Morethanthis，theBritishambassadorhadadequatemeansfurnishedhimforexercisingpoliticalinfluence。TheAmericanrepresentativeshadnot;theyhadbeenstintedineveryway。TheBritishambassadorhadalargestaffofthoroughlytrainedsecretariesandattaches，theverybestoftheirkind，——welleducatedtobeginwith，thoroughlytrainedafterward，——servingasantennaeforGreatBritaininRussiansociety;andasthefirstsecretaryofhisembassyhehadnolessapersonagethanHenryHoward，nowSirHenryHoward，ministeratTheHague，oneofthebrightest，best—trained，andmostexperienceddiplomatistsinEurope。TheAmericanrepresentativewasatthattimeprovidedwithonlyonesecretaryoflegation，andhe，thoughengagingandbrilliant，acasualappointmentwhoremainedinthecountryonlyafewmonths。Ihad，indeed，securedahandsomeandcomfortableapartment，andentertainedatdinnerandotherwisetheleadingmembersoftheRussianministryandofthediplomaticcorps，atacostofmorethandoublemysalary;buttheinfluencethusexercisedwas，ofcourse，asnothingcomparedtothatexercisedbyadiplomatistlikeSirRobertMorier，whohadeverysortofresourceathiscommand，whohadbeenforperhapsfortyyearssteadilyintheserviceofhiscountry，andhadlearnedbylongexperiencetoknowthemenwithwhomhehadtodealandthewaysofgettingatthem。HispowerinSt。Petersburgwasfeltinamultitudeofways:allofficialsattheRussianForeignOffice，fromthehighesttothelowest，naturallydesiredtobeongoodtermswithhim。
Theyknewthathisinfluencehadbecomeverygreatandthatitwasbesttohavehisfriendship;theylovedespeciallytobeinvitedtohisdinners，andtheirfamilieslovedtobeinvitedtohisballs。HewasaPOWER。Thequestionabovereferredto，ofsuchimportancetotheUnitedStates，wasnotdecidedbyargument，butsimplybytheweightofsocialandotherinfluence，whichcountssoenormouslyinmattersofthiskindatallEuropeancapitals，andespeciallyinRussia。Thisconditionofthingshassincebeenmodifiedbythechangeofthelegationintoanembassy;but，asnohousehasbeenprovided，theolddifficultyremains。TheUnitedStateshasnottheleastchanceofsuccess，andunderherpresentshabbysystemneverwillhave，incloselycontestedcases，withanyofthegreatpowersoftheearth。Theyprovidefitlyfortheirrepresentatives;theUnitedStatesdoesnot。Therepresentativesofotherpowers，beingthusprovidedfor，aregladtoremainattheirpostsandtodevotethemselvestogettingathoroughmasteryofeverythingconnectedwithdiplomaticbusiness;Americanrepresentatives，obliged，asarule，totakeupwithuncomfortablequarters，findingtheirpositionnotwhatitoughttobeascomparedwiththatoftherepresentativesofothergreatpowers，andobligedtoexpendmuchmorethantheirsalaries，aregenerallygladtoresignafterabriefterm。EspeciallyhasthisbeenthecaseinSt。Petersburg。
Thetermsofourrepresentativestherehavegenerallybeenveryshort。Afewhavestayedthreeorfouryears，butmosthavestayedmuchshorterterms。InonecasearepresentativeoftheUnitedStatesremainedonlythreeorfourmonths，andinanotheronlysixweeks。SomarkedwasthistendencythattheEmperoroncereferredtoitinaconversationwithoneofourrepresentatives，sayingthathehopedthatthisAmericandiplomatistwouldremainlongerthanhispredecessorshadgenerallydone。
TheactionoftheRussianauthoritiesintheBehringSeaquestion，whichisdirectlytraceabletothesuperiorpolicyofGreatBritaininmaintainingapreponderatingdiplomatic，political，andsocialinfluenceattheRussiancapital，costourgovernmentasumwhichwouldhaveboughtsuitablehousesinseveralcapitals，andwouldhavegiventoeachAmericanrepresentativeaproperstaffofassistants。Ihavepresentedthismatterwithreluctance，thoughIfeelnottheslightestresponsibilityformypartinit。Idonotthinkthatanyright—mindedmancanblamemeforit，anymorethan，intherecentSouthAfricanWar，hecouldhaveblamedLordRoberts，theBritishgeneral，ifthelatterhadbeensenttotheTransvaalwithinsufficientmeans，inadequateequipment，andanarmyfarinferiorinnumberstothatofhisenemy。
Iamnotatallinthismatter"amanwithagrievance";forI
