gmertca, , ?|emp, an& JUapoleon - Vote Hemp

America, Russia, Hemp, and Napoleonseizing neutral property on the high seas. The fact that this wasproperty of a citizen of one of the most tender-minded neutralsin Europe increased the fascinating possibilities of the affair.In a bit more than a half year the affair was settled. TheUnited States, of course, had to acquiesce to Russian demandsand remit to the original owner the proceeds from the sale ofthe captured ship and cargo; but for all of that, the mostsignificant aspect of the whole affair was Russia's restraint. 16She resorted to none of the breast beating and sword rattlingthat are the usual accompaniment of conflict between a greatand small nation, especially a conflict in which the smallernation is at fault. The empire of Russia had taken a moderateattitude towards an infraction of her maritime rights,which—if the guilty party had been Britain—would have sether to howling. 17Wha t underlay this war m affection of the Russian governmentfor the United States? It could have stemmed fromAlexander's pseudo-liberalism—and some part of it probablydid—but the real source of Russo-American rapprochementwas economic.Russia was an empire whose aristocrats depended on tradewith Great Britain for their hard cash. Russia was also anempire with a miniscule merchantfleet and middle class. T oship and transact her export trade, she had to depend onforeigners, most of who m were English. This engendered anambivalent Russian attitude toward Great Britain: Russiafeared and respected Britain's naval and mercantile strength;Russia hated Britain for her near monopoly of Russia's overseastrade and hated her for her overweening maritime pretensions.Russia therefore turned to any and every other maritime