New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
SENSATIONAL PRESS REPORTS HARMFUL
TO AMERICA-THE TONNAGE TAX.
THE ENGLISH COMMERCIAL CLASS IS
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO 1.-THE ROYAL
ACADEMY EXHIBITION.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE

1ondon April 30.-AmeriCan reputation suffers
r,cariously from sensational journalism on each
.,se O, the Atlantic The manufacture OF copy
,or special editions here is regarded Amer
,can Industry, although the correspondents OF
the London news agencies and journals are d.
,sctv concerned in II. Morning and evening
there are columns OF the loOsest and most worth
less chatter about war with faring headlines
and coored posters. Since the censorship
c,ses q restraint uDon the Spanish imagination.
the bulk Of this output is attributed to Yankee
bluster and folly. whereas English newsmongers
are merely trying 10 sell their papers whether
with or without anything worth printing. The
serious public. watching the war drama from
the boxes and stalls. is impatient and inclined
% scofr when plans OF campaign on land and
sea are proclaimed at random, or when the
secret mission OF spy in the rebel camp Is
handed into novelette,. Even the toilers in the
nit burst into loud guffnw when the scientific
comments ~ naval experts over the lombard
nent o, Matanzas followed by the leader
writers paternal solictude for the fate Of the
single mule reported to have been killed on the
Spanish side
II IA 10 these vagaries of journalism that
romethine Ike coolness toward America, after
much warmth and sympathy in England. may
be attributed. The public. while waiting for
the curtain 10 rise upon real warfare. is an
noyed by the humbug Of special editions with
out anything important interesting in them.
and Is disposed to consider the campaign for the
redemption Of Cuba a burlesque performance.
This feeling Of irritation is noticeable among the
leader writer's themselves. who have suddenly
changed their tone toward America. and show
signs Of resentment because their enterprise is
not justified by important news There has
been radical change of English opinion
srectng the moral aspects OF American inter
vention In Cuba English sympathy remains
where II has been from the beginning. on the
American side. One Of the best-informed mem
bers Of Parliament asserts confidently that at
least three-fourths Of the lower house
heartily in sympathy with the Mckinley Gov
eminent
The inconvenience Of war are keenly felt.
recally when increased tonnage dues are pro-
posed by American legislators. but II cannot be
doubted that a large majority Of the English
people are swayed by the conviction that Span
ish misgovernment in Cuba has fully justified
American Intervention.
The least sympathetic elements are the mer-
camille and arstocratic classes. Mercantile Eng
lard resents the disturbance caused by war to
against moral earnestness. whether in men
nations. 1t considered earnestness bad form
when the Armenian massacres appealed strongly
70 the English conscience: II affects cynical
amusement when the American people
entering into a war for the liberation OF Cuba
from motives Of humanity The important fact
which Americans ought not to forget Is that
England has already rendered them useful
Zee IN preventing a combined attempt Of the
European Powers 10 interfere in the Cuba affair
ard that the Government here has adopted
neutrality policy which Will ultimately shorten
the war. At present this policy IS operating
against the United States. The American feet
fas been ordered out Of Hong Kong and Eng
lsh trade In munitions OF is largely with
Spain Shipments Of contraband OF war 70 Spain
are considered safe because no American cruls-
are on this side. and the voyage is short.
Similar shipments TO America inter
rupted. The neutrality policy will operate In
favor OF America II the Spanish feet has really
rallied westward, where II coal only at Porto
Rico and Cuba.
The proposed increase Of tonnage dues natu-
rally exctes much resentment among English
shipowners. whose special representatives
making vehement protest in Parliament
American bankers here consider II an nl-timed
measure, which, II enacted will drive cargo
steamers into Canadian ports and increase the
freight business Of the Canadian railways at
the expense Of American railways. 1t Is re-
garded here by commercial experts as a more
beneficial policy for Canada than Lauriers
Preferential tariN. The general effect will be
70 counteract the Advantages derived from
President McKinley's wise decision respecting
the Declaration Il Paris. and TO increase the
ant-American sentiment on the Continent
while 1t also alienates the sympathy OF the Eng
iish commercial classes.
The financial aspects Of the wan are closely
followed in the Street. The Spanish Govern
nent Is again showing its capacity for squeez-
Ing few millions more out OF an exhausted
nation. The taxpayers will be required to pay
cues year In advance and a loan will
be foated on the security OF the quicksilver
mines. Effective expedcnts will be the emission
OF rentes without limit and n large increase In
the note issue OF the Bank OF Spain. Experts
are wondering how long a specie basis can be
maintained after the printing press is well In
operation. Prominent bankers unite in decar
ing that Cni'ed States So. payable in gold could
oe hoated here at par 10 any amount. but are
ueuotful whether As would be taken in this mar
".' payable in coin 40 immediate bond
V"efihgs are expected here until a popular loan
""' oeen attempted large scale in America.
"e saturday Review" Is surprising its own
e'iehts in slavery days in It's rancorous
""u'e o' America, but Is now a journal without
I"'"c'er or influence The Spec,ator' Is
"uler now than eter before, and II repre-
oe"'s 'he noblest elements Of English opinion.
~ mas sympathetic article on Mckinley to-
NY laying stress upon his capacity for taking
e QUESTIONS in big way and rising TO q
pe'"e occasion. The general comment here
20 'hat Mckinley IS not a President who will
tuahuer his influence by hot headed contest
VIZ" congress. like Andrew Johnson. but who
mas Lincolns sagacious talent for avoiding a
'diessing conflict with legislators and gradu-