The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-19


- connected with Venezuela and the
,,-,,svaal signs were not wanting that
-. foreign policy of England was no
,.-rsr guided in the fashion. at once
80 and mastery, which had been char
...srfstic of English methods as applied
%. tba former. race of statesmen. There
- Giants in England in those days;
.toir successors are, in comparison. but
&c pvgmies. Her policy is now at the
- of events, which more capable man.
I-'-1ent would be able to control, or, at
80 to influence; she no longer seems to
- in view a definite end toward which
.To advances firmly and iniexibly by the
.., she has chosen for herself as that
aeleast resistance, overcoming by COM
lsration Of prudence and courage every
obstacle that interposes a barrier to her
f,rther progress. On the contrary, We
.eo her fling herself without reflection
INTO thoughtless and hair-brained adven-
+,,rss from the results of which she is
otia TO extricate herself only at the cost
Of her dignity and her honor as a nation.
Alternately rash and timid, at one mo-
,,on+ she makes an imprudent advance
20 he followed shortly after by a cowardly
and sisgraceful retreat; we find her stir
rinq IN needless difficulties for herself
NV taking up untenable positions which
she is soon obliged to abandon. Thus she
is continually exposing herself to checks
,bicb are not calculated to enhance her
Drestige or increase her influence. And
# is mainly upon the prestige Of former
davs that England depends in order to
maintain her position among the great
rovrers of the world. The loss of her pres
rI.r, a. "
cav what will be the result when the
statesmen, upon whom she relies to ad-
minister her affairs, seem quite unable to
foresee the results of the various steps
they take, when her course seems to de-
mend upon the little accidents of the mo-
lnent rather than upon any broad general
principles. A great and worldwide em-
hire If it is to have permanent exist
ence. must be administered in very dir
4 Striking instance of this inability on
the part of England to take a large-minded
view of things. embracing the distant flu
ture no less than the present moment, has
been furnished by her quarrel with Ven
e7uela Why did her statesmen not per-
ceive that in this little boundary dispute
there were present circumstances that
might involve her in serious controversy
with the United States a controversy that
might lead to a war in which her highest
interests, including her very existence;
There possibly be for such a useless dis
play OF obstinacy? Surely it would have
been sound policy to settle this misunder-
standing with Venezuela, while it was yet
time, in order not to furnish the United
States with any possible ground or inter-
ference. OF course, the commission re-
Gently appointed by President Cleveland,
composed as it is, Of men OF the highest
character, will perform the task allotted
to it in a prudent and conservative spirit
and will decide as justice shall require;
q .fafr. 1rnu
in this matter win be compelled to give
way to the wishes of the United states
and this will mean another wound to her
dignity, another check in addition 70 lhe
great number that has recently fallen to
her lot.
This applies also to the Transvaal where
the unexpected result of her action has
been to give rise to an understanding be-
tween Russia, France and Germany. 1t
is quite certain that in this matter Lord
Salisbury has been completely at the mer-
Cy Of circumstances which he was unaDle
either to fOresee or to control.
Moreover these are not merely Isolated
circumstances in recent English history
Indeed, within the past few years num-
berless have been the occasions on which
England has displayed the utmost lmpfu-
dence; she has committed mistakes with
& recklessness that seemed to border on
insanity and the result of all this has been
many a bitter disappointment. VINO can
reckon the instances when, after having
advanced she has been compelled TO re-
treat the instances when, having formed
elaborate combinations. she has seen them
end in the most ignominious failure. NO
one who has followed with attention the
diplomatic history of Great Britain Tor
the last few years will find anything sur
prising in the present situation; such per-
sons sons WI recognize rHaL f for Eneiands
present isolation and for the numerous
checks she has sustained. That cause IS
her continued occupation OF Egypt IN
violation of the most solemn engagements.
The scriptures tell us that, righteousness
eXalteth a nation England cannot with
justice lay claim to righteousness or lruIh-
luine5s as one of her qualities; by the
terms of her engageme her OcCupa-
ton of Egypt should have terminated
ion8 since. But, in defiance OF truth ana
honcr, she seems to have taken TOT ner
motto the Well-known Marshal McMa-
mons words at Malakoff: Here am
and here l stay"
For the purpose of turning the atten-
ton of the powers more directly concerned
from the question of Egypt, she has done
her utmost to create diversions OF nature
70 render them alarmed for their interests
elsewhere. France, in particular, has been
the object of her schemes, as clumslly
co2trlve ed as they were treacherous ana
ton the attitude of the English in regard
10 siam, the Congo, and that much more
!HI!schleYous policy by which she entered
Ill9 relations, more or less intimate, with
iiIaly their exact nature however,, being
Kept IN obscurity: her object, so FAR as
Ilaly was concerned, was evidently to give
6rOuildS 1or alarm to France ON the sue
Oh me Mediterranean, and thus to bind up
large portion of her naval and land
r9Iees Her policy can hardly be pro
nounced a success, and since the disaster
uLIcted upon the Italians by Menelick
o "eho received from the English supplies
vi Ines and cannons, the policy OF an
autdnce with England has fallen into
oeei!plete discredit in Italy. The attitude
oa England in regard to Turkey seems in
cured by similar sentiments. In Armenia
1lu, indeed throughout the whole Otto
1.aH empire, she has fomented disturb
crCes Which have resulted in the massa-
Ms o. TWO or three hundred thousand peo-
1g, mus she endanger5 the Ottoman en-
90 mus she raises again the eastern
ggoiGsuon, which may at any moment in
Cl l al Europe in war and precipitate
81, lIushter the most terrible the world has
seen, and all this in the hope that the
n 1s9qe lon OF Egypt may cease to be promi-
Wy, owing to the other matters that
0Uiu engross attention, and in the hope
t@5 having ct he- mercy Turkey,
a ann Is the suzerain Of Egypt. The firm
an tallce existing between France
W RUSSIA has foiled these
rIoo9aeeIaiiayellian designs, and the Eu-
b93pedn concert to which her conduct
hos given rise, has rendered powerless
r,,, isolaled action. Take again the course
v, eisGGeu by Great Britain in regard to the
Of oeiWeen China and Japan; it has been
piece With her in rppqrn