The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-17

In the Near Future.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-[Special. 1t
Is impossible to give a truthful picture
of events behind the scenes in this capital
without calling attention to the fact that
prejudice against England is playing "A
large part in the apparent unwillingness of
the senate to ratify the general arbitration
treaty between this country and Great
Britain. There is such prejudice deep
down in the minds of our prople, as every
one knows. 1t is having its manifestation
| among the statesmen in congress. There
are indications that this traditional hatred
of England Is not as keen or bitter as It
was years ago. 1t has been softened by
time and by commercial and social rela-
tions between the two peoples But it still
exists and is having it's effect upon the
minds of the men who hold the fate of the
arbitration treaty in their hands. Senator
Morgan of Alabama is perhaps the most
conspicuous exponent of this prejudice.
With him 1t is more than a tradition. Mr..
Morgan believes, as much as he believes
that he is alive that England is constantly
plotting against this country. He finds evil
dences of her activity in Nicaragua, where
she is trying, Mr.. Morgan says, to get
foothold with view to the day when the
isthmian canal will DO dug. Not alone
here, but everywhere, Mr.. Morgan thinks,
England is trying to get the best of us, and
he offers many good reasons for the faith
that is in him.
A View on the One Hand.
Senator Morgan is not alone in this be-
lief. Another distinguished senator and a
member OF the foreign relations committee,
too, told Inc today that in his opinion Eng
land was attempting to overreach the
United States in every possible way. eng
land, said he, sis just as eager for territory
and for commerce as she ever was. She
lives upon such acquisitions. To gain them
is her national, her deliberate, her avowed
policy. Today while negotiating general
treaty of arbitration with this country she
is strengthening her navy every month.
Only few days ago 1 read that she had
authorized the construction of five new lat
tleships, each to cost about So, 600, 900
when finished, and that 10, 900 more sailors
and marines were to be added to her navy
Almost daily we have evidences of
Great Britain's activity in the work of
building up Notifications, coaling stations
opening of steamship routes all around
and about us. If her activities were con-
fined simply TO the old world, we should
not mind. But they are not They have
reference to future control of this hemi-
sphere as well us the other Is il any won
der that we senator's hesitate to plunge in
to a general treaty of arbitration without
first looking very carefully into what it !
may mean in the future?"
Contrary Opinion.
There are many other senators who hold |
just the opposite view They are con-
WINGED that England desires only peace |
with the United States, and that the arbi- |
tration treaty is an earnest of her pacific |
intentions. They point out that England |
expects ere long to be compelled to SO to |
war with one or moro of the nations of |
Europe, and that peaceful base line in |
this direction is one of the absolute neces-
sites of her situation. We feed England |
If all the remainder of the world should be |
cut oil from her by war and by the activ-
lty of opposing fleets, she could still de- |
pend upon America as her granary. Ac-
cording To the men who hold this view,
Great Britain's great aim at the present |
time Is an assured peace with the United |
States. That fixed, she will with lighter
heart meet such responsibilities as arise |
from her relations with the remainder of |
the world.
1t is the duty of correspondent, as / |
view 1t, to photograph the opinion of the
men who make our policies and our laws
and this am trying to do impartially. To |
return for moment to the other side Of
the contention, the northwestern senator's
l find, are generally suspicious of England's
Intentions concerning the Alaskan bound
airy. They say England is not acting in
good faith with this country there and
that the treaty recently negotiated by Sec
rotary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote
does not go to the heart of that question
at ALL One of the northwestern senator's.
Mr. Mcbride OF Oregon, says he will ask
the senate to adopt nm amendment to the
arbitration treaty, requiring that when
ever n boundary dispute arises between the
two nations the settlement and acquisition
OF rights in the disputed territory shall
cease.
An Effective Influence.
There is no denying that general preju-
dice against England still exists at this
capital. One comes upon it on every hand.
There Is politics in it too. Often 1 meet n
senator who Is opposed to the arbitration
'S"eyt "'N "lOh hnu tnuU ne Is
of his Irish-American constitu-
ents. Senators say the Irish Americans are
almost to man opposed to arbitration ar
with England. suppose this
sort of prejudice is bred in them and that
many more generations will be required to
get it out, il it ever does come out. What
ever the right or wrong of 1t may be-and
with that we have nothing to do-the fact
remains that our Irish-American fellow
citizens-and good citizens they are, too,
and many of them-arc i'm quiet but none
the less effective way exercising great
deal of influence at Washington at this
juncture in the affairs of nations.
1t Is also my duty as a conscientious cor
to report that the sympathy of
the American people with the struggling
Cubans Is rapidly increasing here. For
time It was stiIled because of feeling that
the time had not come for overt action, and
that 1t would not be wise to recognize the
of Cuba as the first step. But
since the PRONUNCIATION of the alleged Span.
Ish reforms in Cuba and General Gomez's
statement Of the aims and pur-