THE GROWTH OF RUSSIA 177 



feat. No other people have possessed or now ])ossess these qualities 

 equallj^ with the Russian Slav. Herein was the difference hetween 

 Peter and Charles XII of Sweden. Charles XII was only an episode 

 in a drama. Peter was a colossus that could not be shaken and re- 

 mained. Before he was born the Russian people had been fashioned 

 into an efficient weapon ready to his hand. The dormant spirit of a 

 might}' nation liad revealed itself in him. On the decisive field of 

 Pultowa, Sweden received a blow from which she has never recovered. 

 St Petersburg, built among the marshes and the forests of the Neva, 

 is the majestic monument of that victory and of his reign. To it the 

 discouraged but venerated Moscow yielded its proud rank as caiutal. 

 ^\'ith its erection Russia consecrated the spot where her loot first 

 touched the shores of a western sea. 



TERRITORIAL EXPANSION SINCE 1725 



The territorial expansion from the death of the Great Czar until the 

 ))resent j^ear can be shown more clearly by the map than by any de- 

 scription in words. The whole added territor}' on the west and south 

 constitutes a sort of territorial fringe, with an average width of over 

 200 miles. It extends from the Arctic to the Black Sea, and thence 

 strikes southeastward till it reaches the Caspian. 



In her extension east Russia pressed on toward tlie Pacific Ocean, 

 completing the acquisition of Siberia, ^^'hatever claims China pos- 

 sessed to the left bank of the "Amur and the right bank of the Usuri 

 were peacefully ceded by her to Russia in 1860. Port Arthur, on the 

 Gulf of Petchili and Talien Wan. were just as peacefully ceded b}' the 

 same power in 1897 for a nominal term of twent3'-five years. 



Such territorial extension not only amazes but appals. It does not 

 so impress by its vastness as by its continuance. Ever since Russia, 

 according to the Slavic saying, " found herself," this process has been 

 going on. Were it in consequence of a temporary popular spasm, or 

 of the exceptional tendency of a single reign, the considerations it 

 opens uj) would be less momentous. 



A COMPAKISOX OE THE AfiilllSITIONS OE TKIiKITOin' T.V GUIIAT I'.KITArN 



AND RUSSIA 



It is ti'ue that the acquisitions of territory Itv (ireat Britain during 

 the last century have been on an even more stupendous scide. Since 

 ]s70(iroat ]>rit;iin has annexed to lier empire 2.8r)^,]7(l s(|uare miles 

 oftcrritory and 1-!5,0()(>.(IOO human Ix-ings. Yet. though (iieat Uiitain 



