimilarmarauders，aBritishcommissionvisitedtheRussianislandsandtooktestimonyoftheRussiancommandantinamannergrosslyunfair。Thiscommandantwasanhonestman，withgoodpowersofobservationandwithconsiderableinsightintothesuperficialfactsofseallife，butwithoutadequatescientifictraining;hisknowledgeofEnglishwasveryimperfect，andthecommissionapparentlyledhimtosayandsignjustwhattheywanted。HewassomehowmadetosayjustthethingswhichwereneededtohelptheBritishcase，andnottosayanythingwhichcouldhurtit。SoabsurdwerethemisstatementstowhichhehadthusbeenledtoattachhisnamethattheRussianGovernmentorderedhimtocomeallthewayfromtheRussianislandsonthecoastofSiberiatoSt。Petersburg，theretobereexamined。Itwasanenormousjourney——fromtheislandstoJapan，fromJapantoSanFrancisco，fromSanFranciscotoNewYork，andthencetoSt。Petersburg。There，withtheaidofaRussianexpert，Ihadthesatisfactionofputtingquestionstohim;and，havingfoundthelargerpartofhispreviousallegedtestimonytobecompletelyinconflictwithhisknowledgeandopinions，IforwardedthisnewtestimonytothoseinchargeoftheAmericancasebeforetheParistribunal，inthehopethatitwouldplacethewholematterinitstruelight。WithitwasalsopresentedtheconcurringtestimonytakenbytheAmericanexpertswhohadbeensenttotheBehringSea。ThoseexpertswereDrs。
MendenhallandMerriam，scientistsofthehighestcharacter，andtheirreportswere，ineveryessentialparticular，afterwardconfirmedbyanothermanofscience，afterstudyofthewholequestionintheislandsandontheadjacentseas——Dr。Jordan，presidentofStanfordUniversity，probablythehighestauthorityintheUnitedStates——and，perhaps，intheworld——regardingthequestionsatissue:apupilandfriendofAgassiz，amanutterlyincapableofmakingastatementregardinganypointinsciencewhichhedidnotfullybelieve，nomatterwhatitspoliticalbearingmightbe。
[1]SeemychapterontheVenezuelaCommissionforthetrickattemptedbyBritishagentsinthefirstBritishBlueBookonthatsubject。
Andnowtoanotherfeatureofthecase。BeforeleavingWashingtonforSt。Petersburg，IhadconsultedwiththeSecretaryofStateandtheleadingpersonsinchargeofourcase，andonmywayhadtalkedwithCountShuvaloff，theRussianambassadoratBerlin;
andallagreedthattheinterestsoftheUnitedStatesandRussiainthematterofprotectingthesealswereidentical。Theonlywonderwasthat，thisfactbeingsoclear，theRussianForeignOfficeconstantlyheldbackfromshowinganyactivesympathywiththeUnitedStatesinoureffortstorightthiswrongdonetobothnations。
AtmyfirstpresentationtotheEmperorIfoundhim，asalreadystated，ofthesameopinionastheWashingtoncabinetandCountShuvaloff。Hewasthoroughlywithus，wasbitteragainsttheCanadianmarauders，agreedinthemoststraightforwardandearnestmannerthattheinterestsofRussiaandtheUnitedStatesinthisquestionwereidentical，andreferredseverelytotheBritishencroachmentsuponboththenationsinthenorthernseas。[2]
[2]Seedetailedaccountofthisconversationpreviouslygiveninthischapter。
AllwentsmoothlyuntilItookupthesubjectattheRussianForeignOffice。ThereIfounddifficulties，thoughatfirstIdidnotfullyunderstandthem。TheEmperorAlexanderIIIwasdyingatLivadiaintheCrimea;M。deGiers，theministerofforeignaffairs，amanofhighcharacter，wasdyingatTzarskoyeSelo;
andinchargeofhisdepartmentwasanunder—secretarywhohadformerly，forashorttime，representedRussiaatWashingtonandhadnotbeenespeciallysuccessfulthere。Associatedwithhimwasanotherunder—secretary，whowasinchargeoftheAsiaticdivisionattheRussianForeignOffice。Mycasewasstrong，andI
wasquitewillingtomeetSirRobertMorierinanyfairargumentregardingit。Ihadtakenhismeasureononeortwooccasionswhenhehaddiscussedvariousquestionsinmypresence;andhadnottheslightestfearthat，inafairpresentationofthematter，hecouldcarryhispointagainstme。AtvarioustimeswemetpleasantlyenoughintheanteroomsoftheForeignOffice;butatthatperiodourrepresentativeattheRussiancourtwassimplyaministerplenipotentiaryandtheBritishrepresentativeanambassador，andassuchhe，ofcourse，hadprecedenceoverme，withsomeadventitiousadvantageswhichIsawthen，andotherswhichIrealizedafterward。ItwasnotlongbeforeitbecameclearthatSirRobertMorierhadenormous"influence"withtheabove—namedpersonsinchargeoftheForeignOffice，and，indeed，withRussianofficialsingeneral。Theyseemednotonlytostandinaweofhim，buttolooktowardhimas"theeyesofamaidentothehandofhermistress。"InowbegantounderstandthefactwhichhadsolongpuzzledourStateDepartment——namely，thatRussiadidnotmakecommoncausewithus，thoughwewerefightingherbattlesatthesametimewithourown。ButIstruggledon，seeingtheofficialsfrequentlyanddoingthebestthatwaspossible。
