The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-22

oplnlon, put Ii is an explanation that does
not explain. The Spectator reminds one
of a disease trying to diagnosticate ITSELF
Its Interpretation falls wide of the mark
in every particular. 1t is based upon false
assumptions. 1t is not true as 1t respects
Great Britain and is untrue as it respects
other nations. 1t is most untrue as 1t re-
spects the ground of dislike which other
nations hold against the island empire
and the race that has created 1t. We pre-
fer to make our own Interpretation OF the
reasons why Great Britain has no friend,
but in the first place let Us look at the oc-
casion of the recent complaint
Great Britain would not have uttered
this maudlin cry about having no friend if
she had NOT for the nonce felt the need of
one. The unexpected complication in the
east of Asia is the occasion of this wall
from the jolly old lioness 50 full of human
lamb The march of historical forces has
within the year brought the English pow
err face to face with the power of Russia, in
an arena moro than 10000 miles distant
from London.
Russia wishes to build railroads down to
the open waters of the Pacific, to cross ter
ritories that are not her own, but through
which she can easily make her way.
Great Britain does not relish the idea
that anybody except herself shall carry
lines of railway through territories that
are not her own. She wishes to interdict
Russia from doing so, and, marvel of
maryels, is not able to do it She does not
dare to go to war, not because she has not
the courage, but because her national
debt has become so great that she burst
not increase 1T.
John Bull, belligerent, scowls at Rus
STA and gets his hand on the hilt of his
sword in his usual manner, but Shylock,
standing behind, pulls his coattails and
says in the language of the Baron Hat
feldt, ''Mein freund, dees eez not peeznis."
Indeed it is not business. Great Britain
knows it is not business. For that reason
she does not dare to 60 to war. Finding
herself at her ropes end, remembering
that even she is in the clutch of a money
power greater than herself, and remember
ing also that the Russia whom she would
have to fight is no longer the Russia of
1854 and the Crimea, she comes to pause.
She can go no further. Something very
like crocodile tear is seen on her leathery
cheek. She points to the bladdery drop,
and in vain effort TO state her case blub-
bers out her complaint that she has not a
single friend among the nations.
John Bull Turns to Uncle Sam.
This complaint is directed in particular
to the United States. The United States,
says the plaintiff, ought to be her friend,
but is not. 1t is true. then. that on GER
tain occasions Great Britain stoops TO re-
member the United States. We may know
when this phenomenon recurs that some
thing serious has moved on the spirit of
the lioness. That something Is always
either dyspepsia or danger. In the present
instance it is danger. If our good mother
felt that she was able to bluff Russia and
to block her progress in Asia lUithOut the
support of the United States, then indeed
she would not have remembered the Unit
ed States at all, much less appealed to her
for sympathy.
Let not England lay the flattering unc-
ton on her soul that the reasons of the
dislike cherished toward her by other ma
tons are the reasons which the London
Spectator has recently set forth. Those
are not the reasons at all. Madam Britain
MIA, history has long memory! You
have for generations and centuries laid up
wrath against this day of wrath by a
course of unmitigated selfishness which
has at last come home as an evil spirit TO
the perch You now look up and see on
the branch above you, not bird of prom
Use, not Athena's owl of wisdom, not a
common shadow of the night, but the
smileless visage of that silent Nemesis
Who never yet has left the unbalanced scale.
OF all this we are heartily glad. This
British wall. hollow and hypocriticaL Is