knewwhatAmericanrepresentativeshadtoexpect，andwasnotdisappointed。MyfeelingissimplythatofanAmericancitizenwhoseofficiallifeispast，andwhocanlookbackdispassionatelyandtellthetruthplainly。
Thiscaseispresentedsimplyinthehopethatitwilldosomethingtoarousethinkingmeninpubliclife，andespeciallyintheCongressoftheUnitedStates，toprovideatleastasuitablehouseorapartmentfortheAmericanrepresentativeineachofthemoreimportantcapitalsoftheworld，asallothergreatpowersandmanyofthelessernationshavedone。IfIcanaidinbringingaboutthisresult，Icarenothingforanypersonalcriticismwhichmaybebroughtuponme。
CHAPTERXXXIV
INTERCOURSEWITHRUSSIANSTATESMEN——1892—1894
ToreturntoSirRobertMorier。Therehadbeensomefrictionbetweenhisfamilyandthatofoneofmypredecessors，andthishadforsometimealmostendedsocialintercoursebetweenhisembassyandourlegation;butonmyarrivalIignoredthis，andweestablishedverysatisfactorypersonalrelations。HehadheldimportantpositionsinvariouspartsofEurope，andhadbeencloselyassociatedwithmanyofthemostdistinguishedmenofhisownandothercountries。ReadingGrantDuff’s"Memoirs，"IfindthatMorier’sbosomfriend，ofallmenintheworld，wasJowett，thelateheadofOrielCollegeatOxford。ButSirRobertwasatthecloseofhiscareer;histriumphintheBehringSeamatterwashislast。ImethimshortlyafterwardathislastvisittotheWinterPalace:withgreatefforthemountedthestaircase，tookhispositionattheheadofthediplomaticcircle，and，immediatelyafterhisconversationwiththeEmperor，excusedhimselfandwenthome。ThiswasthelasttimeIeversawhim;hereturnedsoonafterwardtoEnglandanddied。Hissuccessor，SirFrankLascelles，morerecentlymycolleagueatBerlin，isaverydifferentcharacter。Hismanneriswinning，hisexperiencelargeandinteresting，hisfirstposthavingbeenatParisduringtheCommune，andhislatestatTeheran。Ourrelationsbecame，andhaveeversinceremained，allthatIcoulddesire。He，too，ineverypost，isprovidedwithallthatisnecessaryforaccomplishingthepurposesofGreatBritain，andwilldoubtlesswingreatsuccessforhiscountry，thoughnotinexactlythesamewayashispredecessor。
TheFrenchambassadorwastheComtedeMontebello，evidentlyamanofability，butwithperhapslessoftheengagingqualitiesthanonegenerallyexpectsinaFrenchdiplomaticrepresentative。
TheTurkishambassador，HusnyPasha，likemostTurkishrepresentativeswhomIhavemet，hadlearnedtomakehimselfveryagreeable;buthispositionwasrathertrying:hehadfoughtintheRusso—TurkishWarandhadseenhiscountrysavedfromthemostabjecthumiliation，ifnotdestruction，onlyatthelastmoment，bytheBerlinConference。HismainvexationinSt。
PetersburgarosefromthereligiousfeelingoftheEmperor。EverygreatofficialceremonyinRussiaisprefaced，asarule，byachurchservice;henceHusnywasexcluded，sincehefeltboundtowearthefez，andthistheEmperorwouldnottolerate;thoughtherewasreallynomoreharminhiswearingthissimplehead—gearinchurchthaninawomanwearingherbonnetorasoldierwearinghishelmet。
Interesting，too，wastheItalianambassador，Marochetti，sonoftheeminentsculptor，someofwhoseartisticabilityhehadinherited。Hewasfondofexercisingthistalent;butitwasgenerallyunderstoodthathisrecallwasfinallyduetothefactthathisdiplomaticworkhadsufferedinconsequence。
TheAustrianambassador，CountWolkenstein，was，inmanythings，themosttrustworthyofcounselors;morethanonce，undertryingcircumstances，Ifoundhisadviceprecious;forheknew，apparently，ineverycourtofEurope，therightmantoapproach，andtherightwaytoapproachhim，oneveryconceivablesubject。
OftheministersplenipotentiarytheDutchrepresentative，VanStoetwegen，wasthebestcounselorIfound。Hewasshrewd，keen，andkindly;buthistonguewassharp——somuchsothatitfinallybroughtabouthisrecall。Hemadearemarkonedaywhichespeciallyimpressedme。Ihadsaidtohim，"IhavejustsentadespatchtomygovernmentdeclaringmyskepticismastotheprobabilityofanywarinEuropeforaconsiderabletimetocome。
WhenIarrivedinBerlinelevenyearsagoalltheknowingpeoplesaidthatageneralEuropeanwarmustbreakoutwithinafewmonths:inthespringtheysaiditmustcomeintheautumn;andintheautumntheysaiditmustcomeinthespring。Alltheseyearshavepassedandthereisstillnosignofwar。Wehearthesamepropheciesdaily，butIlearnedlongsincenottobelieveinthem。Warmaycome，butitseemstomemoreandmoreunlikely。"
