18 ACROSS A CONTINENT. 



across the path of the Russian advance, appear but 

 details when examined in true perspective in a correct 

 presentation of the achievements of three centuries. 

 Russian soldiers, Russian sappers, and Russian engin- 

 eers have moved forward, it is true, but more than this, 

 the Russian peasant has moved forward too ; and it 

 should never be forgotten in dealing with the Russian 

 advance across Asia that whereas it is only " diplomats 

 and statesmen, who must deal with temporary situa- 

 tions, that need be deeply concerned with the purely 

 military advance of any nation, when a people move 

 forward it is a circumstance of world-wide significance, 

 and it is of especial and practical concern to every 

 people upon whose interests that advance impinges, or 

 whose future in any direction that advance affects." ^ 

 Russia has come to the Pacific, and she has come to 

 stay. 



It is Russia, then, whom we see in the title-7"o^e in 

 Northern Asia. It should be hardly necessary to add, 

 even for the benefit of the most casual Englishman, 

 that ever since the days of " the Great Commoner " it 

 is the star of Britain that has been in the ascendant 

 throughout the south. A strong cast, it must be 

 admitted, with England and Russia in the leading 

 parts, and America, Japan, Germany, and France 

 (with Belgium understudying one of the two lead- 

 ing performers) starred as the lesser lights upon the 

 bill. And the denotiment will be in every way worthy 

 of the players. 



How is it with the two leading lights ? Is it com- 

 munity of interest or irreconcilable antagonism that 

 characterises their mutual progress ? It would be 

 absurd to attempt to deny that the two forces 

 which are of chief account in shaping the course of 



1 The Russian Advance. A. J. Beveridee. 



