Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-27

This sounds fishy: but as nothing is sacred
to the ambition of yellow journalism, and
as war always hangs by a slender thread,
II public opinion Is carefully kneaded to
receive false impressions. there is no tell
ing how many golden grains of eternal
truth are mixed up in the story.
German Plans at Manila.
There is just this much foundation for
the reports of the movements of the Ger
man forces in Manila. The German gov
ernment has already. or will. land marines
at that point, to protect German residents,
who are the subjects of the kaiser, and
possibly such foreign residents as desire to
invoke the protection of the German flag.
OF this. the state department says, it is
fully advised, and to 1t has given its full
sanction. That course is customary under
international law, and was followed by
this country during the bombardment at
Alexandria. and will always be followed by
all nations under similar circumstances.
The reports that the German government
is filled with secret malice for Americans,
and Is darkly working its plans to circum-
vent us. are not only inconsistent with the
traditional friendship shown to this coun-
try. from Frederick the Great down to the
kiel celebration. when the kaiser came
aboard the American flagship and passed
five or six hours in the convivial society of
American naval officers but is absolutely
at variance with the methods of that coun
try, which believes in its own gr4f is rea
and power. and would scorIn the rear .e.f
character by dark-lantern tH~-nei, against
a people with whom it has never had the
slightest political disagreement, and to
whom 1t is linked by strong ties of blood
and kinship. But If these were the ways
OF the German government, it is safe to
say that the floating reportorial talent of
the yellow stripe would not be the first
to discover these sinister plans. and that
the information would most likely reach us
through other channels.
Some Things to Remember.
II is well to remember two or three
things in attempting to digest the numer-
Gus reports coming to us about German
plots and insinuations of mischief:
First-The German emperor is consti-
tutonal ruler and would have to secure
the sanction of the federal council and the
reichstag before he could disburse public
funds for the acquisition of territory.
SecOnd-Germany. like the United States,
guarantees the freedom of the press. and
its utterances. except as directed against
the imperial dignity or public policies.
Tkird-The largest European business
firms in Manila are German houses, and
German trade with that port is a valuable
consideration.
FOurth-krupp guns cannot be conven-
iently shipped as kitchen furniture, any
more than the main battery of the Indiana
could be transported as parlor ornament.
Ahc-
Fifth-German naval or army officers
undertaking to divulge or voice imperial
policies would be court-martialed, being
under the same careful discipline as Amer
ican officers regarding their diplomatic
duties. or, rather. their duty to abstain
from discussions of questions belonging to
the realm of the proper diplomatic
agencies.
&. Frank Dewey Talks.
'"ro boil down the sensational reports of
European interferenc1in cur present con-
troversy with Spain, ought to be the first
duty Of those who wildly roam over he
orIcs and hypotheses devoid of reason and
based on no fact said Mr.. C. Frank
Dewey, well known writer on interna-
tional questions who has spent over twen-
ty-five years in Germany and has just
reached New York.
ut is poor patriotism" he continued ito
keep up hazardous talk about Germany's
intentions in Manila. or in any other
place pertaining to the present war. AS q
matter of fact We have no reason as yet
to object to the attitude of any European
power, for all have commercial interests at
stake and are bound to protect them.
1T pleases itinerant writers who visit
Berlin occasionally. and particularly such
as cannot affect an immediate entree into
official circles, to send home speculative
reports about the kaiser as If he were
emperor of Germany instead of German
emperor which is a world wide difference.
Germany to-day is unquestionably the
most influential power in Europe. but more
particularly on the Continent. She is
strong in the knowledge of her right. con-
sistency and sobriety. Moreover she is the
most completely and systematically or
ganized nation-down to the least phase
of local government. Fortunately for her.
and, I may say. also. for the morale of
neighboring nations, equity and sincerity
characterize her local and national leg
islation. and her military organization.
which stands unrivaled in history is no
burden to the people, as many erroneous
ly suppose, but, on the contrary. ii is
looked upon as d national school. for the
education of peasant and nobleman alike,
without favoritism, for from his tenth
year, and to this day, the emperor has per-
formed his military duty as faithfully as
the humblest private in the ranks.
As to the German Emperor.
1.-THE German emperor, about whom the
INDUSTRIOUS disseminate so much nonsense
daily. is well balanced. eminentIy Just
and God-fearing ruler, who has given evi-
dence of remarkable ability at his early
age. and has already convinced the world
of his craftsmanship to master even the
most Intricate diplomatic problems, undis-
mayed by rancorous factions at home; and
in spite of the frequent disappointments in
separable from a policy of colonial expan-
sion. he has steadily moved onward, and
successfully. as all the world knows.
1T is the height of ignorance. if not ma
licious folly, to talk about the kaisers in
tentions regarding the Philippines. or his
aggressiveness towards our intentions in
the present war. The kaiser can adopt no
extreme measure without the consent of
the federal council, which includes such
eminent gentlemen as Herr F.. A. Krupp,
the great gun manufacturer of Essen, who
is a most humane and modest man. and a
great philanthropist. for l know him well.
This federal council jealousy watches over
the interests of the federal states. and i.