The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-07
THE WATCHFUL AMERICAN.

| Not for years nave the daily news
| papers been so interesting as they are
! today. The wars and rumors of wars
| the world over, excite a curiosity that
/ is widespread. The average Ameri-
can has in the last few weeks become
| intimately acquainted with the char
acter of an English premier, the name
| of a South American river, or local
ity in ConstantinOple. Few knew the
Essequibo from the Orinoco; few could
tell whether Pinar Ell Rio was pro-
vince in Cuba or some sort of French
delicacy; still fewer ever heard of Tire
bizond, or could tell whether the Oar
danelleS led into the Black Sea or the
Aegean. And still fewer knew that
our next neighbor, Canada, was EN-
broiled in politics, but nearly every
one knows now, because of the Ven
assured of a victory. People had
grown rusty on their geography. The
Transvaal was in Africa, but whether
it was near NADIA gaScar or Congo, the
to discover. The Uitlanders were, to
many, savageS, and DR.. Jameson might
have been a German or u SWede, for
all America cared.
All this interest and thirst for in
formation comes from the simple cir
cumstance that Americas has suddenly
launched herself into the international
field. This country having assumed
almost a protectorate over the western
half of the world, every American has
taken an active interest in America
as to its relations with foreign coun-
tries, their jealousies and combinations.
In the dispatches the average Ameri-
can noticed with supreme satisfaction
that the German emperor had congrat-
ulated a South African president, and
by that action rebuked England The
average American felt as much salts
faction and interest in that transaction
as if he We're chairman of the foreign
affairs committee himself. Local and
national politics of a domestic nature
have, for the first time in years, 10
share the time of the thinking Ameri
cans with the politics Of other coun-
tries. 1t means much TO America if
the next victory in England is Tory
victory, or if the English repudiate Sal
isbury. Political developments there
may save US Il fight or force US into
one TO make good our bluff. The fir
ing Of one hostile gun against this !
country would be the almost total OBJ |
scuration Of our own political Difficult !
ties.
Thre is a reason for all this interest |
in foreign affairs, and a very simple
reason too. The people, let the most !
rantankerouS partisan even admit, are |
woefully weary of partisan wrangle. |
The necessity of tariff schedules is sui |
recognized As Of prime Importance but !
the people are tired of quarTeling over /
whether that schedule is TO be three I
per cent Or four per cent Even Demo
Gratis concede that a protective mea-
sure is Necessary for revenue, II they 1
do not agree that it Is OF actual bene-
fit 10 the country. Having gained
their point, the Republicans are not
inclined 10 pick at tie Democrats
further. The financial question has
urtd a great many good people. On
both sides Those in favor OF silver
are content in knowing thar events
VIII force the recognition OF silver, just
as soon as they could force IL by sui
frage. And people being tired Of quar-
reling At home, have turned their al
ention ~ international affairs
So * Is that tie average American
today is great deal more anxious %
know Whist The Venezuelan commits
sson's report viii o.. than he Is 20 know
how the next platform OF the Republi-
can the Democrat or Populist party
viii read
4 Guthrie nan threatens 20 rpr1fy The |