New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
CAUSES FOR THE ANGLO-AMERlcAN
ERA OF GOOD FEELING.
MORAL SUPPORT OF ENGLAND ASSURED
SPANS FAILING CREDIT-LONDON
SOCIETY AND ART.
fpY CABLE TO THE rRiauNEl

land is concerned, is easily understood. IL 10
not based race affinities. nor sentimental
vagaries. nor selfish interest. either In the Far
East or anywhere els,. 1t is grounded on the
fact that Americans have displayed in the
Cuban crisis the same traits on which the Eng
lish In the habit of pluming themselves
These are c)olness. self-restralnt In time Of dam
ger ardent love ~ country and inhexible cour-
aSc in defence Of the National interests. The
Americans in a grave emergency have acted pre-
cisey as the English themselves would have
done in similar circumstances. The English
people are compelled Jess by their instincts than
by their sobriety ~ Judgment to admire the
present attitude Of the American Common
wealth. II IS not from enlightened self-nterest,
nor because blood is thicker than water. but be-
cause there is reason in all things. The spectacle
which united country has presented under the
leadership Of President Mckinley has COM
manded the respect Of England. excited the
warmest feeling OF sympathy and senced
caviiling criticism.
The passage by Congress OF the bill for Ma
tiona defence without dissenting voice or any
signs Of buster or excitement has produced q
profound impression here which strength
ened when explanations were added that IT was
considered peace measure. and that the fifty
millions would not be borrowed but merely
taken from a full Treasury. It is unnecessary
10 single out special tributes OF praise and ap-
prova by the English press Nothing else has
been seen or heard. All sneering at American
institutions and jingoism has ceased There has
been united chorus Of acclanaton and SYM
rathy. without a discordant note. Nothing could
be clearer than the fact that the Americans
have the moral support ot England in their pres
ent line of action in dealing with Spain and
Ixf.,,
Nothing could he hearter than English apprecia-
ton of the statesmanlike course OF President
Mckinley the patriotic conduct Of Congress and
the self-restrant and dignity of the American
people.
The touch of Arglo-Saxon fellowship is here ,
but imagination is lacking for following all the
speculations with which the cables have been
treated during the last few days The conject-
ures respecting the Queens Intervention In the
Cuban affair. Sir Julian Pauncefotes mysterious
errand at the White House; the hypothetical
questions addressed by tho State Department 10
the European Powers and the American eager
ness for alliance with England and Japan are
not seriously discussed here One fact that
causes general satisfaction is the complete and
radical change Of feeling in America toward
England since the Venezuelan affair and the re-
derstanding with the United States respecting
China would he helpful is not denied. but Eng
land must first know what is her own policy in
the Far East before there can be a reciprocity OF
good offices.
What that policy is when Russia has suddenly
become aggressive in her demands upon coun-
try powerless TO resist them. and has ordered
extraordinary naval expenditures. Lord Sails
bury has not revealed. Mr.. Curzon confirms
The Timess" dispatches daily. but does not
explain what England will do to enforce her
protest against the cesson Of Port Arthur. The
French policy in West Africa and China is an
inscrutabe mystery Perplexed harassed and
preoccupied with anxetes on every side. the
English public mind cannot follow the rapid
flights of newspaper Imagination. The supreme
fact OF the day is the momentous growth OF mill
tarism based on sea power.
The naval estimates introduced by Ir.
CiosChen reach the stupendous aggregate Of
f2555000O the highest ever known In Eng
lish history. With a large increase in the
expenditures for the army and the civil
service, the estimates in the las, Budget
speech will be exceeded by $4Oo0.O0O. All
the resources Of Somerset House are now
employed in scrutnzing incomes. hunting up
fresh taxpayers and swelling the revenues for
does not suffice to keep the revenues abreast
with the requirements of militarism.
The Manchester School has vanished. The
peace party is dead Mr.. Labouchere can only
muster a corporaVs guard of Little Englanders.
France is strengthening her mighty fleet Ger
many IS carrying out new naval policy, Japan
is armlrg for a sea fight; the Car DEGREES nine
and haf millions sterling for battle-shps and
cruisers. ard spain and the United States are
competing for the unfinished war vessels OF
Chill and Brazil Militarism is everywhere
gambling with iron dice The greatest scientific
lottery Of the age IS the sea power. after a gen.
Grafton OF experimental navy building and all
the world is taking chances in IL.
Whatever may be the outcome ~ the new
complications in the Gar East, IT is from Madrid
that the first signal for peace must
come. after the Maine report or evidence that
the Cuban revolt cannot be suppressed. Ex-
pcrts vino reason about Spanish finance cam
not understand how & great be lnder-
taken by the Ministry. The floating debt has
been largely increased since the opening ~ the
year. and now aggregates over $looOooOpo.
apart from the enormous funded debt. This
week there has been heavy selling Of Spanish
securities In Paris. with sharp decline caused
not merely hy war rumors. hut also by grave
fears that the Government will he unable 10
pay the next coupons in full The French
houses which have hcen supporting Spanish
fours appear 20 he frightened The Spanish
currency is steadily Gepreciaung. and exchange
advancing with the gold premium. The burdens
under which the people are staggering are be-
coming in;olerable. Without financial assist
ance from France it Is not easy 10 understand
how the Madrid Government can proiong the
struggle IN Cuba. much less declare war against
America With the printing press "a the only
financial resource
Enthusiasm in America over an imprac,icable
English alliance IS not well-,lmed. since It tends
% Increase French sympathy with Spain.
Equally injndicicus viii he exclusive expendi-
I. ~ ,nfnri,l N E,rn nd