Heanswered，"Ithinkyouareright。Iadvisemyowngovernmentinthesamesense。Thefactisthatwarinthesedaysisnotwhatitoncewas;itisinfinitelymoredangerousfromeverypointofview，anditbecomesmoreandmoresoeveryday。Formerlyacrownedhead，whenhethoughthimselfaggrieved，orfeltthathewouldenjoyacampaign，plungedintowargaily。Ifhesucceeded，allwaswell;ifnot，hehauledofftorepairdamages，——verymuchasapugilistwoulddoafterreceivingablackeyeinafistfight，——andinashorttimethelosseswererepairedandallwentonasbefore。Inthesedaysthecaseisdifferent:itisnolongerasimplecontestintheopen，withthepossibilityofablackeyeor，atmost，ofaseverebruise;ithasbecomeamatteroflifeanddeathtowholenations。Insteadofbeinglikeafistfight，itislikeacombatbetweenalotofchampionsarmedwithpoisoneddaggers，andinadarkroom;ifoncethestrugglebegins，nooneknowshowmanywillbedrawnintoitorwhowillbealiveattheendofit;theprobabilitiesarethatallwillbeinjuredterriblyandseveralfatally。Warinthesedaysmeansthecroppingupofamultitudeofquestionsdangerousnotonlytostatesmenbuttomonarchs，andeventosocietyitself。Monarchsandstatesmenknowthiswell;and，nomatterhowtruculenttheymayattimesappear，theyreallydreadwaraboveallthings。"
OneofmycolleaguesatSt。Petersburgwasinterestinginaverydifferentwayfromanyoftheothers。ThiswasPasitch，theServianminister。Hewasamanoffinepresenceand，judgingfromhisconversation，ofacutemind。Hehadsomeyearsbeforebeensentencedtodeathfortreason，butsincethathadbeenprimeminister。LaterhewasagainputontrialforhislifeatBelgrade，chargedwithbeingapartnerintheconspiracywhichresultedinthesecondattemptagainstthelifeofKingMilan。
Hisspeechbeforehisjudges，recentlypublished，wasaneffortworthyofastatesman，andcarriedtheconvictiontomymindthathewasnotguilty。[3]
[3]Hewasfoundguilty，butescapeddeathbyabitterhumiliation:itwasleftforotherstobringaboutMilan’sassassination。
TherepresentativesoftheextremeOrientwerebothinterestingpersonages，butthesamedifferenceprevailedthereaselsewhere:
theChinesewasamandarin，abletospeakonlythroughaninterpreter;theJapanesewastrainedinWesternscience，andabletospeakfluentlybothRussianandFrench。Hissuccessor，whomImetatthePeaceConferenceofTheHague，spokeEnglishadmirably。
Amongthesecretariesandattaches，severalwereveryinteresting;andofthesewasthefirstBritishsecretaryHenryHoward，nowSirHenryHoward，ministeratTheHague。HeandhisAmericanwifewereamongthemostdelightfulofassociates。
AnotherinthiscategorywastheBavariansecretary，BaronGuttenberg，whomIoftenmetlateratBerlin。WhenIspoketohimaboutavisitIhadmadetoWurzburg，andthedesecrationofthemagnificentoldRomanesquecathedraltherebyplasteringitswholeinterioroverwithnudeangels，andsubstitutingforthesplendidoldmediaevalcarvingLouisQuinzewoodworkinwhiteandgold，hesaid:"Yes;youareright;anditwasabishopofmyfamilywhodidit。"
AstoRussianstatesmen，IhadthebenefitofthefairlyfriendlyspiritwhichhasusuallybeenshowntowardtheAmericanrepresentativeinRussiabyallinauthorityfromtheEmperordown。IdonotmeanbythisthatthecontentionsoftheAmericanEmbassyarealwaysmetbyspeedyconcessions，foramongthemosttryingofallthingsindiplomaticdealingswiththatcountryarethelongdelaysinallbusiness;butaspiritisshownwhich，inthelongrun，servesthepurposeofourrepresentativeasregardsmostquestions。
Itseemsnecessaryheretogiveaspecialwarningagainstputtinganytrustintheepigramwhichhaslongdonedutyasapieceofpolitico—ethnologicalwisdom:"ScratchaRussianandyouwillfindaTartar。"Itwouldbequiteascorrecttosay，"ScratchanAmericanandyouwillfindanIndian。"ThesimplefactisthattheRussianofficialswithwhomforeignershavetodoaremenofexperience，and，asarule，muchlikethosewhomonefindsinsimilarpositionsinotherpartsofEurope。Aforeignrepresentativehastomeetonbusiness，notmerelytheRussianministerofforeignaffairsandtheheadsofdepartmentsintheForeignOffice，butvariousothermembersoftheimperialcabinet，especiallytheministersoffinance，ofwar，ofthenavy，oftheinterior，ofjustice，aswellasthechiefmunicipalauthoritiesofSt。Petersburg;andIcansaythatmanyofthesegentlemen，bothasmenandasofficials，arethepeersofmeninsimilarpositionsinmostothercountrieswhichIhaveknown。
