The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-02
Possible Contin yencies.


Should events take turn that
would make it for the interest Of Euro
pean nations to take a hand in this
Hispano- Cuban affair, in which we
have engaged, we may expect to have
presented as a Justification our own re-
versal Of the Monroe doctrine. That
distinctly declared that with the ex-
listing colonies or dependencies of any
European power Con this hemisphere
we have not interfered and shall not
interfere" The joint resolution Of con-
gress orders Spain to evacuate one of
her dependencies forthwith. We could
not. with good grace, refuse our own
prescription. AS a possibility the at
titude of European nations at this time
is of interest.
The affinities of race make the Latin
nations sympathetic with Spain. Blood
is thicker than water, and the kinship
that makes Britain side with us leads
France and Italy to lean towards
Spain. Austria's emperor feels the pull
of his relationship with the queen re-
gent and the young king. Russia, I'M
allied to either while additionally
terests. She might utilize the oppor-
tunity Of general row to force open
her back door and gain free access to
the Mediterranean. Germany, not the
least factor, presents a more complicat-
ed question. On racial grounds her
leaning should be towards us. Until
within the last week the tone Of her
press has been distinctly hostile to US
but this week notes a marked change
1t is said that it is due to an intimation
from government sources, but the uni
form note of anger in the press of
France and Italy has revealed to Ger
man editors that the roots lie deeper
than commercial interests, and that it
is the racial antagonism that underlies
all the conventionalities of peaceful
conditions that is at the base and that
it is the old conflict over again of the
Anglo-Saxon and the Latin
The conditions there are examined
at length by writer for whom
the New York Times vouches as
exceptionally we'll informed. The titled
and landed portion, the Agrarian ele-
nlent, are, as they have been for wears
distinctly hostile to us. A part of the
manufacturing class, who have felt ou1
competition. share the feelings of The
Junkers. These elements affect the
standing Of the press The Liberals
the great middle classes, who have al
ways been our friends, have been chill
ed by the insolence of our Dingleyism
cut, as whole, remain friendly.
But the one important factor is the
emperor, whom it has been the fashion
or our press to represent as an impetu-
Gus, headstrong, vain and Tightly fell
low, VINO wears a sword at table and
carvcs the roast with it. This writer
says that he 'is a good deal of a noli-
tlcian," and believes it better nolicJ
Tor Germany to be on good terms will,
the United States than with Spain. Jr
lpaS, as IN hundred other matters
ne SHOWS himself more astute than the
majority OF German public men" Or
the whole, the writer concludes thai
thus far we may consider that VIII.
helm is our friend today" But he
shares with those less astute than he
the apprehension of an alliance none
me less efhcacious for being tacit, OF
phe Engllsh-speaking peoples, and his
present fr1endliness is based more or
confidence that some other Vene.
zuela affair will spring up sometime e
give MIN his opportunity. The expan.
sion OF German commerce and her eff.
!orts at colonization have brought he,
INTO irritating competition with Great
bfltaln, and, should it come that Enc
land and the United States should ioir
liaHos IN any ENHANCEMENT growing o,,i
OF this war, Wilhelm might think tba1
his time had come. Should he throw
the weight of Germany in with tbf
1atills the situation would become very
interesting for us.