New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09

ueh dinlomacy Lord Salisbury has had most
unfortunate year. and no English morahst
effects 70 derive satisfaction from the recoru
a, the Foreign Office in the Armenian, Cretah
and Greek questions yet the chapter is closed
Nth cheerfuness and uEdisgused content
This ,s because the Chinese question has oeeh
raised at the last moment and sea power III
which England excels, enters into 1t ana ooihi-
mates it. 49,.
Germany has obtained control Of one or the
approaches to the Chinese capital ana r.usS''-
49,. .oo,,-ad a,other naval base The two military
.,o,iras which have been protecting the worm
eaton Ottoman throne aud thwarting Lord sails
burys diplomacy In the Near East nave SUI
denly established themselves withh suiN"h
distance of Pekin, and challenged brl'iSh SUI
prernacy in the Far East Continental opsei'
ers at St Petersburg, Berlin, Parls anu Nie''''
expected an outbreak Of jealousy, resentment
and excitement In London, Dut lLeIe las ''''
been a sign of either rage or panic Inc ne" S''u
t,,on IN Chinese waters has been calmly and
elderly discussed. and the English people nave
zone on with their holiday recreation without
being distracted by rumors of the inpehuiiiA
nartition Of tie Celestial Empire and European
coalition AGAINST the United Kingdom. There
has been much curiosity respecting hussia"
ro,,cv and some amusement over the German
Emneror's new foreign campaign; but the FOR
eien Office has shown no symptoms OF either I'M
caeincss or agitation. and the English press mas
taken everything quietly. There has been an
admirable exhibition of selfpossession and SELF
restraint.
The exclamation Of this calm and dignihed at
ttude of the English people is sea power. They
appreciate the advantage which they VIII nave
Of
trained navy whenever there may be supreme
str,,qc,le for maritime supremacy. England Is not
q great military Power. and can never rival the
circle of European camps unless she adopts d
system of CONSUMPTION and universal service. by
which her Industrial resources will inevitably
be impaired In Continental diplomacy she is at
a serious disadvantage in dealing with Powers
whose military ornaments are superior 10 her
own and whose alliances cradle them 10 unite
against her But when the scene Is shifted from
ConstantinOple to South Africa or the Chinese
coast England's strength is known and feared
With her powerful and invincble fleet and her
chain Of fortified coalng and naval stations en-
circng the globe, she regard without ap-
prchension the efforts of rivals to contest her
maritime supremacy.
A CHALLENGE TWO YEARS AGO.
Two years ago. when the German Emperor
s-nt his congratuatory dispatch to the Presi-
dent Of the Transvaal. the dying squadron was
ordered cut. and the Sa isbury Government had
The United Kingdom behind it In a challenge to
naval war. Germany. with its ornaments and
ALLAN Is might BE- supreme and nvuncralha on
the Continent, but in a war for the independ-
ence Of the Transva1l she would DE at the
mercy Of the Enslish nect The English people
would have welcomed a war with Germany on
those terms. but they knew that the challenge
would not be accepted. They do not want
war in the Far East but they understand their
superior facilities for retaining their command
of the seas and there is no feeling OF weakness
panic when the journalists of Berlin. St