The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-25


OF it Is like a breath of fresh air. 1t
was landmark in English diplomacy
and Its effect has been lasting.
so say to my critics, one and all,
that II you have breathed the atmos-
pfere of foreign diplomatic circles
without being hypnotized by social
1aNorS, you must yourselves have been
impressed by two evident truths-frst,
the sham Of it all, and, second, the
unique position Of friendship America
occupies in her relations with all the
great powers You may not be willing
TO admit at present that our f1irtations
with England of late have any harm
ful tendency, as all innocent firtations
mean little at the outset. Still, we
sometimes do hear that they get a bit
thick as they develop. And the fact
that movement is on foot to change
Americas whole traditional foreign
policy is enough in itself to justify
prompt and vigorous discussion of it.
SHREWD MIR. CHAMBERLAIN. -
We all have just read Mr.. Chamber
lain's interview given out as he landed
IN New York. 1t is practically a reiter-
alton of his Birmingham speech, and
1t talks alliance pure and simple. We
have the whole British press and pub
lie backing 1T up this time, even more
strongly than before
In addition to this. and what is far
more significant, we find our American
ambassador, on the eve of his departure
for home to take the post Of secretary
OF state, receiving gladly, by arrange
ment beforehand, an address by the
Anglo-American league, and in reply
assuring the league that your senti-
r@ents of kinship and amity are recip-
rocated to the uttermost in my coun-
try" pledging himself as secretary Of
state Ito do anything to continue and
strengthen the relations of fraternal
amity between our two nations"
II Secretary Hay stopped here no.
body would criticise him, for America
wants to continue and strengthen the
relations Of fraternal amity between
herself and all nations. But the Sec
retary has been going as far as he
thought public opinion in America
would stand for months, and by no
public utterance, so far as have been
able to learn, has he expressed broader
views than partiality toward England.
have heard it intimated that his per-
sonal assurances to individual English
men Of high degree have been even
more pointed and his advice has been
sought and obtained by those on this
side of the Atlantic who want to know
just what to say and do to win Amer
lea for England's ally.
What is the true meaning to all this
illy-dallying about the appointment Of
Secretary Hays successor in London?
Is the president having hard work to
find man who will go on playing into
the hands Of the Anglo-American
league? Or Is he waiting to Sound
public opinion" again? There must be
some political reason in the back
ground for the delay
1t would be interesting to know what
Secretary Hay thinks of the czars pro-
posal for the limitation of armaments
and his extraordinary invitation to a
conference looking toward that end.
All official Europe talks Of little else
and everything is making for the con-
ference. AS may be imagined Eng
land Is more skeptical about it than
any other power and is more ready to
damn the proposal with faint praise
Still, the actions Of other powers in
it's favor will force England to join
in the discussion, and from what any
body can see now the conference will
take place.
1t must not be understood that the
czar suggests absolute disarmament.
His idea is merely for the powers to
gree upon some limit consistent with
their own requirements, without view
to big European war.
On the whole, international politics
has undergone more lightning changes
during the last few months than before
for some time The czar's proposal
puts an entirely new aspect upon the
whole situation. so that even the most
learned and best informed diplOmatists
are completely at sea. Nobody can tell
what is going to happen when the rep
resentatives Of the great nations Of the
earth get together.
DONKEY BRITISH EDITORS.
In the meantime, however, things
will go on merrily. The donkey British
editor has grown a new pair of ears
| in a week. After all his years of shout
/. ing against Germany he wakes up to a
knowledge that the foreign office and
Emperor William are hobnobbing in
great shape and altogether getting on
| finely Up to date the editor has evi-
| dently thought the less said about the
matter the better. But he is nursing
| his wrath at again having played the
| fool, and is getting ready to play the
fool promptly again as soon as any
issue gives him a chance. He was an
ass over Russia and q bigger one to-
ward Germany.
| Probably the next issue will be with
France England Is hustling down
through Africa as fast as she can, and
! to head her off. The recent war to
"avenge Gordon was nothing more
nor less than a part Of England's plan
to get from Egypt to the Cape Colony
It has not taken her all these years
since Gordon's death to avenge him
Gordon's family and friends say he
| didn't care to be avenged, but did want
help while living to prevent his MUIR
der.
No, since Gordon died President Kru-
ger has refused to be bully ragged, and
| France has been active in Africa as
we'll If England can get a railroad
! through to the cape she will have more
Interests" to protect, with wider
boundaries on all sides, and will be
able to move troops south from Egypt
| Hence the slaughter of dervishes tC