The sun., 1896-09-22

Tho Conse quences OF SaiisburY's Attempt
to Distract English Attention.

70 OIbtFhct AttehuOu.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: The enor-
nous development of England's naval ar
maments which has been going on during
tho last ten years was not originally ELL
tered upon from any necessity existing at the
time. but a measure intended to diver. the
attention of tho English people from their own
internal affairs and tho consideration of the
political reforms urgently demanded, especial
ly in tho land laws. Tho Landlord party was
In power, and naturally was not disposed to
assist those agitating for radical alterations of
the laws affecting the tenure OF land, primo
genture. and tithes; while the movement for
home rue for Ireland had received n tempo
rary check. That was in 1886. Something had
to be done to keep the British public occupied,
and as nothing presented itself at home which
they could safely handle. the Tories raised the
cry of England In danger" and the word was
posed among the Tory journals to work the
oracle on taat line. But somehow IL did not
take, for tho people had heard It before whom
they knew no danger existed, and it was also
pretty well understood that It meant the ex-
penditure of large sums of money. which would
necessarily como out of their pockets. Lord
Salisbury. finding that the old boRie cry would
not work, played another card, after the man.
ner OF a desperate gamester.
He sent one day for Lord Charles BereSford,
who is known oil the world over for dashing,
gallant sailor, and just the sort OF man TO enter
fully into the spirit of such a mission as was
about to be confded to him. Having received
his instructions, Lord Charles proceeded to Ber-
lin, where he obtained an audience of Prince
bismarck and received an invitation to dinner.
Over the wanuts and the wine Prince Bis
marck was made fully acquainted with the de.
tails OF Lord Salisbury's requirements, and
seems to have entered into the matter with 80
,nrh1 1anI IN hnU
thought II would have raised some suspicion IN
Lord salisbury's mind that after all he was not
his card he had to let the game go on.
Duly primed. Prince bismarck made an op.
Visit, 70 bring up a question in tho German
Relcht tag, which enabled him TO launch out
on the danger incurred by any country that
made to bleed white. ESPECIALLY did he warn
rying trade, that unless she made prepSra-
the danger OF being reduced 10 the status OF a
third or fourth rate power, Tho echo OF ths
tocsin sounded in Berlin. well seconded By
the cries OF alarm raised by the Tory reptile
lie into supporting the Salisbury Govern
ment in starting naval expenditure that Is
adding seriously to the buruens OF the coun-
try, and threatens TO combine EuropeHn
league against England.
Prince Bismarck csnnot te blamed for ptiliz'
with 10 he was able TO strike both France and
England by giving the latter good start In
extravHgant expenditure that in the nature OF
things would react on other countries espe-
clally France, which Is now running England
close in naval expenditure and the rapidity
with which she is turning out ships Rus
sia also has Joined In the race of naval con-
structiOn, aud, what Prince Bismarck perhaps
did not fOresec. Germany herself has heen
drawn into the same course of playing the
game of beggar my neighb"r on the water as
we'll as on the land. To the little gaze" ar
ranged at Berlin be ween Prince Bismarck
and Lord Salisbury's emissary may be traced
the necessity under which the United States