The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-26
A FRIEND OF NO ONE.
Yet England Is Surprised That
All Hate Her.
A VERY DlsAGREEABLE PERSON.
Great Britain Made Enemies Without
knowing IL, But Is Finding Out
With q Vengeance.


mand column or half column Of space in
newspaper takes retrospective glance
al the events of the year and breaches
honily. Everything OF contemporaneous
and hurnar- interest is reviewed with judi
cisl gravity and an air OF solemnity. Ev-
erything is grist that comes 10 the moral
lists mill on the last day of the year-the
affairs OF nations. the movement or poll
ties, the course of trade, the disasters of
shipping. the vicissitudes Of stock specula-
ton, the progress OF literature. art and re-
ligion, the tendencies OF the drama and the
fortunes OF the sporting world. There is
only one mystery of the year that battles
the critical acumen Of the reviewers. 1t is
the recent revelation OF American hostility
to England. Everywhere Englishmen are
asking: Why do so many Americans dis
like US when We are conscious or no other
feeling toward them than that or good
WHIP" Whether the Englishman be
Journalist with his homily 10 write for the
close OF the year. or only an idle talker
gossiping with friend in a quiet corner,
ne finds ii difficult to explain this mystery.
American unfriendliness to England
and in using the phrase / refer 10 what is
probably a minority sentiment-ought not
to excite so much establishment as 1t does,
in view of the fact that Englishmen are
disliked in some other countries. For ex-
ample, the French do not like the English.
French dislike OF everything English is
shown in hundred ways. The English
man IS conscious OF a fall in the social tenn
perature whenever he crosses the channel.
There is large and fourishing American
colony in the French capital, and it is over
whelmed with social attentions and dis
ports itself without suspicion Of disfavor.
The English colony is smaller. less infiu-
entail, and in a less congenial atmosphere.
Many causes may be assigned for French
dislike OF the English, ranging all the way
from the survival of traditions OF the Ma
poleonic wars to jealousy excited by the
purchase OF the khedive's canal shares and
the permanent occupation of Egypt. With
these / am not concerned, but only with
the fact, which is indisputable, that the
Epglishman is not liked in France-s IN
deed, this feeling OF national antipathy Is
so strong that the closest observers, when
they forecast a future European war. in
variably mention England and France as
the probable contestants.
Russian Animosfty,
Then there is the Russian, who does not
seem to like the Englishman too well. For
a year or more, as today's reviewers tell
us, there has been concerted action on the
part of the European powers for the pur-
pose of putting an end to misrule, raplne,
atrocity and massacre in the sultan's do
minions: and at one time the British
prime minister was threatening him with
loss of empire, and forecasting the parti-
ton Of Asiatic Turkey; but it has ended
in a CHASTITY travesty of practical states
manship and the moral force of Christen-
dom has been paralyzed. How Is this dis
astrous, discreditable failure of diplomacy
TO be explained? England was out-man-
euvered by Russia, say the reviewers.
Russia, having lost Constantnople once
through the Intervention of England, was
determined to defer through secret intrigue
~ fFsn
claims for the possession of the coveted
prize could be clearly recognized and sane
toned The moralsts may be right or
wrong in their summaries of the diplomacy
OF 1895: but 1t is undoubtedly true that the
Russian harbors resentful feeling toward
the Englishman
Evidence from similar sources may be
produced to prove that the German is the
Establishments most energetic and success
full rival In controlling the commerce o. the
world. In cotton. iron and nearly every
other branch OF manufacture he Is com
peting sharply with England, and he Is an
active trader in all the markets or the
world, selling his goods in China, Japan.
South America and the East and West
Indies at prices which render competition
most arduous He is Jealous of the En-
glishman's commercial prestige, and very
angry whenever he Is himself put at dis
advantage in trade in any portion OF the
world. The German is phlegmatic, but he
grows red in the face when he IS called an
EngIishman's friend.
A curious illustration OF his feeling to-
ward England has been witnessed this
week revolution seems 10 be fmpend-
ing in the Transvaal, where the Uitlanders
outnumber the Beers three TO one, yet are
debarred from the exercise or ell constitu-
tlonal rights, and cannot obtain efficient
police regulations. sanitary laws and edu-
RFt-
over the South Africa republic will be the
Interior aim of the revolutionists; and al
ready the German press gives warning
that any internal complications affecting
the present form OF government In the
Transvaal will seriously disturb the reia-
tions of Great Britain and Germany with
the storm signal flying in Berlin, the Brit
Ish government knows that II must act
circumspectly and cautiously in South
Africa as well as in Venezuela.
The Englishman IS more popular In italy
than he is anywhere else on the continent;
but he can hardly be said TO he favorlte
even there Indeed, in view OF the strong
prejudice which he seems to have excited
among the leading nations OF Europe, u Is
not remarkable that he should have
aroused dislike among certain classes In
America. He has only 20 look around him
on his own continent In order 10 realize
that he has many unfrlendly critics and
outSpoken enemies
England startled and Surprised.
The sudden disclosure OF a marked feel
Ing of unfrendliness toward him In that
part az the world where the Enghshman
was not looking for enemies has had thu
effect OF 4 startling surprise He felt kind
" toward Americans. Notwithstanding
their infatuation over protection and their
queer ideas about bi-metallism. and he has
been astonlshed by the apparent willing
ness OF many OF them 10 rush Into war
with him over what he considered a
trumpery boundary dispute 50 far from
wishing for war himself. he can hardly
tolerate the bare mention or H. so frs'ri-
C'dat. so horrible, so unnecessary does II
SCENT Yet under the pressure or excite
rent caused BY the presidents message
a very strong war feeling was suddenly re-
veaIelf and nv his own admission he has
been amazed hv the depth and bitterness
OF f. The existence % this feeinS IN
quarter Of Christendom where ne nad
fanc.ed that he had TO enemy-fxcep' an
occasional rr'shman-is for MIN the mex
plicable mystery Of the year.
must dlsclaim any desire 70 riiicule
Tohr puU as a very eisagreeaole person.
who "a disliked arst Of all because every
ho,iv owes him money ard nnds MN nara
creditor. snd secondly because ne - neht
upon having his owH way N 'he stHaAeS'
details and Is never N1ilhS 10 Eiss w
.ny-.ht1~ mon which he has once laid MS
go -rn.. Is .he traditional Englishman
zvhon, strangers ind Il difficult 20 TecoS-
nize either IN the courtly host who enter
,ains them with simple. u1aNected nos
Vitality. or IN the attentive. diHeTeuuai
.~ssaznan- vho serves them - the SHOPS,
or in the civl policeman, who answers
their questions ana points ont me way ioF
them in the streets with unfa}3nE good
49, n