Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-27
WARNING FROM HIS ORGAN.


tCoppytqht 1889 bv james Gordon Bennstt.l
LoNpoS, Jan. 26.-[New York Herald
Cable-Spccial to THE BEE. After the
farewell dinner to Mr.. Phelps, surely nobody
can doubt that an era of peace and good Will
has fairly set in. Why talk of spending a
lot more money on the navyt Why pay any
more attention to Charles Bcresford! Peace
and brOtherly love are TO be universal law;
so it was settled at the mansion house by the
lord mayor and his guests.
Mr.. Phelps committed himself to no such
assurances. Indeed, his speech is admitted
to be the most perfect thing OF the kind ever
presented to the notice of the British
public. In dignity, in traces of
deep feeling, in pathetic illusions, and
broad and generous principles, this
farewell address was a model, but Mr..
Phelps must have wished he could have i'm
parted some Of his own good judgment to his
friends and admirers. Here is the Times
praising him up to the skies for entering into
and identifying himself with the sympathies
and anxieties, aspirations and achievements
III the EnpllSn people lsuJ iiliIy pcOUlS may
think that to identify himself with the aspira-
tions and anu achievements Of the English
people is no part of the duty Of an American
minister. Is not this carrying the era of
good will and soft sawder a little too far: MIR.
Phelps, however, cannot be held respons-
ale for The extravaganza Of his admirers.
as not discharged his duty ady less
firmly or faithfully because he has lived on
good terms with the English people, and it is
q wonderful triumph for him. He has act
ually eclipsed Lowell's fame rs an after
dinner speaker.
In the diplomatic world our foreign office
can get along very well with Phelps. but
when it has to deal with Bismarck it Is in
danger of fin ding itself playing second
fiddle. The willy old German has drawn
England into the last African difficulty,
out OF which there seems to be
no way to escape, and now he is
playing a game in the East Pacific that may
have serious consequences. If he had to
reckon with England alone, he might posi-
bly, give himself very little trouble over the
matter, but the United States insists on TAX
ing a hand in the game, and that contingency
may have not been included in the deep laid
plans of the great professor of blood and
iron.
The Cologne Gazette, which seems to have
taken the contract for sweeping the Bis
MARKHAM workshop, tries to make out that
President Cleveland is a nonentity, and that
the new president will make a clearance of
his policy, as well as of his staff. 1t also
kindly warns the United States to
keep out of this Samoan mess, because
Germany will not recognize their right to in
terfere in any way with it, and this notice
appears in so many German papers. simultan-
eously that its Official organ cannot be
doubted.
But meanwhile the United States may not
choose to be thus peremptorily warned off,
considering that so many Americans are set
tied in the Pacific island. 1t has been stated
that the three nations entered into q treaty
about Samoa, but the German papers are
quite right in denying this. Germany and
England altered into such a treaty, and Bis
marck appears to think he can respect or
transgress it just MS German
interests may seem to require
England would not fight for Samoa. She
might protest against Germany Selling it,
but if the protest was UNDECIDED that would
end the matter. Thus it must fall to the
United States to decide whether or not Ger
many shall be the dominant power in the
South Sea islands, and the question cannot
be longer deferred. 1t is likely 70 be met
and settled without much reference to the
objection that America has no treaty with
Germany concerning Samoa. The opinion
which prevails in well informed circles here
is that Germany will seek to come to a
friendly understanding with the United
States, leaving England TO look ont for her.
self.
Communications have passed between the
German and British governments none too
conciliatory on the part Of the former. 1t is
probable that nothing much will be known of
the intentions ON either side until parliament
meets, which will be in a little over three
weeks time. Then who can say what topic
may be u%ppermosti Instead OF Samoa il is
likely TO be Ireland, for that never fails
There does not appear to be much public
sympathy, TO tell the PLAN truth, with the
Irish members of parliament who have been
arrested 1t may seem strange, but the fact
is that the bulk OF the people look on with
Indifference, If not with approval, at the pro
c~eedirgs Of the Irish executive. One hears
this said constantly. az members Of par
lament break the laws why should they not
- punished as well as an humber personr"
Tbus ii Is tnat The English journals are very
self possessed and tranquil over their Irish