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Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White Volume II
by Andrew Dickson White
VOLUME II
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ANDREW DICKSON WHITE
Volume II
CHAPTER XXXIII
AS MINISTER TO RUSSIA1892…1894
During four years after my return from service as minister to
Germany I devoted myself to the duties of the presidency at
Cornell； and on resigning that position gave all time possible to
study and travel； with reference to the book on which I was then
engaged： 〃A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology。〃
But in 1892 came a surprise。 In the reminiscences of my political
life I have given an account of a visit； with Theodore Roosevelt；
Cabot Lodge； Sherman Rogers； and others； to President Harrison at
the White House； and of some very plain talk； on both sides；
relating to what we thought shortcomings of the administration in
regard to reform in the civil service。 Although President
Harrison greatly impressed me at the time by the clearness and
strength of his utterances； my last expectation in the world
would have been of anything in the nature of an appointment from
him。 High officials do not generally think very well of people
who comment unfavorably on their doings or give them unpleasant
advice； this I had done； to the best of my ability； in addressing
the President； and great； therefore； was my astonishment when； in
1892； he tendered me the post of minister plenipotentiary at St。
Petersburg。
On my way I stopped in London； and saw various interesting
people； but especially remember a luncheon with Lord Rothschild；
with whom I had a very interesting talk about the treatment of
the Jews in Russia。 He seemed to feel deeply the persecution to
which they were subjected；speaking with much force regarding
it； and insisting that their main crime was that they were sober；
thoughtful； and thrifty； that as to the charge that they were
preying upon the agricultural population； they preyed upon it as
do the Quakers in Englandby owning agricultural machines and
letting them out； that as to the charge of usury； they were much
less exacting than many Christians； and that the main effort upon
public opinion there； such as it is； should be in the direction
of preventing the making of more severe laws。 He incidentally
referred to the money power of Europe as against Russia； speaking
of Alexander II as kind and just； but of Alexander III as really
unacquainted with the great questions concerned； and under
control of the church。
I confess that I am amazed； as I revise this chapter； to learn
from apparently trustworthy sources that his bank is now making a
vast loan to Russiato enable her to renew her old treatment of
Japan； China； Armenia； Finland； Poland； the Baltic Provinces； and
her Jewish residents。 I can think of nothing so sure to
strengthen the anti…Semites throughout the world。
A few days later Sir Julian Goldschmidt came to me on the same
subject； and he impressed me much more deeply than the head of
the house of Rothschild had done。 There was nothing of the
ennobled millionaire about him； he seemed to me a gentleman from
the heart outward。 Presenting with much feeling the disabilities
and hardships of the Jews in Russia； he dwelt upon the
discriminations against them； especially in the matter of
military fines； their gradual and final exclusion from
professions； and the confiscation of their property at Moscow；
where they had been forced to leave the city and therefore to
realize on their whole estates at a few days' notice。
At Paris I also had some interesting conversations； regarding my
new post； with the Vicomte de Vogue； the eminent academician； who
has written so much that is interesting on Russia。 Both he and
Struve； the Russian minister at Washington； who had given me a
letter to him； had married into the Annenkoff family； and I found
his knowledge of Russia； owing to this fact as well as to his
former diplomatic residence there； very suggestive。 Another
interesting episode was the funeral of Renan at the College de
France； to which our minister； Mr。 Coolidge； took me。 Eloquent
tributes were paid； and the whole ceremony was impressive after
the French manner。
Dining with Mr。 Coolidge； I found myself seated near the Duchesse
de la Rochefoucauld；a charming American； the daughter of Mr。
Mitchell； former senator from Oregon。 The duke seemed to be a
quiet； manly young officer； devoted to his duties in the army；
but it was hard to realize in him the successor of the great
duke； the friend of Washington and of Louis XVI； who showed
himself so broad…minded during our War of Independence and the
French Revolution。
At Berlin I met several of my old friends at the table of our
minister； my friend of Yale days； William Walter Phelpsamong
these Virchow； Professor von Leyden； Paul Meyerheim； Carl Becker；
and Theodor Barth； and at the Russian Embassy had an interesting
talk with Count Shuvaloff； more especially on the Behring Sea
question。 We agreed that the interests of the United States and
Russia in the matter were identical。
On the 4th of November I arrived in St。 Petersburg after an
absence of thirty…seven years。 Even in that country； where
everything moves so slowly； there had clearly been changes； the
most evident of these being the railway from the frontier。 At my
former visit the journey from Berlin had required nine days and
nine nights of steady travel； mainly in a narrow post…coach； now
it was easily done in one day and two nights in very comfortable
cars。 At that first visit the entire railway system of Russia；
with the exception of the road from the capital to Gatshina only
a few miles long； consisted of the line to Moscow； at this second
visit the system had spread very largely over the empire； and was
rapidly extending through Siberia and Northern China to the
Pacific。
But the deadening influence of the whole Russian system was
evident。 Persons who clamor for governmental control of American
railways should visit Germany； and above all Russia； to see how
such control results。 In Germany its defects are evident enough；
people are made to travel in carriages which our main lines would
not think of using； and with a lack of conveniences which with us
would provoke a revolt； but the most amazing thing about this
administration in Russia is to see how； after all this vast
expenditure； the whole atmosphere of the country seems to
paralyze energy。 During my stay at St。 Petersburg I traveled over
the line between that city and Berlin six or eight times； and
though there was usually but one express…train a day； I never saw
more than twenty or thirty through passengers。 When one bears in
mind the fact that this road is the main artery connecting one
hundred and twenty millions of people at one end with over two
hundred millions at the other； this seems amazing； but still more
so when one considers that in。 the United States； with a
population of； say； eighty millions in all； we have five great
trunk…lines across the continent； each running large
express…trains several times a day。
There was apparently little change as regards enterprise in
Russia； whatever there might be as regarded facilities for
travel。 St。 Petersburg had grown； of course。 There were new
streets in the suburbs； and where the old admiralty wharves had
stood；for the space of perhaps an eighth of a mile along the
Neva；fine buildings had been erected。 But these were the only
evident changes； the renowned Nevskii Prospekt remaining as
formerlya long line of stuccoed houses on either side； almost
all poor in architecture； and the street itself the same unkempt；
shabby； commonplace thoroughfare as of old。 No new bridge had
been built across the Neva for forty years。 There was still but
one permanent structure spanning the river； and the great stream
of travel and traffic between the two parts of the city was
dependent mainly on the bridges of boats； which； at the breaking
of the ice in the spring； had sometimes to be withdrawn during
many days。
A change had indeed been brought by the emancipation of the
serfs； but there was little outward sign of it。 The muzhik
remained； to all appearance； what he was before： in fact； as our
train drew into St。 Pet