The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-12
SATURDAY, MARCH l., 1saS.


II was rather a remarkable coincidence
that while We were writing our article
-, Yesterday ON England and America
h.,ng found nghtirg Russia, Germany ana
France together for tine freedom ot chi
nose trade TO the whole world. 90 member
Of tho House of Commons ion England
.bo,ld have been making the speech ln
mat body which was reported IN ycstei-
davis Times. Hon. Herbert Valentine
ppncombc. Conservative member OF the
House gave notice that he would ask the
ministry whether. with the views OF rec
oenising the identity of the interests oil
ni English speaking people, Her M1Je7-
rvs government would consider the adj
Visibility OF placing the services of the
British fleet at the disposal of the United
states in the event of complications ice
tween the United States and any foreign
power. Mr.. Duncombe did not put the
question because. in conference with
friends it was thought inopportune. Tie
gave the folowiur explanation of his
failure 20 put b..
after consultation with my friends. ]
decided that the exact form OF the Ques-
tion made 10 -iuopportune 90 put IT, ~
was framed owing 10 the wldely-heId
opinion I'M the House of Commons thal
II IS high time the foreign powers should
De- told i'm unmistakaDle terms mat any
blow struck at either Great Britain or the
United States was equally a. blow nc lhe
other. was profoundly convinced OF
this to-day. Many more members 'n""
imposed would do So came 10 me Do
order 90 say they heartily endorsed my
question. ! am convinced the government
would have desired TO answer my pro-
posed question afirmatively ana would
have done so had 1t not involved other
considerations beside expressing what l
believe the present government sincerely
h~olds-that i'm the face of foreign compli-
cations the interests i'm the future of
Great Britain and the United States are
,nseparahly intertWined. To-days eX-
nression and endorsement We Will event
nate so soon as We can frame the ques-
ton in the exact terms which clearly
express the feeling of the House OF Conn
mons-that any trouble threatening the
United States viii be shared 10y Great
Britain
Tho cabled report OF the matter added
that other members of the House of
Commons. who were interviewed, al
spoke in a similar strain.
We have said in the beginning Of this
article that it was rather a remarkable
coincidence that we should have heel,
preparing our article of yesterday at The
very moment this Enslishman was say
Ing what We have quoted. But It is only
an evidence that what was in the minds
Of both Of us. is i'm the minds OF the great
body Of the people OF both England and
America. Thoughtful mel in both coun-
tries see clearly enough that the inter-
ests of both countries Die along The same
paths and are. in fact. identical. We
have the same language. the same free
dom I'm religion. the same literature.
the same laws. and our business IS SO
Infinitely intcrtwined that Il would have
been like tearing the Siamesc twins apart
10 pun ms asunder But. above ail. both
people have il in mind to a a peopio
OF whom every one shall stand before the
law as the equal Of every other one. We
inherited that blessed democratic idea
from our English ancestors, they have
developed IL assiduously ever since We
separated from them, and with as il has
come to be the cornerstone Of every in
stitution that we have. II is inculcate6
upon man by the Christian religion. all
true civil liberty must be founded upOn il.
and as II Is spread abroad amongst man
kind the arts and sciences grow. mans
position IN nature Is rendered more and
more tolerable. civilization is improved
and the happiness OF tho human race is
Increased. The English and the Amorl-
can people have II In mind 10 bring al the
world 10 m acceptance OF this blessed
democratic principle. while an other peo-
pies. split uD into classes hat have
their special principles Tor each. are fight
lng 10 maintain their special privileges
and 10 restrain the spread Of this true
idea Of democracy.
The contest which IS now threatened IN
the East over the freedom OF Chinese
SraSe rs nothing bat the cid lontest be-