Thoughtheywereattimestenaciousinquestionsbetweentheirownpeopleandours，andthoughtheyheldpoliticaldoctrinesverydifferentfromthosewecherish，Iamboundtosaythatmostofthemdidsoinawaywhichdisarmedcriticism。AtthesametimeImustconfessaconvictionwhichhasmoreandmoregrownuponme，thatthepopularviewregardingthepower，vigor，andforesightofRussianstatesmenisill—founded。AnditmustbeaddedthatRussianofficialsandtheirfamiliesareverysusceptibletosocialinfluences:aforeignrepresentativewhoentertainsthemfrequentlyandwellcansecurefarmoreforhiscountrythanonewhotruststoargumentalone。InnopartoftheworldwilladiplomatistmoresurelyrealizethetruthembeddedinOxenstiern’sfamousutterance，"Goforth，myson，andseewithhowlittlewisdomtheworldisgoverned。"WhenoneseeswhatreallystrongmenmightdoinRussia，whatvastpossibilitiestherearewhichyearafteryearareutterlyneglected，onecannotbutthinkthatthepopularimpressionregardingthesuperiorityofRussianstatesmenisbadlybased。Asamatteroffact，therehasnotbeenastatesmanofthefirstclass，ofRussianbirth，sinceCatherinetheGreat，andnoneofthesecondclassunlessNesselrodeandtheEmperorNicholasaretobeexcepted。ToconsiderPrinceGortchakoffagreatchancelloronaccountofhiselaboratedespatchesisabsurd。Thenotedepigramregardinghimisdoubtlessjust:"C’estunNarcissequisemiredanssonencrier。"
TocallhimagreatstatesmaninthetimeofCavourBismarck，Lincoln，andSewardispreposterous。WhatevergrowthincivilizationRussiahasmadeinthelastfortyyearshasbeenmainlyinspiteofthemenwhohaveposedasherstatesmen;theatmosphereofRussianautocracyisfataltogreatnessinanyform。
TheemancipationoftheserfswasduetoapolicyadvocatedbythefirstNicholasandcarriedoutunderAlexanderII;butitwasmadepossiblemainlybyMiloutine，Samarine，Tcherkassky，andothersubordinates，whoneverwereallowedtoapproachthefirstrankasstateservants。Thisismyownjudgment，foundedonobservationandreadingduringhalfacentury，anditisthequietjudgmentofmanywhohavehadoccasiontoobserveRussialongerandmorecarefully。
Next，astotheForeignOffice。NearlyahundredyearsagoNapoleoncomparedAlexanderIandthoseabouthimto"GreeksoftheLowerEmpire。"Thatsayingwasrepelledasaslander;but，eversinceitwasuttered，theRussianForeignOfficeseemstohavebeenlaboringtodeserveit。Therearechancelleriesintheworldwhich，whentheygivepromises，arebelievedandtrusted。
Who，inthelightofthelastfiftyyears，wouldclaimthattheRussianForeignOfficeisamongthese？Itsmainreputationisforastutenessfinallybroughttonaught;ithasconstantlybeen"toocleverbyhalf。"
TaketheloudlytrumpetedpeaceproposalstotheworldmadebyNicholasII。WhenthenationsgottogetheratTheHaguetocarryouttheCzar’ssupposedpurpose，itwasfoundthatallwashaphazard;thatnoadequatestudieshadbeenmade，noprojectprepared;infact，thattheEmperor’sgovernmenthadvirtuallydonenothingshowinganyrealintentiontosetaproperexample。
NothingbutthehighcharacterandabilitiesofM。deMartensandoneortwoofhisassociatessavedtheprestigeoftheRussianForeignOfficeatthattime。Hadtherebeenamanofrealpowerinthechancellorshiporintheministryofforeignaffairs，hewouldcertainlyhaveadvisedtheEmperortodismisstousefulemployments，say，twohundredtotwohundredandfiftythousandtroops，whichhecouldhavedonewithouttheslightestdanger——thusshowingthathewasinearnest，cripplingthewarclique，andmakingthebeginningofagreatreformwhichallEuropewouldcertainlyhavebeengladtofollow。Buttherewasneitherthewisdomnorthestrengthrequiredtoadviseandcarrythroughsuchameasure。Deferencetothe"militaryparty"andpettyfearofalossofmilitaryprestigewereall—controlling。
