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any two business men of average ability； but the dominant clique
has forced on one of the most terrible wars in history； which
bids fair to result in the greatest humiliation Russia has ever
known。
The same thing may be said regarding Russia's dealings with the
Baltic provinces。 The 〃Russification〃 which has been going on
there for some years is equally absurd； equally wicked； and sure
to be equally disastrous。
The first Russian statesman with whom I had to do was the
minister of foreign affairs； M。 de Giers； but he was dying。 I saw
him twice in retirement at Tzarskoye Selo； and came to respect
him much。 He spoke at length regarding the entente between Russia
and France； and insisted that it was not in the interest of war
but of peace。 〃Tell your government；〃 he said； 〃that the closer
the lines are drawn which bind Russia and France； the more
strongly will Russian influence be used to hold back the French
from war。〃
At another time he discoursed on the folly of war； and especially
regarding the recent conflict between Russia and Turkey。 He spoke
of its wretched results； of the ingratitude which Russia had
experienced from the peoples she had saved from the Turks； and
finally； with extreme bitterness； of the vast sums of money
wasted in it which could have been used in raising the condition
of the Russian peasantry。 He spoke with the conviction of a dying
man； and I felt that he was sincere。 At the same time I felt it a
pity that under the Russian system there is no chance for such a
man really to enforce his ideas。 For one day he may be in the
ascendancy with the autocrat； and the next； through the influence
of grand dukes； women； priests； or courtiers； the very opposite
ideas may become dominant。
The men with whom I had more directly to do at the Foreign Office
were the acting minister； Shishkin； who had formerly been at
Washington； and the head of the Asiatic department； Count
Kapnist。 They were agreeable in manner； but it soon became clear
that； regarding the question of the Behring seal…fisheries； they
were pursuing a policy of their own； totally distinct from the
interests of the empire。 Peter the Great would have beheaded both
of them。
The strongest man among the Czar's immediate advisers was
understood to be the finance minister； De Witte。 There always
seemed in him a certain sullen force。 The story usually told of
his rise in the world is curious。 It is； in effect； that when the
Emperor Alexander II and his family were wrecked in their special
train at Borki； many of their attendants were killed； and the
world generally； including the immediate survivors of the
catastrophe； believed for some time that it was the result of a
nihilist plot。 There was； therefore； a general sweeping into
prison of subordinat'e railway officials； and among these was De
Witte； then in charge of a railway station。 During the
examinations which ensued he showed himself so clear…headed and
straightforward that he attracted attention was promoted； put
into the finance ministry； and finally advanced to the first
place in it。 His dealings with Russian finances have since shown
great capacity： he has brought the empire out of the slough of
depreciated currency and placed it firmly on a gold basis。 I came
especially to know him when he offered； through me； to the United
States a loan of gold to enable us to tide over our difficulties
with the currency question。 He informed me that Russia had in her
treasury many millions of rubles in American gold eagles； and
that the Russian gold reserve then in the treasury was about six
hundred millions of rubles。
The only result was that I was instructed to convey the thanks of
the President to him； there being no law enabling us to take
advantage of his offer。 What he wished to do was to make a call
loan； whereas our Washington Government could obtain gold only by
issuing bonds。
I also met him in a very interesting way when I presented to him
Rabbi Krauskopf of Philadelphia； who discussed the question of
allowing sundry Israelites who were crowded into the western
districts of the empire to be transferred to some of the less
congested districts； on condition that funds for that purpose be
furnished from their coreligionists in America。 De Witte's
discussion of the whole subject was liberal and statesmanlike。
Unfortunately； there was； as I believe； a fundamental error in
his general theory； which is the old Russian idea at the bottom
of the autocracynamely； that the State should own everything。
More and more he went on extending government ownership to the
railways； until the whole direction and management of them
virtually centered in his office。
On this point he differed widely from his predecessor in the
finance ministry； Wischniegradsky。 I had met the latter years
before； at the Paris Exposition； when he was at the head of the
great technical school in Moscow； and found him instructive and
interesting。 Now I met him after his retirement from the finance
ministry。 Calling on him one day； I said： 〃You will probably
build your trans…Siberian railway at a much less cost than we
were able to build our first trans…continental railway； you will
do it directly； by government funds； and so will probably not
have to make so many rich men as we did。〃 His answer impressed me
strongly。 He said： 〃As to a government building a railway more
cheaply than private individuals； I decidedly doubt； but I would
favor private individuals building it； even if the cost were
greater。 I like to see rich men made； they are what Russia most
needs at this moment。 What can capitalists do with their money？
They can't eat it or drink it： they have to invest it in other
enterprises； and such enterprises； to be remunerative； must meet
the needs of the people。 Capitalists are far more likely to
invest their money in useful enterprises； and to manage these
investments well； than any finance minister can be； no matter how
gifted。〃
That he was right the history of Russia is showing more and more
every day。 To return to M。 de Witte； it seemed strange to most
onlookers that the present Emperor threw him out of the finance
ministry； in which he had so greatly distinguished himself； and
shelved him in one of those bodies； such as the council of state
or the senate； which exist mainly as harbors or shelters for
dismissed functionaries。 But really there was nothing singular
about it。 As regards the main body at court； from the grand
dukes； the women； etc。； down； he had committed the sin of which
Turgot and Necker were guilty when they sought to save France but
found that the women； princes； and favorites of poor Louis XVI's
family were determined to dip their hands into the state
treasury； and were too strong to be controlled。 Ruin followed the
dismissal of Turgot and Necker then； and seems to be following
the dismissal of De Witte now： though as I revise this chapter
word comes that the Emperor has recalled him。
No doubt Prince Khilkoff； who has come in as minister of internal
communications since my departure from Russia； is also a strong
man； but no functionary can take the place of a great body of
individuals who invest their own money in public works throughout
an entire nation。
There was also another statesman in a very different field whom I
found exceedingly interesting；a statesman who had gained a
power in the empire