The evening times., 1898-05-31

Paris. May 31.-A Berlin dispatch in the
Herald's European edition of yesterday
says:
1t is only natural that the Spanish
American war should form the general
topic of conversation and interest in Ber-
lin society, although opinions 1 have
hitherto heard expressed-whether those
of sympathy or antipathy-hardly ever
leaned toward extremes or betrayed bit
terness or enthusiasm.
There is nothing like the partianship
here that exists in England. The German
professor loves to discuss in an academi-
cal spirit the main features of the Monroe
doctrine and its possible extensive appli-
cation and consequences. The manufac-
turers and traders in general are most in
terested in the effect the war Is likely to
have on their business. while the school,
boys of the capital-schoolboy like-split
up into factions during their play time.
and give each other battles under the
titular distinctions of Spaniards and
Americans.
l hear on every side that the fair
American contingent is carrying all be-
fore 1t and that the German politician,
whether he belongs to the army. to dip
invariably comes out second best in the
wordy discussion with those who are evil
IDENTIFY intended by nature to charm,
convince. and conquer.
I need not stop to chronicle the series
lof victories, which are almost monoto-
nous In their uniformity. The German
who discusses politics with an American
lady and listens to the argument of her
eyes is lost and does not concern us.
( More interesting by far are the expe-
riences of the cultured Americans of the
sterner sex. who are meeting in the high
est German society. l have just come
across one such in the person Of Frederick
w. Hollis of the well-known New York
legal firm of Hollis. Wagner & Burghard.
Mr.. Hollis has been in Berlin for some
time. He has also visited Leipsc. Dres-
den and other cities, where he met and
conversed with some of the leading men
of the day.
aIn my opinion he said 1.-THE change
which has come over German public opin-
ion during the last four weeks in regard
to the war Is very remarkable. The first
idea of sympathy with the smaller dog
and leaner animal has given way to
more common-sense view of things. They
now see that, after all is said and done.
the main questions at stake. stripped
of excrescenses. are those Of civilization
and progress. The Germans strike me
very IOTClDly as DeinE pTOuu OI Their
kinsmen in the United States, and they
undoubtedly are beginning to feel some
thing of that affinity and pride of race,
which has shown itself recently In so
marked a manner in English public opin-
ion toward America.
This has shown itself Indirectly here
by the bitter feeling toward England.
Irish protests both in England and Ameri-
ca have been closely followed in Germa-
and have had this p0n6 affacf
that they opened the eyes of Germans to
the fact that the friendly race feeling be-
tween England and America is undoubt-
edly genuine and is resented by the Gel
tic Irish.
THE latest news, that instead of
great army of insurgents waiting for US
to join them. there are at the most only
a few disjointed bands in Cuba. muster
ing; perhaps. 5000 all told, has also had its
effect In Germany. as 1t tends to prove the
falsity of those Spanish stories. according
to which the United States has persist
emily equipped great numbers of insur-
gents to wage war against Spain. II so,
where are they? is the natural query.
with regard to the Monroe doctrine,
1 have endeavored to demonstrate that
1t is in essence the statement of con-
servative policy, which in its effect. even
works for the benefit of European powers,
which are thereby prevented from send
ing out MISSIONARIES 10 SOutn America
and getting themselves into trouble. All
the Monroe doctrine says is, don't do 1t
for you own sake; leave 1t alone We
agree to leave those European possessions
alone which already exist in America,
and are governed in accordance with the
spirit of the age.
Last night had the privilege of listen
ing to Mr.. Hollis convincing an eminent
professor In the University of Berlin that
the Monroe doctrine was originally in
tended to benefit European monarchies;
to prevent their yielding to the evil of
temptation. and thus gain for themselves
the wages of sin-death. After that, should
/ at any time be accused of one of these
offenses for which men are usually con-
demned to die in their boots, I would ask
no better fate than to be defended by this
sturdy champion of the United States and
the much-discussed Monroe doctrine"