Takethearmyandthenavydepartments。Inthese，ifanywhere，Russiahasbeenthoughtstrong。ThemainoccupationofleadingRussiansforahundredyearshasbeen，notthesteadyupliftingofthepeopleinintellectandmorals，notthevigorousdevelopmentofnaturalresources，butpreparationsforwaronlandandsea。Thishasbeenvirtuallytheonebusinessofthemainmenoflightandleadingfromtheemperorsandgranddukesdown。Drillandparadehavebeenapparentlyeverything:thestrengtheningoftheempirebytheeducationofthepeople，andthebuildingofindustrialprosperityasabasisforagreatarmyandnavy，seemtohavebeenvirtuallynothing。Theresultsarenowbeforetheworldforthethirdtimesince1815。
Anobjectormayremindmeoftheemancipationoftheserfs。IdonotdenythegreatnessandnoblenessofAlexanderIIandtheservicesofthemenhethencalledtohisaid;butIlivedinRussiabothbeforeandsincethatreform，andfeelobligedtotestifythat，thusfar，itsmainpurposehasbeensothwartedbyreactionariesthatthereis，asyet，little，ifany，practicaldifferencebetweentheconditionoftheRussianpeasantbeforeandsinceobtaininghisfreedom。
TakethedealingswithFinland。Thewholethingismonstrous。Itisbothcomedyandtragedy。Finlandisbyfarthebest—developedpartoftheempire;itstandsonahigherplanethandotheotherprovincesasregardseveryelementofcivilization;ithassteadilybeenthemostloyalofalltherealmsoftheCzar。
Nihilismandanarchismhavenevergainedtheslightestfoothold;
yetto—daythereisnobodyinthewholeempirestrongenoughtopreventsundrybigots——militaryandecclesiastical——leadingtheEmperortoviolatehiscoronationoath;tomakethesimplepresentationofapetitiontohimtreasonable;totrampleFinlandunderhisfeet;towronggrievouslyandinsultgrosslyitswholepeople;tobanishandconfiscatethepropertyofitsbestmen;tomuzzleitspress;togagitslegislators;andthustolowerthewholecountrytotheleveloftheremainderofRussia。
DuringmystayinRussiaatthetimeoftheCrimeanWar，IhadbeeninterestedintheFinnishpeasantswhomIsawservingonthegunboats。Therewasasturdiness，heartiness，andloyaltyaboutthemwhichcouldnotfailtoelicitgood—will;butduringthissecondstayinRussiamysympathieswiththemweremoreespeciallyenlisted。DuringthehotweatherofthefirstsummermyfamilywereattheFinnishcapital，Helsingfors，atthepointwheretheGulfofFinlandopensintotheBaltic。Thewholepeopledeeplyinterestedme。HerewasoneofthemostimportantuniversitiesofEurope，anoblepubliclibrary，beautifulbuildings，andthroughoutthewholetownanatmosphereofcleanlinessandcivilizationfarsuperiortothatwhichonefindsinanyRussiancity。HavingbeenaddedtoRussiabyAlexanderI
underhismostsolemnpledgesthatitshouldretainitsownconstitutionalgovernment，ithaddonesouptothetimeofmystay;andtheresultswereevidentthroughouttheentiregrandduchy。WhileinRussiatherehadbeenfromtimeimmemorialadebasedcurrency，thecurrencyofFinlandwasasgoodasgold;
whileinRussiaallpublicmattersborethemarksofarbitraryrepression，inFinlandonecouldseetheresultsofenlighteneddiscussion;whileinRussiathepeasantisbutlittle，ifany，aboveAsiaticbarbarism，theFinnishpeasant——simple，genuine——isclearlyfarbetterdevelopedbothmorallyandreligiously。Itisagrieftomeintheselatterdaystoseethatthemeasureswhichwerethenfearedhavesincebeentaken。ThereseemsadeterminationtogrinddownFinlandtoalevelwithRussiaingeneral。Weheard，notlongsince，muchsympathyexpressedfortheBoersinSouthAfricaintheirstruggleagainstEngland;butinfinitelymorepatheticisthecaseofFinland。Thelittlegrandduchyhasdonewhatitcouldtosaveitself，butitrecognizesthefactthatitstwomillionsofpeopleareutterlypowerlessagainstthebruteforceoftheonehundredandtwentymillionsoftheRussianEmpire。ThestruggleinSouthAfricameant，afterall，thatifworstcametoworst，theBoerswould，withinagenerationortwo，enjoyahighertypeofconstitutionallibertythantheyevercouldhavedevelopedunderanyrepublictheycouldhaveestablished;butFinlandisnowforcedtogiveupherconstitutionalgovernmentandtocomeundertheruleofbrutalRussiansatraps。Thesehavealreadybeguntheirwork。