The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
is 1T FATE,s WORKING.

Mr.. Conan Doyle's latest novel, "a Des-
ert Drama was evidently written for
purpose, namely, that of demonstrating the
need of England's continued presence i'll
Egypt with an armed force. Merely as a
story the work is not artistic, it's tragic
features being too horribly realistic to be
comfortable reading, and its character
drawing poor but assuming that the events
narrated could actually have happened it
must be said that he sustains his point
very well. Incidentally, conversation oc-
ours among the personRges of the story
which has an indirect bearing on conditions
which this country is now considering An
American of the party having insinuated
that the English were mere grabbers of ter
ritory and were in Egypt for purely selfish
purposes, was assured by an English Of
ficer that if they withdrew the murderous
Dervishes would overrun the country, and
that the British policed the region with no
return save an accompaniment of curses
and criticism and the satisfaction Of know
ing that civilization was furthered. The OBJ
lection being raised that, as 1t profited moth
ing to Great Britain, the rest of Europe
should be left to do this police duty, the
officer set forth this argument:
L think that to advocate such a course is
to take q very limited view of our national
duties think that behind national inter
ests and diplomacy and all that there lies
great guiding force-a providence, In TACT
which is forever getting the best out of each
nation and using 1t for the good of the
whole. When a nation ceases to respond II
is time that she went to the hospital for
few centuries, like Spain or Greece-the viz
tue gone out of her. A man or nation is
not here upon this earth merely to do what
is pleasant and profitable. 1t is often
called upon to do what is unpleasant and
improbable, but if 1t is obviously right it Is
mere Sinking not to undertake. II: Eac n
predominant in abstract thought; France IN
literature, art and grace. But we and you
ga@e i Boat oWever mueh the the New YORK
Sun may scream over tive and you nave
among our best men a higher conception OF
moral sense and public duty than is to be
found in any other people. Now these are
the two qualities which are needed for Ill
recting a weaker race. You can help Them
by abstract thought or by graceful art, but
only by that moral sense which will hold
the scales of justice even, and keep itself
free from every faint of corruption. That Is
kind of natural law. like the air rushing
into q vacuum. All over the world, against
our direct interests, and our deliberate IN
things. And it will happen to you also.
The pressure of destiny will force you to
administer the whole OF America from Mex
leo to the Horn
At this juncture the American listener
whistled, but the British colonel went on:
The world is small, and it grows smaller
every day It's a single organic body, and
one spot of gangrene is enough to vitiate
the whole. There is no room upon it for
sponsibie governments. As long as they
exist they will always be centers of trouble
and of danger. But there are many races
which appear to be so incapable of improve
ment that we can never hope to get good
government out of them. What is to be
done then? The former device OF Provi-
some more Virile stock. An Attila or a Tam
erlane pruned off the weaker branch. Now,
we have more merciful substitution of
rulers, or even of mere advice from more
advanced race.
In answer to the question as to what de-
termined the question of interference. the
speaker replied; ''Events-inexorable. inev-
liable events will decide Mr.. Doyle prob,
ably does not assume to be a prop''t or the
son of a prophet, but there is no doubt that
he touches upon great truth in these re-
marks. 1t is not the wish of this country
to intermeddle with the affairs of other ma
tons. We have lived to ourselves and have
had pride in this independence and isolation.
We have taken the position, somewhat vir-
tuously and boastfulIy, that while we per-
nit no interference in our own affair." it is
likewise no part of our plan to interfere
with those of other countries. There is no
material gain to us in driving Spain out Of
Cuba, but, the contrary, it means loss
OF life and great financial outlay.
We prefer to sustain our time-honored
policy of neutrality; we prefer peace
but we are driven into war by
power beyond and above our control 1t
has been said to men that they shall not
live unto themselves and what is COM
manded to them history has proved true OF
nations. In individual life it is often found
on looking back that the unsought and UNI
expected happenings-what may have
seemed arbitrary and adverse events-have
been the ones that had the most to do with
the development of that individual charac-
ter. The same may be true OF governments,
but, whether it be for our welfare or not
there is force outside of selfish policy
of exclusion and seclusion that IS compelling
US to act for others-as Mr.. Doyle's colonel
would have 1t. to do police duty in stranse
land. What the end will be no man can yet,
foresee. but If 1t is all part of the great