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apartment for its representative；simple； decent； dignified； and
known to the entire city；the American representative had lived
wherever circumstances compelled him：sometimes on the
ground…floor and sometimes in a sky…parlor； with the natural
result that Russians could hardly regard the American Legation as
on the same footing with that of other countries。
As I write； word comes that the present ambassador has been
unable to find suitable quarters save at a rent higher than his
entire salary； that the proprietors have combined； and agreed to
stand by each other in holding their apartments at an enormous
figure； their understanding being that Americans are rich and can
be made to pay any price demanded。 Nothing can be more
short…sighted than the policy of our government in this respect；
and I shall touch upon it again。
The diplomatic questions between the United States and Russia
were many and troublesome； for； in addition to that regarding the
Behring Sea fisheries； there were required additional
interpretations of the Buchanan treaty as to the rights of
Americans to hold real estate and to do business in Russia；
arrangements for the participation of Russians in the Chicago
Exposition； the protection of various American citizens of
Russian birth； and especially of Israelites who had returned to
Russia； care for the great American life…insurance interests in
the empire； the adjustment of questions arising out of Russian
religious relations with Alaska and the islands of the Northern
Pacific； and last； but not least； the completion of the
extradition treaty between the two nations by the incorporation
of safeguards which would prevent its use against purely
political offenders。
Especial attention to Israelite cases was also required。 Some of
these excited my deep sympathy； and； having made a very careful
study of the subject； I wrote to Secretary Gresham a despatch
upon it in obedience to his special request。 It was the longest
despatch I have ever written； and； in my apology to the secretary
for its length I stated that it was prepared with no expectation
that he would find time to read it； but with the idea that it
might be of use at the State Department for reference。 In due
time I received a very kind answer stating that he had read every
word of it； and thanked me most heartily forit。 The whole
subject is exceedingly difficult； but it is clear that Russia has
made； and is making； a fearful mistake in her way of dealing with
it。 There are more Israelites in Russia than in all the remainder
of the world； and they are crowded together； under most
exasperating regulations； in a narrow district just inside her
western frontier； mainly extending through what was formerly
Poland； with the result that fanaticismChristian on one side
and Jewish on the otherhas developed enormously。 The Talmudic
rabbis are there at their worst； and the consequences are evil；
not only for Russia； but for our own country。 The immigration
which comes to us from these regions is among the very worst that
we receive from any part of the world。 It is； in fact； an
immigration of the unfittest； and； although noble efforts have
been made by patriotic Israelites in the United States to meet
the difficulty； the results have been far from satisfactory。
There were； of course； the usual adventurous Americans in
political difficulties； enterprising Americans in business
difficulties； and pretended Americans attempting to secure
immunity under the Stars and Stripes。 The same ingenious efforts
to prostitute American citizenship which I had seen during my
former stay in Germany were just as constant in Russia。 It was
the same old story。 Emigrants from the Russian Empire； most of
them extremely undesirable； had gone to the United States； stayed
just long enough to secure naturalization；had； indeed； in some
cases secured it fraudulently before they had stayed the full
time； and then； having returned to Russia； were trying to
exercise the rights and evade the duties of both countries。
Many of these cases were exceedingly vexatious； and so； indeed；
were some which were better founded。 The great difficulty of a
representative of the United States in Russia is； first； that the
law of the empire is so complicated that；to use the words of
King James regarding Bacon's 〃Novum Organum；〃〃Like the Peace of
God； it passeth all understanding。〃 It is made up of codes in
part obsolete or obsolescent； ukases and counter…ukases； imperial
directions and counter…directions； ministerial orders and
counter…orders； police regulations and counter…regulations； with
no end of suspensions； modifications； and exceptions。
The second difficulty is the fact that the Buchanan treaty of
1832； which guaranteed； apparently； everything desirable to
American citizens sojourning in the empire； has been gradually
construed away until its tattered remnants are practically
worthless。 As the world has discovered； Russia's strong point is
not adherence to her treaty promises。
In this respect there is a great difference between Russia and
Germany。 With the latter we have made careful treaties； the laws
are well known； and the American representative feels solid
ground beneath his feet； but in Russia there is practically
nothing of the kind； and the representative must rely on the main
principles of international law； common sense； and his own powers
of persuasion。
A peculiar duty during my last stay in St。 Petersburg was to
watch the approach of cholera； especially on the Persian
frontier。 Admirable precautions had been taken for securing
telegraphic information； and every day I received notices from
the Foreign Office as a result； which I communicated to
Washington。 For ages Russia had relied on fetishes of various
kinds to preserve her from great epidemics； but at last her
leading officials had come to realize the necessity of applying
modern science to the problem； and they did this well。 In the
city 〃sanitary columns〃 were established； made up of small squads
of officials representing the medical and engineering professions
and the police； these visited every nook and corner of the town；
and； having extraordinary powers for the emergency； compelled
even the most dirty people to keep their premises clean。
Excellent hospitals and laboratories were established； and of
these I learned much from a former Cornell student who held an
important position in one of them。 Coming to town three or four
times a week from my summer cottage in Finland； I was struck by
the precautions on the Finnish and other railways： notices of
what was to be done to prevent cholera and to meet it were
posted； in six different languages； disinfectants were made
easily accessible； the seats and hangings in the railway…cars
were covered with leather cloth frequently washed with
disinfectants； and to the main trains a hospital…car was
attached； while a temporary hospital； well equipped； was
established at each main station。 In spite of this； the number of
cholera patients at St。 Petersburg in the middle of July rose to
a very high figure； and the number of deaths each day from
cholera was about one hundred。
Of these victims the most eminent was Tschaikovsky； the composer；
a man of genius and a most charming character； to whom Mr。 Andrew
Carnegie had introduced me at New York。 One evening at a
dinner…party he poured out a goblet of water from a