THE GROWTH OF RUSSIA 179 



Egyptian never can be a Briton or an Englishman. Except so far as 

 the inhabitants of annexed territory are natives of Britain or descend- 

 ants of British stock, they increase her danger rather than contribute 

 to her strength. The French of Canada, who have been subject to 

 the British scepter one hundred and forty years, may be cited as an 

 exception to this statement. Though carrying law and order with 

 him, the Englisliman does not possess and almost despises the faculty 

 of assimilating a conquered people and identifying them with him- 

 self. From them he dare recruit but a small number for his armies, 

 and only with the most solicitous precaution. That small number 

 he must keep in positions of safe inferiority. 



Russia, unlike Great Britain, makes no acquisitions which do not 

 border on her own soil. Only such territory as is adjacent or will 

 speedily become adjacent does she annex. To the United States she 

 willingly disposes of Alaska, which the accident of discovery had 

 placed under her flag. To Japan she cedes the Kurile Islands for 

 land nearer home. But territory once hers is completely incorporated 

 in her empire for weal or woe. Once within the iron grip of her iron 

 hand, there is no escape for Tartar or Cossack or Kalmuck or Pole or 

 Finn from ultimate identification with the Russian. From the con- 

 quered she forms battalions and regiments and brigades, and stimu- 

 lates their fidelity and fires their ambition with important commands. 

 Whole army corps she entrusts in time of war to the Armenians Meli- 

 koff and Der HougassofF and to AlikhanofF, the Turkoman. Beneath 

 her sway there is a uniformity of service and subjection like the uni- 

 formity of the plain that has reflected itself in Russian nature. For 

 years the acquiescence may l)e forced, but one generation passes 

 away and another comes that is profoundly Russian except in remote 

 ancestr3^ 



Moreover, there is a marvelous assimilating faculty in the Slav. 

 The Greco- Latin never possessed it, nor does the Celt or the Teuton 

 now. In })reeminent degree is the Slav endowed with the genius 

 of emigration and colonization. There is a rough picture, frequently 

 seen, of the Russian emigrant. His axe fastened to his belt, his boots 

 with prudent cf^ononiy hanging from his shoulders by a cord, his 

 fingers bent in the sign of the cross, his face looking straight before 

 him, he stoli<lly steps on to the })eyond. irerein is the significance 

 of each Russian annexation. It augments the strength which has 

 j)roduced it. 



There is anotlier essential diU'ereiux! to l)e noted in the relations of 



