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In
the lead commentary
of the October 17, 1863 issue
of Harper’s Weekly, editor John Bonner reconsidered the
American tradition of no entangling alliances with foreign
nations, famously annunciated in President George Washington’s
Farewell Address of 1796 and reinforced, according to Bonner, by
the Monroe Doctrine of 1823.
The editor argued that changes over the ensuing
decades—particularly greater economic ties and increased speed
of transportation and communication between Europe and
America—had undermined the ideal and reality of American
isolation. Therefore,
Bonner argued, “nothing which happens any where [in the world]
is now indifferent to us, and our transactions interest all the
rest of the world.”
Warning
that British and French diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy
would be antagonistic to the interests of the Union, the editor
asked pointedly, “Would it not be wise to meet the hostile
alliance of the Western Powers of Europe by an alliance with
Russia?” He
characterized both Russia and the United States as young nations,
which were just developing their capabilities and, thus,
represented the future. Both
were undergoing difficult transitions with the emancipation of
serfs in Russia and of slaves in the United States.
He envisioned that the Russian-American alliance at “the
least … could keep the peace of the world, and prevent the
ambition of despots [France’s Napoleon III] or the knavery of
shopkeepers [Britain] from embroiling nations in useless wars.”
Bonner also compared the Lincoln administration’s use of
arms to put down the Confederate insurrection with the Czar’s
suppression of the Polish Rebellion, and how both had “been
thwarted and annoyed by the interference of France and England.”
The
news report in the October 17 Harper’s Weekly
of the reception of the Russian fleet in New York Harbor
emphasized its “political significance.”
While ignoring British and French admirals, American
citizens responded “with gratitude for the friendly manner in
which Russia has stood by us in our present struggle, while the
Western Powers have done not a little to work our ruin.”
The text gave a detailed account of fleet specifications,
corresponding to an illustration.
The article then quoted from the New York Herald’s
account of the ceremonies in the bay. On the Harper’s Weekly cover, the accompanying
illustration showed the city’s Common Council
official welcoming Admiral Stepan Lesovsky (“Lisovski”). A few pages forward was a full-page illustration
of the Russian naval delegation’s parade on Broadway. A picture of the Russian Pacific fleet appeared without
commentary in the January 23, 1864 issue.
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Introduction - John Adler, HarpWeek Publisher...
Support for the Union: Russian Fleet Visits U.S., 1863
Overview...