Allistobe"Russified":theconstitutionalbodiesaretobevirtuallyabolished;theuniversityistobebroughtdowntothelevelofDorpat——oncesonotedasaGermanuniversity，nowsoworthlessasaRussianuniversity;forthesimpleProtestantismofthepeopleistobesubstitutedthefetishismoftheRusso—GreekChurch。Itisthesaddestspectacleofourtime。Previousemperors，howevermuchtheywishedtodoso，didnotdarebreaktheiroathstoFinland;butthepresentweaklingsovereign，inhisindifference，carelessness，andabsoluteunfitnesstorule，hasallowedthedominantreactionarycliqueabouthimtoaccomplishitsowngoodpleasure。Iputonrecordheretheprophecythathisdynasty，ifnothimself，willbepunishedforit。Allhistoryshowsthatnosuchcrimehasgoneunpunished。ItisafargreatercrimethanthepartitionofPoland;forPolandhadbroughtherfateonherself，whileFinlandhasbeenthemostloyalpartoftheempire。NotevenMoscowherselfhasbeenmorethoroughlydevotedtoRussiaandthereigningdynasty。Theyoungmonarchwhoseweaknesshasledtothisfearfulresultwillbringretributionuponhimselfandthosewhofollowhim。TheRomanoffswillyetfindthat"thereisaPowerintheuniverse，notourselves，whichmakesforrighteousness。"ThehouseofHapsburganditssatellitesfoundthisinthehumiliatingendoftheirreigninItaly;thehouseofValoisfoundit，afterthemassacreofSt。
Bartholomew，intheirowndestruction;theBourbonsfoundit，afterthedrivingoutoftheHuguenotsandtheuselesswarsofLouisXIVandXV，intheFrenchRevolutionwhichendedtheirdynasty。BoththeNapoleonsmettheirpunishmentafterviolatingtherightsofhumannature。ThepeopleoftheUnitedStates，aftertheFugitiveSlaveLaw，foundtheirpunishmentintheCivilWar，whichcostnearlyamillionoflivesand，whenallisreckoned，tenthousandmillionsoftreasure。
WhenItalkedwiththisyouthbeforehecametothethrone，andsawhowlittleheknewofhisownempire，——howabsolutelyunawarehewasthatthefaminewascontinuingforasecondyearinvariousimportantdistricts，thereresoundedinmyears，assooftenatothertimes，thefamouswordsofOxenstierntohisson，"Goforth，myson，andseewithhowlittlewisdomtheworldisgoverned。"
Pitytosayit，theEuropeansovereigntowhomNicholasIIcanbemostfullycomparedisCharlesIXofFrance，undertheinfluenceofhisfamilyandmenandwomencourtiersandpriests，authorizingthemassacreofSt。Bartholomew。Thepunishmenttobemetedouttohimandhishouseissure。[4]
[4]TheabovewaswrittenbeforetheRussianwarwithJapanandtheassassinationsofBobrikoff，Plehve，andothersweredreamedof。MyprophecyseemslikelytoberealizedfarearlierthanI
hadthoughtpossible。
AsIrevisetheselines，weseeanotherexhibitionofthesameweaknessandfolly。ThequestionbetweenRussiaandJapancouldhavebeeneasilyandsatisfactorilysettledinamorningtalkbyanytwobusinessmenofaverageability;butthedominantcliquehasforcedononeofthemostterriblewarsinhistory，whichbidsfairtoresultinthegreatesthumiliationRussiahaseverknown。
ThesamethingmaybesaidregardingRussia’sdealingswiththeBalticprovinces。The"Russification"whichhasbeengoingonthereforsomeyearsisequallyabsurd，equallywicked，andsuretobeequallydisastrous。
ThefirstRussianstatesmanwithwhomIhadtodowastheministerofforeignaffairs，M。deGiers;buthewasdying。IsawhimtwiceinretirementatTzarskoyeSelo，andcametorespecthimmuch。HespokeatlengthregardingtheententebetweenRussiaandFrance，andinsistedthatitwasnotintheinterestofwarbutofpeace。"Tellyourgovernment，"hesaid，"thatthecloserthelinesaredrawnwhichbindRussiaandFrance，themorestronglywillRussianinfluencebeusedtoholdbacktheFrenchfromwar。"
Atanothertimehediscoursedonthefollyofwar，andespeciallyregardingtherecentconflictbetweenRussiaandTurkey。Hespokeofitswretchedresults，oftheingratitudewhichRussiahadexperiencedfromthepeoplesshehadsavedfromtheTurks，andfinally，withextremebitterness，ofthevastsumsofmoneywastedinitwhichcouldhavebeenusedinraisingtheconditionoftheRussianpeasantry。Hespokewiththeconvictionofadyingman，andIfeltthathewassincere。AtthesametimeIfeltitapitythatundertheRussiansystemthereisnochanceforsuchamanreallytoenforcehisideas。Foronedayhemaybeintheascendancywiththeautocrat;andthenext，throughtheinfluenceofgranddukes，women，priests，orcourtiers，theveryoppositeideasmaybecomedominant。
