Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-02
IN CASE OF WAR WITH ENGLAND.
How the Arrogance of Great Britain Might
Bc Humbled.


THE UNITED STATES EVEN IN IT'S pErENsELxss
CONDITION NATION THAT WOULD HAVE EVERY
ADVANTAGE OVER ESGLASD-How ENGLAND's
COMMERCE MIGHT BE SWEPT FROM THE SEAS.
MISUNDERSTANDING THE ALMOST
- certain prospect of an amicable and
satisfactory settlement of the Beriug sea diff
entity, said an old soldier and a careful stu
aent OF public affairs to STAR reporter.
those abnormally patriotic people who ale
ways-ln season and ont Of season-favor tho
DIG nag and large appropriation are sedu-
iousiy and theoretically endeavoring to raise
the hue and cry and convince the country of
the imminent danger of q war with Great
britain Sixty days ago these Same alarmists
were just as energetically predicting war with
Chile, drawing gloomy pictures of the defense
less condition Of all our sea coasts and pointing
to the probability that the overpowering
Chilean ironclads would lombard and devastate
San Francisco and other towns Of tho Pacific
coast. But nobody was frightened and there
was no war, as the administration and the
public had confidently foreseen. And there
viii be no war with England.
There was never a time in her history when
England could less afford to 20 to war with this
nation than at the present moment. And
while 1t is not at all probable our negotiations
relating to the Bering sea matter are predi-
Gated upon the assumption that England can
be bullied becauee she breads collision with
the United States President Harrison and the
senate know there is not the slightest danger
OF war with that country over this or any other
controversy unless We become unreasonable or
the British government loses its senses Nor is
1t likely Englands diplomats will be encour-
aged to enlarge upon and press their demands
with a threat of war because OF the alleged de-
fenseless and indefensiblc condition of the
American frontier along the great lakes and
Canada. There will be-there is-moderation
on both sides. and those best informed are per-
fectly confident the controversy will be ar
ranged without friction.
People as intelligent as the Americans asd
English will not long be deceived or misjudge
tho merits of the case or misunderstand the
situation from the utterances of a few hot
headed, inconsiderate orators and newspapers
on both sides of tho Atlantic. based on INSULT
Gent and often mistaken data, and sometimes
dictated BY prejudice or design. As a matter
of fact there is very little heat over the matter
On either side.
ENGLANDs VULNERABLE POINT.
There is no question of the English courage
to fight this or any other nation under the sun.
And doubtless she is more powerful today In
all the elements for warfare than when she
won her greatest victories over France and
Spain and Holland. But Oh the other hand in
one important and vital particular. she is rela-
lively weaker and more vulnerable than ever,
and especially 10 i'll fight with bold. re-
sourceful, seafaring nation like the United
States. 1t Is in respect of her vast commerce,
which covers every sea, and amounts to more
than that of all the other nations combined.
that Britain is weak and vulnerable. She could
doubtless lnfiict great damage On this country
with her powerful navy, but it is hardly posi-
BILE that on land her army could make moro
than temporary impression. On the other
hand, Notwithstanding her great naval fleet i:
would prove entirely inadequate to the. task of
protecting her merchant marine.
when the civil war began in this country
America eommercs was second only to that OF
England indeed. we were rapidly oyerhauling
our great rival Yankee merchant ships
traversed all the seas. Yet before the close oil
the war beggarly half dozen confederate
ships, manned largely by Englishmen, had
completely cleared the ocean OF our commerce
Ii was proved that a swift sailing third OF
fourth-rate armed snip is an easy commerce
destroyer. big. unwieldy unarned merchant
man stands about III the same relation to a man.
oi-war that q cow does to a bulldog.
THE SEA WOULD SWARM WITH CRUISERS.
''Once fairly embarked in contest with Eng
| land, the oceans would swarm with American
cruisers of all sizes and ornaments, manned
duced except the English themselves. The
English are well aware OF this. No British wal
ship was ever whipped and made to haul dowr
her colorS by "a single ship of equal or less
force OF any nation IN the world except the
American. In 1872 the disparity between the
two countries on the ocean and great lakes wal
far greater than now, and yet our Sucking
navy made rafting fight. On the lakes
notlilas were soon organized that commanded
them. humbling the pride Of the British and
capturing their fleets. So it would be again.
1T is argued that such measy, nondescript
ships as We would put into commission could
not contend for one moment with the British
men-of-war and ironclads. True. but that
would not signify. for England with her hun.
dreds of war ships would still be unable to
patrol every sea and watch over her merchant
marine. ANY number of our weak. unarmored
commerce destroyers would doubtless be cap
tured. They would be stigmatized as pirates
and relentlessly crushed, but new ones would
go forth to fill their places and the work OF de.
| struction not be matted for one instant We could
stand the sacrifice and still continue the contest
And within year or two, with all our vast facill
ties and resources. with the fiery energy begotter
| OF necessity and danger, We could put upon tine
sea some armored ships equal If not superior tS
anything England has atioat Temporarily il
the beginning we might-doubtless would-bt
at disadvantage; eventually English com
merce would be totally wiped from the seas AM
her supremacy gone.
AN her North American provinces would b,
| inevitably and forever lost probably includin;
the West Indies. Gen. Nelson A. Miles re
| Gently made the pregnant remark that we coul,
seize ali the Canadian lines of railway within
| ten days. Yet there are writers who gravel,
talk about the rapidity with which Engiant
could move $4,000 troops from India over tn,
Canadian railway 10 protect Canada. England,
| Indian army might have business at home t.
attend to.
ENGLAND's ARROGANCE WOULD BE HUMBLED
I'm short practically, without navy or nj
army, we are yet the one single nation Of tn,
earth that would have every advantage o
England, and could accomplish what is indi
of our power it is not likely this nation would
| let up until tho arrogant English power has
been completely and adequately humbled
And il is probable We should have plenty o
assistance In the good work. An English paper
'sister peoples" There is no quarrel so bittel
and long maintained az the family quarrel.
"A number of our far-seeing statesmen quietly
hold the opinion that war with England would
have its compensations; that it would be of di
rect advantage to the United States, by not only
| clearing the field for our own commerce with
the rest of the world, but by throwing us back
on our own resources develop still greater in
ternal national prosperity. It is e tact that We
| could live within ourselvesand make prolonged
| abroad, growing stronger year by year. Eng
could now more easily d this than the block
Aa<1 tod sv, for