Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
4 NEWSPAPER WAR.
That Is What the British Masses Think
The Venezuelan Matter Is.
IGNORANCE or THE SITUATION.
Average Englishman Wouldn't
Know the Monroe Doctrine Ir He
don Gossip.
lsnecIal london cable letterl

10 Judge Of public feeling can honestly
affirm that the country is in the state OF
excitement over the difficulties that have
arisen in connection with the Anglo-Veno-
zuelan dispute that some OF the news
papers represent. Whatever partial Ell
fervescence existed over President Cleve-
lands message is now evaporatlng. and
II no new surprise is sprung upon the
British people the whole matter Will
soon become a mere newspaper war.
Official and diplomatic circles have
never shared in the extreme alarmist
views that have found expression In the
press. and the placidity prevailing at the
Foreign Office may be judged from the
fact that Prime-Minister Salisbury has
seen no cause TO summon a meeting OF
the Cabinet TO consider the position. IL
is expected that no Cabinet meeting VIII
be held until the views Of the American
Government, embodied in a dispatch from
Mr.. Olney, the American Secretary OF
State. who is understood to be about 10
send reply TO Lord Salsburys note has
reached the Foreign Office.
Upon making inquiries as to when this
reply was likely 10 be received the re-
representatives. Of the United States learned
that It was expected 10 reach here early
I'm January.
1t depends on the nature and tone OF
Mr.. Olney's communication whether the
situation will become really critical. In
the mean time the policy Of the Foreign
| Office IS 20 LAY down and say nothing.
English jingoism, braying, in response
10 American jingosm, may go on. but
10 does not represent genuine public SEM
timent. nor can newspaper opinion be
) taken as an absolutely sure guide to the
! national feeling
ENGLISH IGNORANCE.
The ignorance of the English masses
I'm regard 70 the real issues between
the governments must ere long operate
TO restrain Lord Salisbury from follow
ing an active policy of sheer defiance to
America. The Monroe doctrine breaks
upon the bulk Of the populace like the
/ enigma of the sphynx. The locality Of
the dispute is 20 them a geographical
/ mystery.
Even the Westminster Gazette, which
IS an organ of the educated classes,
thinks it necessary to inform its readers
that neither British Guiana nor Deme-
rara is an island as is generally supposed
i'm England.
Before the government dares TO commit,
the country the people Will want to
know what the trouble is about
The Queen is showing the keenest anx-
iety In the difficulty.
Lord Salisbury was closeted yesterday
| at the Foreign Office, nor seeing even
I the diplomats. In the evening he sent
a long dispatch 10 her Majesty. at Os-
borne House on the Isle of Wight, where
she IS al present sOiOurning.
The Queens remembrance OF the fac
that the last official act of the Prime,
Consort was The preparation of a memo
randum councolling a peaceful settle
ment Of the Trent affair Will incline hel
70 interfere 10 prevent a rupture between
the two countries.
LABOR SENTIMENT.
Continuing 20 collate opinion outside Of
the leading party organs and the Carlton
Constitution. and Liberal clubs. the repre-
| sentlve Of the United Press has essayeC
TO ascertain the feeling in the Working
mems political clubs, on which feeling
the politicians here rely when organizing
popular demonstrations. These clubs
though numbering their members by the
/ tens Of thousands, remain concealed from
the public until periods Of public agita.
/ ton, when party wre-pullers, finding II
advisable to foment excitement, supply
| funds TO call out the masses Funds
alone would not, however. evoke process
/ sicns in Hyde Park. nor enthusiastic
| crowds in the great halls The working
/ mems clubs can only be manipulated OF
the lines Of their own tendencies.
Selecting four Of the most notable OF
these clubs, inquiries revealed the fact
that there was an entire absence of ex-
| element, and only mild interest in the
/ situation
While keenly alive to home politics
the average intelligence of the working.
men who are members Of these clubs does
not extend TO Great Britain's foreign re-
lations. The Monroe doctrine especially
is a hieroglyphic to them, bur they are
| svmpathizers with America. and their be-
| lief in the justice of the American Gov
errment is profound.
To sum no the result OF conversations
had with several of the best informed
| members Of the clubs. IL may be said
that the opinion IS that the men must
! learn more about the causes Of the
/ quarrel before there will be the smalles,
chance Of their responding to party ap-
| peals for demonstration for or against
the government
PRESS ENLIGHTENMENT
The recognition Of the primary neces-
| sity for the spread Of information on the
subject has led the London weekly
| papers which have a purely popular cir
culatiOn, TO set themselves. in their is
sues to-day to enlighten their readers
one of these papers having a weekly
issue Of 10000 copies, precedes its arti.
Gle with the admission that many Eng
lishmen Will learn for the first time
| through President Clevelands message
that Great Britain has boundary dis.
| pute with Venezuela. which il then pro-
ceeds 20 explain.
The article concludes with an attack on
! Mr.. Clevelands action as calculated tC
! bring the principle of arbitration into
| contempt
Another of these papers, which has
an enormous circle OF readers in the
operative and manufacturing centres
likewise exp0unds the Monroe doctrine
and then uphoids President Cleveland as
being In the right in insisting upon ar
! biuation
II. however, denounces the arrogant
| pretensions OF the United States that Ia
no part Of America shall any one sci
foot except with the permission Of tbs
| curious gang Of corrupt politicians IN
| Washington"
The paper adds: Grant Ireland home
rule. and We shall hear little OF IN,
! Monroe doctrine"
Another Radical workingmans paper
holds that IL is impossible for the public
10 support a war on the question Of th'
! boundary Of British Guiana or for teach
ing Uncle Sam" better manners.
II recalls how Lord Palmerston playe,
| the "cvis Romanus sum- doctrine FOL
all IL was worth, TO get on good term.
with the crowd. when his name was IL
lll-fav0r at court and among his col
| leagues.
Mr.. Cleveland, It says. Is using tbs
| Monroe doctrine In similar manner, a.
the lass dodge of a beaten party 70 rais'
! smoke and destroy ill-feeling.
BRITAIN CANNOT SUBMIT.