ThemenwithwhomIhadmoredirectlytodoattheForeignOfficeweretheactingminister，Shishkin，whohadformerlybeenatWashington，andtheheadoftheAsiaticdepartment，CountKapnist。Theywereagreeableinmanner;butitsoonbecameclearthat，regardingthequestionoftheBehringseal—fisheries，theywerepursuingapolicyoftheirown，totallydistinctfromtheinterestsoftheempire。PetertheGreatwouldhavebeheadedbothofthem。
ThestrongestmanamongtheCzar’simmediateadviserswasunderstoodtobethefinanceminister，DeWitte。Therealwaysseemedinhimacertainsullenforce。Thestoryusuallytoldofhisriseintheworldiscurious。Itis，ineffect，thatwhentheEmperorAlexanderIIandhisfamilywerewreckedintheirspecialtrainatBorki，manyoftheirattendantswerekilled;andtheworldgenerally，includingtheimmediatesurvivorsofthecatastrophe，believedforsometimethatitwastheresultofanihilistplot。Therewas，therefore，ageneralsweepingintoprisonofsubordinat’erailwayofficials;andamongthesewasDeWitte，theninchargeofarailwaystation。Duringtheexaminationswhichensuedheshowedhimselfsoclear—headedandstraightforwardthatheattractedattentionwaspromoted，putintothefinanceministry，andfinallyadvancedtothefirstplaceinit。HisdealingswithRussianfinanceshavesinceshowngreatcapacity:hehasbroughttheempireoutofthesloughofdepreciatedcurrencyandplaceditfirmlyonagoldbasis。Icameespeciallytoknowhimwhenheoffered，throughme，totheUnitedStatesaloanofgoldtoenableustotideoverourdifficultieswiththecurrencyquestion。HeinformedmethatRussiahadinhertreasurymanymillionsofrublesinAmericangoldeagles，andthattheRussiangoldreservetheninthetreasurywasaboutsixhundredmillionsofrubles。
TheonlyresultwasthatIwasinstructedtoconveythethanksofthePresidenttohim，therebeingnolawenablingustotakeadvantageofhisoffer。Whathewishedtodowastomakeacallloan，whereasourWashingtonGovernmentcouldobtaingoldonlybyissuingbonds。
IalsomethiminaveryinterestingwaywhenIpresentedtohimRabbiKrauskopfofPhiladelphia，whodiscussedthequestionofallowingsundryIsraeliteswhowerecrowdedintothewesterndistrictsoftheempiretobetransferredtosomeofthelesscongesteddistricts，onconditionthatfundsforthatpurposebefurnishedfromtheircoreligionistsinAmerica。DeWitte’sdiscussionofthewholesubjectwasliberalandstatesmanlike。
Unfortunately，therewas，asIbelieve，afundamentalerrorinhisgeneraltheory，whichistheoldRussianideaatthebottomoftheautocracy——namely，thattheStateshouldowneverything。
Moreandmorehewentonextendinggovernmentownershiptotherailways，untilthewholedirectionandmanagementofthemvirtuallycenteredinhisoffice。
Onthispointhedifferedwidelyfromhispredecessorinthefinanceministry，Wischniegradsky。Ihadmetthelatteryearsbefore，attheParisExposition，whenhewasattheheadofthegreattechnicalschoolinMoscow，andfoundhiminstructiveandinteresting。NowImethimafterhisretirementfromthefinanceministry。Callingonhimoneday，Isaid:"Youwillprobablybuildyourtrans—Siberianrailwayatamuchlesscostthanwewereabletobuildourfirsttrans—continentalrailway;youwilldoitdirectly，bygovernmentfunds，andsowillprobablynothavetomakesomanyrichmenaswedid。"Hisanswerimpressedmestrongly。Hesaid:"Astoagovernmentbuildingarailwaymorecheaplythanprivateindividuals，Idecidedlydoubt;butIwouldfavorprivateindividualsbuildingit，evenifthecostweregreater。Iliketoseerichmenmade;theyarewhatRussiamostneedsatthismoment。Whatcancapitalistsdowiththeirmoney？
Theycan’teatitordrinkit:theyhavetoinvestitinotherenterprises;andsuchenterprises，toberemunerative，mustmeettheneedsofthepeople。Capitalistsarefarmorelikelytoinvesttheirmoneyinusefulenterprises，andtomanagetheseinvestmentswell，thananyfinanceministercanbe，nomatterhowgifted。"
