The gold leaf., 1898-03-24

tiI' w '9t all tii'iF' 40 f'S i'ai wv
distinct issues. These questions are
now looked upon as interviewer fac
tors in a political situation which
threatens the peace of the world.
The decision of the point whether
this is true view rests solely with
President Mckinley. His power and
responsibility in shaping human
destinies is greater at the present
moment than has fallen to the lot of
any man in this generation.
There is danger that the attention
Of the American people may be too
much concentrated upon the Cuban
Spanish affairs with which they are
more directly concerned. Europe re-
CARDS these troubles as of little in
trinsic interest as compared with the
incalculable Importance to the whole
human race of the Titanic struggle
which threatens to involve all the
nations of Europe and Asia. The
worst outcome Of the Spanish-Ameri-
can difficulties will be brief war,
ing to gain except sense of dis
agreeable duty faithfully performed.
1t is a simple truism in politics to
say that vastly greater issues hang
upon the American policy with re-
gard to the fate of China than any
thing the United States may do con-
cerning Cuba and Spain. 1t is now
almost true that nothing short OF a
distinct and decisive American in
dorscment of the British policy in
the far East can avert a collision be-
tween England and her continental
rivals. say almost, because it is
not yet quite clear whether Russia
and France are convinced that Great
Britain is in earnest in her open
declaration that she will 90 to war
rather than permit the partition of
China or the closing OF the British
markets there. Their doubt, if it
exists, will soon be removed, for the
Salisbury government has taken
means to carry conviction to the most
skeptical diplomatists on this point.
Then, and the time cannot be long
DELAYED, the Franco-Russian attitude
will change or the war, which these
countries, by ltheir recent policy,
have almost been inviting, will come.
Most observers are inclined to be-
lieve that Russia will manage to
postpone the fatal day, for her
present unprepaedness despite her
ultimate intentions, is notorious.
On the other hand. if Great Britain
is convicted that the conflict is
inevitable sooner or later, it will be
greatly to her interest to force the
issue.
The British war preparations for
months past have been on vastly
larger scale and more thorough than
the present measures undertaken in
the United States. There is need of
no argument on this situation to de-
monstrate the vast Importance of
the American attitude. 1t is this
obvious Importance, probably. which
has given rise to free discussion of
an Anglo-Americap alliance in the
past few days, discussion which is
more prominent on your side of the
Atlantic. according to the cable dis
patches, than on this side. 1t should
be said unreservedly that there is
not the slightest expectation In Eng
land that any alliance will be
made to the present moment or
in the present situation. 1t is hardly
necessary to add the English denials
to those from Washington that Great
Britain has been so patronizing and
undiplomatic as to offer the United
States assistance in dealing with a
fourth-ratc power like Spain. 1t is
probably true that English public
opinion is more we'll disposed than
American toward an Anglo-Saxon
but even this country
is by no means unanimous in faver
of such consummation. The Eng
lish view OF the subject is not alto
get her selfish, for it is believed that
the United States, with its rapidly
expanding foreign trade. will profit
fully as much as England by co-opera-
tion in keeping open the markets of
the world. On the other hand with
regard to Immediate policy in China.
there is probably some danger in
retaliatorv action by the continental
powers in the Spanish-American con-
troversv against the United States
in case the latter supports Great
Britain in the far East. ANY such
action, no doubt. would lead Great
Britain openly to take the American
side, but it is impossible to estimate
the complications which might arise.
The problem before President Mo
kinlev, therefore, is one of great
difficulty, as we'll far-reaching conse-
quences In the estimation Of Europe.
A Clever Trick.
1t looks like it, but there is really