The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
Regarded as Explosives That May
EmbrOil France and Britain in
War Almost Any Time.
QUEEN VICTORIA FOR PEACE
1T Is SAID SHE WILL NEVER AGAIN
sign A WAR DECLARATION.
Spanish Press Urging Alliance of the
American Latin Republics Against
the United States.
(copyrIght 18sS by the Associated Press,

| LONDON, Feb 19.--The danger of leaving
! explosives about in the shape of armed
| bands roaming in disputed spheres under
youthful ofF:c crs, has beer amply illustrated
| in West Africa, where the intermingling Of
| French ard British troops has already
| caused incidents which threaten the most
| grave complications. Happily, the positive
| instructions of both governments have thus
far been ubeyed and an actual collision has
| been averted. But the fuse is aight, ana
unless France withdraws from her provoca-
| tive attitude, or Great Britain continues the
graceful concession policy she has hitherto
observed towards the French claims. an ex-
! plosion is bound to follow.
Some explanation of the attitude OF
| France may be found in the desire OF its
| government to turn French minds from the
| inquisition that lola has provoked, while
| it must not be forgotten that the minister
for foreign affairs, M. Hanotaux, bears on
] his shoulders the burden of elections close
! at hand and has to face the tnreatenings
of the Colonial party to swamp the gov
| eminent if it shows the faintest sign Of
| yielding.
Next week the supplementary estimate of
e15O00 for the West African expenses will
| be presented to the House of Commons and
an interesting debate may be expected.
| Probably the most vital point is not the
possession of territory, but the freedom OF
| commerce. Where the French have occu-
pied the hinterand of British coast col
onies, the latter have been shut out from
| interior trade. In the present instance the
control of the Niger and the free naviga-
| ton of that great waterway as an avenue
| of trade for the world is at stake.
| Another batch Of thirty-six British ofn-
ilnd
to-day for West Africa, accompanied by
| immense quantities of war munitions. This
| critical situation on top of numerous pend
ing serious questions has rearroused appre-
! tensions as to whether the Marquis of
| Salisbury is inclined to unduly sacrifice the
interests of the empire.
| The debate on the address in reply TO
| the speech from the throne has finally been
| closed and when the House NETS again on
| Monday it will be to learn the provisions of
| the great measure of the session-the Irish
local government BILL The real business of
the session will then begin The public is
| impatient that something practical should
| be accomplished to reform and strengthen
| the army and to provid- additions for the
navy. The army estimates for the current
year saI 10 issued to-day total up E29SlS Sd
mands for increased expenditure.
|
There is a curious discussion in the Span
| ish press as to the possibility of confederat-
ing the Latin republics of South America
| with Spain against the United States. El
| Pals contends that the Spanish republics
are weak THROUGH isolation, and that il
united in a military and diplomatic alliance
they would be the first power in the world
in territory, the second in population, and
that their armies and navies would have
sufficient power to insure respect. The pa
pers point out that the jealousies of the
| publics prevent them from taking the in
itiative but Spain, it is claimed, ought to
| urge her lazy diplomats to approach the
| republics with the view of combining for
| the defense of Latin interests 'endangered
by the intrusion of the Anglo-SaXon."
| FL Pals thinks SPANS advice would not
| be discarded If she warned Latin America
against the United States adding: For it
is well known that the greedy Yankees,
| once the Panama canal opened to the
worlds commerce, will do all which their
perfidy can suggest to wrest it from the
j Latin countries of Central America, even
| as England seized the SueZ canal. Tending
in this direction is the desire of the Amer
leans to secure Cuba" In conclusion I'll
Pals says: THE advances of the United
| States in the sea of the Antilles are pre-
iminary steps in the blockade and occupa-
ton of the future canal"
Referring to Latin alliances the Spec
| tator, in a long article, points out that there
| is no doubt of the existence of special rea-
| tons between France and Spain, which
have lately been strengthened and says:
| There are well-informed people who he
lieve that when in the autumn the United
| States and Spain almost collided. the
| United States found there a stiffness
| in the Spanish attitude which could only be
| accounted for by the fact that Spain knew
| she could appeal TO a power which could
not neglect her demands for help" Con-
| belief that France allowed the United
States to understand indirectly that con-
| siderations of Importance to her would not
| allow n
| friendly manner and that a Spanish appeal
20 France must result in the latter's inter-
| vention. The Saturday Review believes this
| accounts for the way the United States
| shrunk from putting in practice the treat
ment Of Spain suggested in the original
| protests of the Washington government"
The Spectator explains that If France had
not not helped Spain the latter would have APP
almost certainty OF success.
Vice Admiral Makarow leaves st. Peters
burg to-day for England on his way to
| America where he proposes to pass some
time on board ice-breaking boats, in order
| to gather the latest American ''Wrinkles''
for use in the Cars frozen harbors
A confirmation of Queen victorias excel
| lent state of health is found in the official
| announcement that It is her Majestys inten-
ton to personally receive the presentees at
| the first drawing room of the season on
| Feb 70. Saturday next.
case which mas been heard by Justic
Hawkins is of interest to football players
| all over the world man was killed at
football and the prisoner was charged with
manslaughter and was convicted Justice
| Hawkins laid down his view of the law
| with unmistakeable clearness. He said that
| If man caused violence, whether willfully
| or by negligence, to another in such Wav
| as to produce death he was guilty of muir
| der and therefore trough players of this
| dangerous game must beware get into
! serious trouble. The judge added: las
| however, the prisoner has exhibited sincere
| sorrow and bears a good character | will
| discharge him on his own recognzance in
| $50 bail"
1t is asserted that considerable progress
has recently been made in the realization
of the fast-mail service with Canada New
arrangements have been completed by
which the mails will be carried over the
| Canadian Pacific Railroad to British CO.
| lumbiL for Australia and ii is said that five
u L.. - LIZ. l.A. l..a.r ...a. L..