ThathewasrightthehistoryofRussiaisshowingmoreandmoreeveryday。ToreturntoM。deWitte，itseemedstrangetomostonlookersthatthepresentEmperorthrewhimoutofthefinanceministry，inwhichhehadsogreatlydistinguishedhimself，andshelvedhiminoneofthosebodies，suchasthecouncilofstateorthesenate，whichexistmainlyasharborsorsheltersfordismissedfunctionaries。Butreallytherewasnothingsingularaboutit。Asregardsthemainbodyatcourt，fromthegranddukes，thewomen，etc。，down，hehadcommittedthesinofwhichTurgotandNeckerwereguiltywhentheysoughttosaveFrancebutfoundthatthewomen，princes，andfavoritesofpoorLouisXVI’sfamilyweredeterminedtodiptheirhandsintothestatetreasury，andweretoostrongtobecontrolled。RuinfollowedthedismissalofTurgotandNeckerthen，andseemstobefollowingthedismissalofDeWittenow:thoughasIrevisethischapterwordcomesthattheEmperorhasrecalledhim。
NodoubtPrinceKhilkoff，whohascomeinasministerofinternalcommunicationssincemydeparturefromRussia，isalsoastrongman;butnofunctionarycantaketheplaceofagreatbodyofindividualswhoinvesttheirownmoneyinpublicworksthroughoutanentirenation。
TherewasalsoanotherstatesmaninaverydifferentfieldwhomI
foundexceedinglyinteresting，——astatesmanwhohadgainedapowerintheempiresecondtonoothersavetheEmperorhimself，andhadcenteredinhimselfmorehatredthananyotherRussianofrecenttimes，——theformerEmperor’stutorandvirtualministerasregardsecclesiasticalaffairs，Pobedonostzeff。Histheoriesarethemostreactionaryofalldevelopedinmoderntimes;andhishandwasthenfelt，andisstillfelt，ineverypartoftheempire，enforcingthosetheories。Whatevermaybethoughtofhiswisdom，hispatriotismisnottobedoubted。ThoughIdifferfromhimalmosttotally，fewmenhavesogreatlyinterestedme，andoneofthefollowingchapterswillbedevotedtohim。
Butthereweresomeotherso—calledstatesmentowardwhomIhadaverydifferentfeeling。Oneofthesewastheministeroftheinterior。Nothingcouldbemoredelusivethanhismanner。Healwaysseemedabouttoaccedetotheideasofhisinterlocutor，buthehadonefundamentalideaofhisown，andonlyone;andthatwas，evidently，nevertodoanythingwhichhecouldpossiblyavoid。Healwaysseemedtomeasortofgreatjellyfish，lookingasifhehadamissiontoaccomplish，but，oncloserexamination，provingtobewithoutconsistency，andslippery。Histheoryapparentlywas，"Noact，noresponsibility";andthroughouttheRussianEmpirethisprincipleofaction，or，rather，ofinaction，appearstobeverywidelydiffused。
Ihadoneexperiencewiththisfunctionary，who，Iamhappytosay，hassincebeenrelievedofhispositionandshelvedamongthedo—nothingsoftheRussiansenate，whichshowedmewhathewas。TwoAmericanladiesofthebestbreedingandculture，andbearingthemostsatisfactorylettersofintroduction，hadbeenstayinginSt。Petersburg，andhadmet，atmytableandelsewhere，someofthemostinterestingpeopleinRussiansociety。FromSt。PetersburgtheyhadgonetoMoscow;and，afterapleasantstaythere，hadleftforViennabywayofWarsaw。
Returninghomelateatnight，aboutaweekafterward，Ifoundanagonizingtelegramfromthem，statingthattheyhadbeenstoppedattheAustrianfrontierandsentbackfiftymilestoadirtylittleRussianvillage;thattheirbaggagehadallgoneontoVienna;that，therebeingnobankerinthelittlehamletwheretheywere，theirletterofcreditwasgoodfornothing;thatallthiswasduetothewantofthemosttrivialofformalitiesinapassport;thattheyhadobtainedallthevisessupposedtobeneededatSt。PetersburgandatMoscow;andthat，thoughtheAmericanconsulatWarsawhaddeclaredthesetobesufficienttotakethemoutoftheempire，theyhadbeenstoppedbyapettyRussianofficialbecausetheyhadnovisefromtheWarsawpolice。
EarlynextmorningIwenttotheministeroftheinterior，presentedthecasetohim，toldhimallabouttheseladies，——theirhighstanding，theletterstheyhadbrought，thepeopletheyhadmet，——assuredhimthatnothingcouldbefurtherfrompossibilitythantheslightesttendencyontheirparttowardanyinterferencewiththeRussianGovernment，andaskedhimtosendatelegramauthorizingtheirdeparture。Hewasmostprofuseinhisdeclarationsofhiswillingnesstohelp。Nothingintheworld，apparently，wouldgivehimmorepleasure;and，thoughtherewasakindofatmosphereenvelopinghistalkwhichIdidnotquitelike，Ibelievedthattheproperorderwouldbegiven。