The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-19
John Bull Nay Find Thai GermaDy'S
Joke is a Serious One.
THE EMPEROR'S INTENTIONS IN CHINA
Not Known at Present But the Founding
of Second India is suggested--The
Parting Speeches at KieI Ridiculed
by the British Press.

will penetrate to John Bulls marrow a.
he reads Of it."
AS matter Of fact, John Bulls frs
impulse has been to split his sides will
laughter over farcial melodrama, suci
as no coming Christmas pantimine car
attempt TO rival
THE ENGLISHMAN LAUGHS.
When the Kaiser talks of Stalking my
only brother" and calls Heaven to wit
ness how the German Michael has firmly
planted on Chinese soil the shield, en-
blazoned with the imperial eagle. in or
der 10 ahord protection once for all e
him who appeals for it; the Englishmar
rudely laughs. lie recalls that the Ger
man Michael IS the mildest hammered
OF young men, the idol of his grand
mamma, who il taking what even a
half-seasoned sailor would regard as a
pleasant cruise with one 10000 ton,
twenty-thrse old battleships and one
cruiser. in order TO secure coaling sta
ton which practically already has been
ceded, over which no one dreams OF hear
ing a single shot fired. The mild-man-
nered yoUng man eulogies his cwn broth
er with most serene Ford. our Master
for ever, Hoch, Hoch, Hoch:" the gospel
OF your Majestys hallowed presence q"
etc. Blunt John Bull seriously asks
! himself whether these young people have
not altogether lost their wits
Indeed. the Saturday Review to-day
| builds up an argument that William
the Witless,' as IT used TO call him, has
now gone stark. staring mad. and it is
| certainly TO he remembered that, by the
| unalterable etiquette OF the German
court. the Emperor must himself have
read Prince Henrys words beforehand
METHOD IN MADNESS.
To closer students Of European affairs.
! however, there seems much method In
| his madness. The average Englishman
who is laughing loudly to-day probably
will be puzzlng his brains next week as
to whether the German craze for naval
| power is not a thing to be reckoned with.
IL may have been more than a mere
joke when, in talking TO Count Zachy,
the Emperor said:
you should visit China; by the time
you get there you will md Prince Henry
Emperor OF China"
Why should Emperor William not
found a second India for Germany in
China as means OF imperial aggran-
dzement and OF avertng the social revo-
luton threatened at home?
he Spectator diates on this view to-
dav and Is quite prepaid perhaps even
20 welcome the German Emperor as the
acknowledged master and opener TO civil
lizauon and foreign trade OF the richest,
best populated and quietest section Of the
Chinese empire Kiao Chou. with its
harbor and Hinterland. which Germany
Is anxious to secure. is as large as Wales
and full Of people. II IS capable Of YIELD
Ing a substantial revenue and OF be-
coming the stepping-off place for the ac-
qulsltlon OF the central division Of China.
The possibilities win come home 10 John
Anticipating that time and taking adj
vantage OF the state Of mind, bordering
on frenzy. 10 which German trade has
reduced no small section OF the British
people, the naval league, whose one de- |
sire ia FOR increased armlx1ant. has sent |
20 London editors a document marked |
"Private and confidential" begging them |
20 awaken the public 20 the peril Of the |
"Deadly enemy, silently, steadily. and |
stealthily preparing 10 strike England |
down" In the end they will succeed. |
FOR so soon as the German Emperor gets |
his naval vote through the Relchstag, and |
that seems the most obvious purpose OF
these Kiel antics. so surely will the cyy
20 up for a proportional increase OF the
British nav'."
SUGAR INTERESTS.
LONDON Dec. H-The Indications
point 10 n passage in the Queens speech
at the opening Of Parliament. referring
10 the sugar interests Of the colonies. IL
will probably announce that the govern
ment has decided to.propose a conference
" the powers interested I'm sugar boun-
les IL Is understood that the govern
ment IS prepared 10 announce at such a
conference tiat unless tho bounty system
IS abandoned. Great Britain will impose
duties.
The colonial Office has baen e-raotf,, a.,
rciscd since the West Indian commission
reported and since tho Reichstag's dis
'ussion in which Herr Relchster admits
hat Great britain follows the lead Of the
initcd States and taxes bounty sugar.
he death knell Of bOuntes would be
ounded.
Signs are not lacking that both Ger
many and France are anxious 10 abolish
he bounties. but neither will abandon
hem 50 long as the other IS free 10
maintain them and 50 mOnopollze the |
,nglish market. The objections OF the 1
rec traders TO a protective measure will
robably be overcome By guarantee
hat the duties will be removed as soon
s the bounty IS abolished.
West Indian planter writes 10 a :
riend in London saying: 8
IF the standard Of rebellion Is raised !
n favor OF an alliarce with the United q
tates, I will volunteer forthwith We J
we all our sufferings 70 the imperial
and II is high time II was q
nded. England Will have a rude awaken
lg"
ENGLAND'S FAILURE.
The reverses suffered by General West
facotts Brigade In the Bara Valley is
! the nature OF a disaster When tho
uphemsms are translated the story ap-
ears 10 he that the most powerful force a
yer sent 10 the border has been bundled q
NJ OF Afrid'land neck and crop On top "
T this comes the news that II IS the in 9
'ntion OF Sir William Lockhart. the y
ritish commander-in-chief. 70 invade the q
ountry in another direction.
The reasons are obvious. The govern
ent feels that something must be done
,rthwith % retrieve British prestige and n
ie Rhibe Pass road. which the Alrldls
closed about six months ago" will prob p
BY be comparatively easily reopened. \
In the meanwhile the worst impression Il
rs been created IN Great Britain by the II
iteration OF he statement that the rank -
al fle OF AZ least four British regiments n
low decided lack of pluck in the pres Of
zee of native regiments. An officer at
10 front writes: a.
'The worst IS that the native troops -
ave seen the cowardice OF their white
,mrades. and they state openly that n
~ Tommy Atkins" Is rude 20 them g.
,reafter they will hammer him: and the -,
vfuI thing is that thev can do So" =,
N Is obvious that II the natives lose d.
cir respect for British courage, Great NJ
stains hold on India Is most precarious 4 is