Evening journal., 1898-04-30

cate the principles Of Meum and Teum,
Mine and Thine. But, then, war was
ever Englands favorite game as well |
ss her staple trade. England acquires |
territory. but she surrenders none. An |
Indian Prince, when visiting the Queen /
Of England, inquired as to the why and |
wherefore Of England's greatness. A /
copy of the Bible being close at hand |
Her Majesty placed her hand upon it, |
the meaning Of which action was |
doubtless TO convey to the mind OF the |
visitor that England's greatness was |
solely due to her adherence to Biblical |
principles. All this must have been |
very fine, very touching indeed. But |
when we remember that England's |
greatness was created not by follow
ing the Divine precepts of the Prince
Of Peace, but by drawing the sword and
grabbing land-when we remember all
this the mental stomach revolts and
experiences a decidedly nauseating SEN
sation. Bahl what damnable hypoc-
risy; A few years ago the people of Ire
land made a strenuous effort to gain
their freedom. Did England ex-
tend to the Irish people even
a liberal or niggardly measure of
autonomy? No. Let us suppose that
d
said to Naval Power No. /, Great Brit
ain-'fwe deem 1t expedient and just
that you should recognize the freedom
and independence of Ireland" What
would have been England's reply to
any such demand as that? Lest the
reader is not aware of what would
have been the nature of Great Brit
aims reply we will inform him. Eng
Ia nd a oil d
to go to he'll The message would have
been couched in diplomatic phrase
ology, but the original meaning would
have been there just the same. We may
be told that England's government of
Ireland is more liberal, more humane
than Spain's government Of Cuba. Wen,
let all such stock argument talk as that
be addressed to the Irish people, and
then wait-dOnt forget to wait--fOr
their reply. We are not advocating the
freeing of any colony or possession. We
are merely commenting upon the beau
tiful and refreshing inconsistency of
England sympathizing with the
United States, in the latter's attempt
to ride roughshod over the sovereignty
of Spain. England would not if call
ed upon, surrender an inch of terri
tory. Before doing so she would fight
until the last shot in the locker was
exhausted And yet she has the un-
mitigated gall" the undiluted impu-
dence, to express surprise at Spains
refusal to do what she. England, would
not dream Of doing herself Let it be
remembered that Spain's right to Cuba
| Is much more valid than the right OF
| England to some of her possessions: for
| Spain acquired Cuba by the harmless
/ and unquestionable right of discovery,
| whereas England gained many Of her
colonies and possessions by the ques-
| tionable right of conquest. And do not
| let us fail to remember-as We listen
| to the senseless vilification of Spain
chat the United States owes its ex-
| lstenoe, if not its subsequent prosper
! ity, to Spanish discovery and support.
when America cast off the yoke of
| England" Let us remember that fact.
1t is to be sincerely hoped, alike for
The commerce and higher interests OF
| this country, that the present war, a
war having for its operative points the
| Philippine Islands in the far East and
! the Cuban waters Of this continent,
| will be Of brief duration. But it is not
always easy to foretell the results OF
even the smallest Of wars. A coalition
or alliance Of Powers can be numbered
among the possibilities. MOnarchial
countries do not relish the extension
OF Republics; and the present war
might, perhaps. encourage the forma-
tion OF such a coalition, a coalition hav-
ing for it's purpose the curtailment OF
the increasing strength and influence Ol
this country. The possibility of Eng
land siding with the United States, in
the event of such a contingency, would
however, hold any such combination
safe. Whilst all this is conjectured
the act of war is the greatest and mos
| unnecessary of evils. Those nations
most used and hardened to its terrible
! consequences are less eager to precipi.
J tate war than they were won't to be
Even England, with her hands rec
with the blood of almost every nation
ality upon the face of Gods earth, il
growing somewhat weary of the game
Of war. Now and then her murder
Gus and ferOcious instincts, like thOsi
of some superannuated geological lion
assert themselves and she strikes al
ugly blow. 1t is related of the lat'
Right Hon. John Bright, than whom n,
greater or more honest man ever sa
in the Commons House of Parliament
that walking with his son, SuDsequen
to the CTimean War, the latter, motto
ing the word "Crimea" inscribed Ol
certain monuments inquired of hi
father as 10 what the word represented
ut represents a crime" said Mr.
! Bright Mr. Gladstone it was VIII,
rushed England into the Crimean War
{ His reputation, which subsequent.
> became so great, WIS and ever will b
considerably battered by reason Of tina
iniquitous act. And for aught we know
= TO the contrary the imagination of tn
dying couch at Hawarden is to-da,
! | peopled, as was the couch Of Richar
on the eve of the battle OF Bosworth
, | with the ghosts OF the thousands an
tens OF thousands of those who fell
I, | victim to the relentless and insatiabl
i | ambition of Mr.. Gladstone to perpe
= trate the crime of "a, and to his mani
, fest desire TO characterize the Admin
4 istration of that day by a successful