The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-11
No ALLIANCE, But JOINT ACTION
POSSIBLY,


Te world Is now confronted with far
more than is current rumors OK war.
Five days ago it had almost a certainty
that war was about to be declared be-
tccn Spain and the United states. our
own opinion is that the whole Of that
business was an immense wind-bag that
was pricked the moment the United States
took its stand and notified Spain that
she was ready ana would be pleased to
receive "a Spanish call. That did the BUSH
ness Tor that case, and, ia our opinion,
Spain Immediately went into her hole
and pulled tbs hole i'm after her. OF
course. we may be mistaken. Spain
may Do only assembling. and she may
yet make us fight for peace and quiet be-
fore we get 81. We hope not. but if She
insists upon it she can console herself
with thc reflection that She has fully
reused The most powerful giant this
world has ever seen. and that ic she
forces the slant 10 strike her, she Will
receive the hardest blow. every force the
giant possesses, can deliver. So much for
This prospect Tor war.
But the world is now RECALLED with
another war prospect. which We fear is
more threatening than tho IHspano-
| Americana one. Russia is tho most de-
cctm power ON the earth. The russian
idea OF diplomacy is to succeed. Methods
count for nothing with the Muscoyite
statesman. when he has secured the
| fruits OF his efforts, and is tainted with
deception and fraud, he only smiles
sardonic grin and points to the swag
il has been clear to all close Observers
ever since the close Of the japanese
war with China that Russia was taking
advantages of China's disabled state TO
forward her own ends I'm the East As
she has made one step after another she
has assured the other great Powers that
! protested that she meant nothing serious,
and was only wnterlns q feet IN this
port or occupying another for a short
time. But She stiu holds an she has
taken, and now she has made another
great advance which plainly portends
| that she will give mp nothing and intends
TO control both Manchurla and Korea.
Prophecy is very dangerous. and we
make no prophcsles. But it does look
really. as though Russia has determined
| TO force an issue with Great Britain, ana
Try conclusions with her upon who shan
be the ruler fin the East. One Of the
most significant incidents i'm the case
| is the fact that the Car has appointed
| Count Cassim as ambassador 10 the
United States. The Count is recognized
as the ablest and most astuto diplomatist
I'm the Russian service. lie it was who
negotiated the treaty of 1885, by which
| Russia ext0Ited from China in her help
less prostitution the extraordinary COM
cessions in ranchuIia. which mean the
ultimate occupation of that whole Pro-
vince bv Russia. so that she Will have
railroad directly TO the Chinese capital
! His performances i'm these negotiations
| fastened upon him the attention of the
entire civilized world This leading di-
plomatlst is now sent TO the United
States and his mission here cannot be
mistaken Russia fears that this country
may DE induced TO take part with Eng
land when she joins issue with Russia
upon the questions whether Chinese
trade shall bee free 10 an the world, or
whether it shall De dominated by Russia.
except the part of 80 that She comedies
TO Germany and France. That is Mr..
Caseinis business here. and the question
we have To- consider is whether We viii
allow the Russian programme TO De
PLAYED through or whether We will take
part with England in forcing the enormous
advantage Of Chinese trade 10 be open
to MS alony with the rest of the world
Our traditional policy is to avoid for
eign alliances and we are not going to
have any alliance with England any more
than with any other foreign Power. But
our treaties with China give US valuable
rights i'm many Chinese ports. and We arc
not going to allow those rights TO be
abridged 10y Russia or any one else. That
much can be taken as definitely settled.
But as,ute Mr.. Cassini will fool US il
We don't look out, and lull US into in
action when 1t may be very important
to us 90 assert our rights openly and
denautly That is q point upon which
We must not fail to keep our eyes fixed.
This country is going to have no en-
tanglng alliances. as we have said, but
Englands interests and our interests in
the East are Identical, and ii may very
well Zoe that We shall DO serving notice
upon Russia at the moment England is.
England is contendng for free Chinese
ports, and that is what we also demand
IL 1t should SO turn out that this similar
position taken at the same time by both
countries brought us into war with Rus
STA, Germany and France at the same
time. England was at war with them
we would have no alliance, it is true
but England and America, cooperating
together would give the others some
thing 10 do while the fight was going on.
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AGRICULTURE IN THE SOUTH.