The herald., 1897-05-26
THE WANING OF THE BRITISH
INFLUENCE

ain in European affairs was well-nigt
absolute, and her power was recognized
and yielded to for half century. Prior
to that time that country had entered
upon career of territorial and CONNER
cial aggrandizement, and when she
achieved the first place in. influence
among European nations there was de-
veloped in the British mind an extraor-
dinary spirit of enterprise and adven-
ture in extending her territorial acqui-
sitions and her trade.
AS her dominions and her commerce
increased, the character OF the British
government and people deterioriated. in
that cupidity gradually became domi-
nant over high and humane principles
The British government is Of mixed char.
acter, being monarchical. aristocratic
and popular. The last-named influence
is claimed to be controlling within cer-
tain limitations. Through her aggran-
dizing policies there has arisen powe:
greater than throne, lords and commons
1t is power that dictates the policies Of
the government and gives character to
the public conscience. 1t is the power OF
the olgarchs OF wealth. The govern
hment adopts peace or war policy at
the dictation of that power. All of Great t
Britain's wars and diplomatic efforts
have one object only, and that is to en-
hance the interests of her merchants.
manufacturers, ship-owners and money
lenders. On no international question
| does the British nation sustain the cause
of liberty, humanity or Christianity to
the detriment of the material interests
Of the British people.
This explains her course in regard to
Armenia and Greece. The Christian
world has expected sympathy and active
efforts on the part of the British goverc-
ment and people in behalf of Christian
civilization, but disappointment has
been a common experience. It has come
to this, that the friends of humanity and
progress place little reliance on British
support.
On the eastern question the Turk has
been able for a half century to control
the action of that government. Within
that time the British have twice gone to
war to protect and save the Ottoman
empire for the purpose Of retaining the
borrowing patronage of the government
and the commercial patronage of the
Ottoman people. Egypt is in British
receivership to collect debts which the
British capitalists induced a profiigate
khedive to contract, and the sultan has
consented to that proceeding in consid-
Grafton Of the services which the British
government has rendered him and which
are expected to be rendered in future.
In preserving Egypt for the Turk, treas
ure and blood have been freely expended
by the British government
A greater number Of Mohamedans are
subjects of Great Britain than Of any
other. government. To collide with the
Turkish power it is feared might pro-
woke the caliph to declare holy war
against British power which would in
volve her in India, Egypt and other
Asiatic countries, and in some of her
African dependencies, and which would
impair, if not destroy. her commercial
monopoly in vast and most important
fields. AS the money power controls the
British government it is emasculated Of
high motive, and the character of both
government and people has become de-
Perforated.
Russia and Great Britain have been
rivals for domination in the east for
many years. The latter has been able
to check the former through the use Of
money in subsidizing cabinets, a fact
recognized by the Muscovite, and lat
terly the Russian government has adopt
ed the policy Of boarding gold that it
may be able to contend with its rival
with the same kind of weapon. The
Russian government possesses quite
$500 900, 900 of gold, and is exerting Itself
to accumulate more. Independent of !
pecuniary resources Russia has been su-
perior to Great Britain in diplomatic
arts, and being strong with the Balkan
states, she now has more influence with
the Turkish government than Great
Britain. If Greece is saved from dis
memberment it will be through Russian
instead of British influence.
The decay Of British influence in Eu-
ropean diplomacy and its prospective
continuing decay may be traced to the
sordid policy which the oligarchs of
wealth have forced upon the govern
ment The sentiment Of the civilized
world is that Great Britain is false to
its high pretensions and that the relig-
ion of her people begins and ends in the
worship of Mammon.
The oligarchs of wealth have been
successful in controlling governments
they have subverted every popular gov
ernment since ancient Greece. Their
methods of attack are stealthy and they
manage to thrive in peace or war. They
we'll understand that the possessors of
the purse are more powerful than those
who hold the sword. They are thorough
students of money making and give no
thought to measures or policies which
benefit the masses, and they are able
financiers but ignorant in statesman
ship. The oligarchic is the most non-prO-