The times., 1898-02-04
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1898.
Am erica ana England.

Where is arbitration? We are called
upon to ask this question because, al
though Mr. Cremer is still supposed to
be in the country and weeping in a sort
of way Tor cur wicked indifference 10
the burning love of our British kindred.
arbitration seems to be kind of doll
from which the sawdust has largely
.e>uded.
But we are permitted to live in hope.
The complete defeat Of the British lion
IN Asia is likely to make him feel that
he must gain compensatory damages in
the Western Hemisphere. If he can
get cut of his present difficulties moth
ing would be more natural than for
him to seek comfort by aggressions on
this side OF the water. In other words
il Great Britain can escape the neces-
sity of war with Russia, and succeed in
suppressag the discomfort in India, the
next step normally would be to attempt
politico-commercial adventures in this
country.
1t may he some time before our Brit
ish cousins can place themselves in a
position free handed enough to antago-
nize us openly. But the very isolation
and eyolusien of their situation as re-
CARDS the great powers of Europe rem
ders it certain that. once they can rid
themselves of the dangers of a Euro
pean war and internal rebellion. they
viii tuIn their attention TO the one field
in which il may be presumed they will
not meet the active opposition Of Rus
sia, France and Germany, and that is Ia
Central and So1th America.
1t need not be supposed that because
England is in hot water abroad that the
diplomacy and money of that power is
not being employed to thwart American
ambitions in the Pacific and in connec-
tion with the Nicaragua Canal. 1t is
fortunate for us that the antagonisin Of
our old and tried friend. Russia. Just
now is overpowering British influence
in China, thereby keeping our chief
commercial and political enemy busy
for the moment. But if Russia were
eliminated from the problem, it is next
to certain that we should find obstruc-
tions to cur policy in the matter of
Hawaii and the interoceanic canal
more difficult to overcome than they
appear at present
As matters stand, the conspiracy of
the British political and financial power
to destroy the Monroe doctrine. Ameri-
can ownership and control of the Nicar-
aqua Canal, and our possession of
the Key Of the Pacific" is not difficult
to overcome. Fortunately, in these re-
spects, the Administration seems to be
with the American people. For that
reason the individuals who are irving
to prevent ratification of the annexation
treaty, and all that 1t implies to the
future of America, are badly handi-
capped. Their personality is known.
and their movements are being watch
ed with the assiduous attention which
a very efficient national secret service is
eminently capable Of
But arbitration is not dead, it only
sleeps. Our revered friends Cremer
who started the idea in 1891, and Sir
Julian Pauncefote and Lord Lionel
Rothschild, have it up their distin-
guished sleeves, to spring upon us at a
convenient season. 1t is a nice and
be an immeasurable boon to Great !
Britain. 1t would shut off the posi- /
bility of trouble from this quarter ana 1
relieve the Queens mind of any fear
that we might, some time. come to an I
understanding with our natural friend. +
the Car, to guaranty the Western +
Hemisphere from European aggression. /
in return for our good offices in other
respects. We must not forget that /
while England is fortifying against us
all around the continent. and opposing
our interests in everything tending to
our national expansion, Russia is keep
ing our enemies busy and allowing us
the chance Of a century to get in our
work.
Such a situation is several dimen-
slonsbetter than commercial and politi-
cal annexation to Great Britain by the
way of hypocritical arbitration treaty.