St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-09
A LARGER SHADOW.

The cloud raised upon the horizon
by the disagreement between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain as to
Venezuela and the application Of the
Monroe doctrine is obscured entirely
by the larger shadow of a pending
disagreement with Germany. This is
altogether a surprising and unexpected
incident The alliance of late years
between these two countries has been
drawn closer and closer. All sorts OF
civilities have been interchanged. TIE
German emperor has been entertained
with great pomp and show of respect
by the English; and the common I'M
Outstanding was that Great Britain re-
lied upon Germany, Austria and Italy
acting in common accord to hold in
check the hostility Of France and
Russia in case she should become en-
broiled in any other part of the
world. The course of recent events
shows that this confidence on her part
is wholly unfounded. They exhibit
Great Britain as standing alone, with
put a single real earnest friend in
the family of nations. 1t is not I'M
reasonable that this should be So.
Great Britain has been everywhere
the aggressor. When she has appar-
emily entered heartily into the plans of
any other nation, it was only a cover
for the furtherance of her own selfish
plans. In every part of the globe she
has been bent upon extending her own
territory at the expense of any one
who might happen to be the sufferer
for the time. She reaps the reward
of a policy which, though necessary
to her, because in harmony with her
national character, is yet short-sighted
and dangerous in the long run.
The situation as to Great Britain and
Germany today is immensely more
strained than that between Great Brit
ain and the United States. There has
been no distinctly hostile act on our
part. We have not even assumed that
the case between Great Britain and
Venezuela is settled definitely to the
OlSdQN ClillcSc VI Tic lOIIlSI. w Z ucNS
ony announced that we cannot agree
to claims which England puts for
ward in South America without in
vestigation for ourselves. If the COM
mission which has been appointed
shall report in favor of Great Brit
aims demand, that will be the end
of it. If it shall report to the con-
trary, the matter will still be open
for such adjustment between the two
countries as most people believe to
be far more probable than an outbreak
of hostilities.
The difference with Germany, al.
though of the shortest standing, is
acute. The claim of England to suzer
Rinty over the Transvaal republic has
not been, to our knowledge questioned
heretofore. The expedition which DR.
Jameson made against the Beers was
disavowed Immediately by the English
ministry. 1t was reported as an offensl
not only against the Transvaal bu
against the government of England
So serious was it esteemed that the
resignation of Cecil Rhodes, as premier
of Cape Colony was accepted withou
lemur. Notwithstanding the immenst
service that he has rendered in build
ing up the English power in South
Africa. Thus Great Britain did a.
once, whether she had previously beer
acting in good faith or not, all that la,
within her power to clear her skirt:
of responsibility for the filibusterins
expedition into the Transvaal. Here
upon Germany steps into the ring
ready for a fight. The first act wa.
the dispatch of Emperor William II
the president of the TransvaaI repub
lie, congratulating him on repelline
the invaders. While this was regarded
as an unfriendly act in England. i
went 10 further. 1t is now stated tina
the emperor has declared to the sec
rotary o. state Of the Transvaal tbs
he will not recognize any claim q
guzerainty by Great Britain over tha
republic.
1t will be far less possible for Eng
land to pass over this assumption of al
interest and an authority superior tt