New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-11
ANTHONY TROLLOPE on CUBA.


Continental critics Of Anglo-Saxon good feel
ing seem to think that it is something new for
an Englishman to look with favor on any az
gressive policy of the United States in the west
Indies or 10 regard the plea Of humanity as one
which nation should hear, and they profess 10
see in the complaints about intolerable cohdi-
tons in Cuba nothing but recent American in
ventlon. and in English sympathy with us only
| an interested move 10 secure much needed
ally
Perhaps It is rs natural that they should mis-
| read English as American feeling. countries
| used 10 alliance as IA mere matter OF selfsl III
tcrest can hardly 10 expected 10 realize thar IN
! ternatlonal friendship can be founded on any
thing else. They may have popular hates last
| ing far beyond the point Of profit. hui hys'erl-
| cal friendship such as the Partisan bouevards
! exhibit M times for Russia IS not founded on
any liking for MuscOvltes any appreciation or
the part they may play in the advancement OF
| civilization. but solely on the realization that
the Cars armies may become useful nstru-
mcnts of French hate or French policy But In
reality the sympathy of England with the Amer
lean attitude Is not new. and II is not founded on
interest but is due to the common Inheritance
of moral and humane views to the fact that
blood is thicker than water, and that temporary
iealousles and differences cannot obscure from
either people understanding that both are adj
vance agents Of civilization
The Cuban question is not new one II was
in cvervbody's mind when John Quincy Adams
carried on the negotiations which resulted III
President Monroe's famous message The Mon
roe Doctrine was as much the embodiment of
Englands wish TO our policy as orr own dec-
loratiou of IT, Canning suggested il. We adopted
IT, Our interest. our right of interference. was
fully recognized in English Cabinets. sun
later the Cuban question came forward as
definite problem wncn. in 1858. President Buch-
apan advocated In his message purchase OF
Cuba as the only way 10 avoid constant dlfiicui-
ties saving: our relations with Spain. which
fought TO be of the most friendly character
must always be placed in jeopardy whilst me
"existinC colonial government Of the island shall
"remain IN its present condition" While this
message was under discussion IN Havana An
thonv Trollope visited Cuba and II Is interest
Ing TO note how exactly his views thlrtynihe
years ago accord with those OF Intelligent Eng
hshmcn to-day. He did not Ike the wording OF
Mr. Ruchanan's message my better than some
modern Englishmen like every step in our re-
cent negotiations with Spain, hut that did not
blind him TO the essentials OF the situation, and
he wrote:
Looking at the question IN a broader point ~
view. in one which regards future axes rather
than the present time. one can hardiy refrain
from rejoicing at any event which VII! tend -
bring about that which IN itself Is so desirable.
There must be some stage in misgov'rn-
ment which Will Justify the interference OF ~
standing nations. in the name or humanity.
That ruc in he which fortGs man 70 como
between a husband and a wife IS good RUE.
But nevertheless who can stand ny quesccht
and see a brute half murder the poor woman
whom he should protect on inc "h"4e'
! cannot see how Engshmen can Tctrain from
sympalhizing with the desire - the United
States to become possessed u this fertile ISLAND.
But above all things. D. hrhO"tcS Us 10
ria ourselves ~ the Jealousy which fear ~ too
often feel toward American preienslon.
jonathan Is becoming humptious. no doubt.
And are the Amer. ans the hrst bump
tious people on record? Has no other nation
assumed its.lf 10 Do in advance u the world. -
be the apostle u progress. the fountain ~ in-
crtv. the rockspring - manly work II the
Americans We're not hump;ious. how Unlike
would they hc 10 the parent that bore them
Ny best wish FOR the island IS that IL
may speedily be- reckonei among the Rnncxa-
lions OF the United states.
For nearly forty years that disagreement
has gone on and AZ last the time 10 end II has
come II is inconcciyable that the better un-
derstanding between the two nations which has
grown up since the days when England looked
on America provincial and America had not
grown so big as 10 forget early contests should
not have made Anthony Trollopcs view the
common one. The two branches OF the race
may have differences, even angry moments, but
they are the differences and temper Of brothers
whose sympathy is deeper than interest, whose
common aims and aspirations are not due to al
lance but 10 blood. There IS nothing new in
British complacency toward present American
action.