The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-01-21

BrltlSn warSnlp NI0fe, then lying III
a port of Honduras, went ashore, go,
drunk, became disorderly, was arrest,
ed and clapped into Jail. The very
next morning the captain of the Niobt
! demanded the instant, release oi The
sailor, and an ahject apology from rht
municipal authorities The sailor was
promptly liberated, but the mayor WAS
10th to apologize for doing what he
believed to have been his duty. There
upon the batteries of the Niobe were
trained upon the town and shells were
fired into it until the apology was
forthcoming. $ The Honduras govern
ment applied to the British Foreign
Office for an indemnity on account OF
the damage done by the shells But
the only answer obtained from Lord
Beaconsfield was curt statement that
the conduct of the Miobe's captain
was approved.
In view of this and other precedents
recently furnished by the British gov
ernment, it is preposterous to suppose,
as the Chilians evidently do, that they
would be backed by the British gov
ernmenl in refusing reparation for the
outrage perpetrated on seamen wear
ing the American uniform and pro-
tected by the American flag. =. Con-
siderations even more potential than
the duty of conforming to their own
diplomatic practice would deter at
this time the British Foreign Office
from supporting Chill in a wrong
headed conflict with the United States.
A great change has taken place in the
British electorate since the jingoism OF
Lord Beaconsheld obtained the tenn
porary approval Of the House of Com
mons. The Franchise Act and Seat
Act of 1885 have bestowed the suffrage
upon millions Of hard working arti-
sans and agricultural laborers, who
have everything to lose by war and
everything to gain by peace. They
do not wish England to be plunged
in conflict with any power. and least
of all with the United States, whose
institutions they admire and with
whose people they sympathize.
But even if it were conceivable that
fratricidal contest between the two
sections of the English-speaking race
could be made popular in England,
there is decisive objection to enter
ing on such struggle at this time.
Under all circumstances England is
dependent upon imports Of American
grain to meet large part of the ma
tional demand for food staples. This
year, on account OF the comparative
failure of the crops, not only in Eng
land, but throughout the continent Of
Europe, war with the United States
would mean the speedy and IRENE
diable starvation Of the British people.
The inflow of grain from India would
be stopped by our privateers, and
none could be looked for from Can
ada, because the grain producing dis
tricts of the Dominion would be i'm
mediately occupied by our soldiers.
We do not, therefore, exaggerate the
facts when we say that at the present
conjuncture we literally hold England
by the throat.
There is still one point to be con-
sidered. Even if England were self
supporting in the matter of cereals,
which she has long ceased to be, she
would deem it extremely hazardous
under existing circumstances to en-
broil herself with the United States for
the sake of upholding Chill in unde
niable wrongdoing. No one who re-
calls the interference on our behalf
of Alexander H., during the War of
the Rebellion, can doubt that at the
first sign of quarrel between England
and this country the Gar would fling
his sword into the scales. Such
demonstration on his part would mean
in view of the prescn, close rela-
tions between the Russian and French
governments and the Cars remark
able popularity in France-tha, We
should have the aid, not only Of the
Russian navy, but Of the great naval
armament Of France. With such CO.
adjutors, and with the immense ex-
pansion of our own naval resources,
which would at once AXE place, We
should be more than {. match for inc
English at Sea, and we should end
by driving British commerce from the
ocean. Whatever damage might pos
sibly be inflicted in the course of the
contest on some Of our Atlantic sea
ports would in the end be more than
compensated by the total and ire
trievable ruin Of British ii.du,lry ant
trade
For the various rca O IS here enu-
Merated, there is no; the slightest
danger that Great Britain will encnur-
age Chill to deny US rcparation for tn.
gross insult and injury 10 which w
have been subjected When that izct
is distinctly recognized by The so
called Jun;a or Provisional Go.ern-
ment at Santiago, We may he certain
that the Chilians Will deem discretion
the better part Of valor. will awaken
to a wholesome Consciousness of their
country's insignihcance compared with
the American republic, and vii! hasten
TO make amends tor a glarlng viola
tion of international rights.
Here is a nicely frilled little
Night cap" from the Cincinnati Post:
alt is easy for girl 10 fall III love