Meantime，thearbitrationtribunalwasholdingitssessionsatParis，andtheAmericancounselweredoingtheirbesttosecurejusticeforourcountry。Thefactswereonourside，andthereseemedeveryreasontohopeforadecisioninourfavor。Avitalquestionwasastohowextensivetheclosedzoneforthesealsaboutourislandsshouldbe。TheUnitedStatesshowedthatthenursingsealswerekilledbytheCanadianpoachersatadistanceoffromonetotwohundredmilesfromtheislands，andthatkillingoughtnottobeallowedwithinazoneofthatradius;
but，ontheotherhand，theeffortoftheBritishcounselwastomakethiszoneassmallaspossible。Theyhadevencontendedforazoneofonlytenmilesradius。ButjustatthenickoftimeSirRobertMorierintervenedatSt。Petersburg。NoonebuthimselfandthetemporaryauthoritiesoftheRussianForeignOfficehad，orcouldhavehad，anyknowledgeofhismanoeuver。Bythemeanswhichhisgovernmentgavehimpowertoexercise，heinsomewaysecuredprivately，fromtheunderlingsabovereferredtoasintemporarychargeoftheForeignOffice，anagreementwithGreatBritainwhichpracticallyrecognizedaclosedzoneofonlythirtymilesradiusabouttheRussianislands。ThisfactwastelegraphedjustatthepropermomenttotheBritishrepresentativesbeforethetribunal;and，asoneofthejudgesafterwardtoldme，itcameintothecaselikeabomb。ItcamesolatethatanyadequateexplanationofRussia’scoursewasimpossible，anditsintroductionatthattimewasstrenuouslyobjectedtobyourcounsel;buttheBritishlawyersthusgotthefactfullybeforethetribunal，andthetribunalnaturallyfeltthatingrantingusasixty—mileradius——doublethatwhichRussiahadaskedofGreatBritainforasimilarpurpose——itwasmakingagenerousprovision。TheconditionswerepracticallythesameattheAmericanandRussiansealislands;yettheRussianofficialsinchargeofthematterseemedentirelyregardlessofthisfact，and，indeed，ofRussianinterests。AftersecretnegotiationwithSirRobert，withouttheslightesthinttotheAmericanministeroftheirintendedsacrificeoftheir"identicalinterestwiththeUnitedStates，"theyallowedthistreacherytobesprunguponus。
Thesixty—milelimitwasestablishedbythetribunal，andithasprovedutterlydelusive。Theresultofthisdecisionofthetribunalwasthatthisgreatindustryofourswasundermined，ifnotutterlydestroyed;andthattheUnitedStateswerealsomulctedtotheamountofseveralhundredthousanddollars，besidestheverygreatexpenseattendingthepresentationofhercasetothetribunal。
Inowcomebacktothemainpointwhichhascausedmetobringupthismatterinthesereminiscences。HowwasitthatGreatBritainobtainedthisvictory？Towhatwasitdue？Theanswerissimple:
itwasduetothefactthatthewholematteratSt。Petersburgwassuretobedecided，notbyargument，butby"influence。"SirRobertMorierhadwhatintheTammanyvernaculariscalleda"pull。"Hisgovernmenthadgivenhim，asitsrepresentative，allthemeansnecessarytohavehiswayinthisandallotherquestionslikeit;whereastheAmericanGovernmenthadnevergivenitsrepresentativeanysuchmeansoropportunities。TheBritishrepresentativewasanAMBASSADOR，andhadaspacious，suitable，andwell—furnishedhouseinwhichhecouldentertainfitlyandlargely，andtowhichthehighestRussianofficialsthoughtitanhonortobeinvited。TheAmericanrepresentativesweresimplyMINISTERS;fromtimeimmemorialhadneverhadsuchahouse;hadgenerallynoadequateplaceforentertaining;hadtoliveinapartmentssuchastheymighthappentofindvacantinvariouspartsofthetown——sometimesinverypoorquarters，sometimesinbetter;wereobligedtofurnishthemattheirownexpense;had，therefore，neverbeenabletoobtainatitheofthatsocialinfluence，sopowerfulinRussia，whichwasexercisedbytheBritishEmbassy。