Appreciation of American Sympathy
That the substantial sympathy of the American people was fully appreciated by the Russian people may be gathered from what follows. The mayor of St. Petersburg, in an address on behalf of that city to American donors, declared:
The Russian people know how to be grateful. If up to this day these two great countries, Russia and the United States, have not only never quarreled, but on the contrary, wished each other prosperity and strength always, these feelings of sympathy shall grow only stronger in the future—both countries being conscious that, in the season of trial for either it will find in the other cordial succor and support. And when can true friendship be tested if not in the hour of misfortune?
A peasant of Samara sent to a Russian editor, together with three colored eggs, a letter which he asked to have forwarded to America. It appeared in the Century Magazine. Here is an extract:
Christ is risen! To the merciful benefactors, the protectors of the poor, the feeders of the starving, the guardians of the orphans—Christ is risen! North Americans! May the Lord grant you a peaceful and long life and prosperity in your land, and may your fields give abundant harvests—Christ is risen. Your mercifulness gives us a helping hand. Through your charity you have satisfied the starving. And for your magnificent alms accept from me this humble gift which I send to the entire American people for your great beneficence, from all the hearts of the poor, filled with feelings of joy.
Count Bobrinskoy, writing officially to the secretary of the Iowa Russian Famine Relief Commission, used these words:
It gives me very great pleasure indeed to express to you the sincere appreciation that the Russian people entertain toward the splendid work organized in America for the relief of the sufferers in our famine-stricken districts. I can assure that the same deep gratitude is felt, not only by the poor who have received the generous American contributions, but also by us all, who, having worked for this relief, know how much it was needed. I know by Dr. Hubbell how great was the activity of your peoples as well as that of Miss Clara Barton in sending us the “Tynehead,” and how much you have done in the interests of our people. The names of “Indiana,” “Missouri,” “Conemaugh,” “Tynehead” and “Leo” will always remind us of the most beautiful example of international charity and fraternal love that history has perhaps ever mentioned.
On the first anniversary of the arrival of the Iowa ship, “Tynehead,” at Riga, there was a significant event in Philadelphia. The Russian man-of-war, the “Dimitre Donskoi,” the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, anchored in the Delaware River. The vessel was decorated with flags and the officer of the day was the Grand Duke Alexander. By special invitation of this representative of the Czar, Dr. Hubbell and the nine other American commissioners, who went to Russia in behalf of the donors were present on board. They were received with the most impressive honors. The Czar had sent gifts by his officer, and the presentations were made in the name of his majesty, under the imperial flags. A large open trunk contained ten boxes of polished wood, and each of these was inscribed: “In remembrance of your visit to Russia.” Accompanying each was a letter expressive of his majesty’s gratitude. The tokens were all magnificent specimens of Russian art work in silver.
The Department of State at Washington, under date of January 11, 1894, issued the following information:
On November 7, 1893, the United States Minister at St. Petersburg received from the nobility of that city, through their marshal, Count Alexis Bobrinskoy, an address to the people of the United States. This address, which is in the English language, embodies, in terms fitly chosen, the thanks of the Russian people to the American for the aid sent to their country from our own during the famine periods of the past two years; it is beautifully engrossed and its illumination embraces water-color drawings, which render it a most attractive work of art. The document, which is superbly bound and enclosed in a fine case, was duly forwarded to this city by Minister White, and will be given a conspicuous place in the library of this department.
The following is the Text of the Testimonial from the Nobility of Saint Petersburg to the People of the United States:
In the annals of Russia for 1892, painful though the memory be, history will point out many a bright and joyous page scattered throughout the Empire, on which will be written in letters of gold the beautiful story of brotherly love as exemplified by the good people of the United States of America.
Hardly had human voices been heard calling for bread in certain governments of Russia, that had suffered from drought, hail, and untimely frost, ere that friendly people across the Atlantic, moved by an earnest desire to help the afflicted and to feed the hungry, collected from every state in the Union, as if by one accord, shipload after shipload of corn, and dispatched them, one after the other, on their errand of mercy and relief.
Deeply grateful for such evident signs of evangelical feeling and interest, the Assembly of Nobles of the government of St. Petersburg, as representatives of the intellectual class in Russia, has resolved to express their warm and heartfelt gratitude to those friendly people who form the great nation of the United States of America.
May the Lord bless and keep all those kind-hearted Americans, men, women and children, who took part in that great and good work of charity, and may the Hand that giveth unto us all, reward them bountifully, and ever keep them from a like misfortune.
(Signed.) The Marshal of the Nobility of St. Petersburg,
Count Alexis Bobrinskoy.
Previous to receiving this beautiful tribute, on the arrival of the S.S. “Indiana” from Philadelphia while not connected with the Red Cross work, a similar artistic tribute to American donors was presented by the workmen of Libeau to represent the sentiment of the workmen of Russia, we introduce it as an additional illustration of the universal sentiment of tender sympathy and gratitude of the Russian people.