The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-15
Among the Nations is Not of the
Best.
CHINA A FIRE BRAND
Which is Likely to Again Light
the Flames of War.
The United States Can Keep
the Peace if She Will.

Europe's share in the rejoicings over
the establishment of peace in Chris
tendon is disturbed by gloomy fore
bodingS that it will not be permitted to
remain long unbroken. These fears find
their freest expression in England, and
England is the only country which is
considering the necessity of breaking
the peace of the world in the near fu-
ture.
In other words, England is the only
country which, perhaps, will turn the
diplomatic war now raging in the far
East into a physical war. No continen-
tai government believes that England
will venture to do this. Therefore, the
consequences of the signing of the
peace protocol in Washington are dis
cussed at all continental capitals with
out reference to the immediate crisis in
China, which is absorbing England'S at
tention.
The most important feature of Eur
Opean comment is the universal recOg-
milton of the fact that the United
States is henceforth a great potentiali-
ty, which must be reckOned with in
considering every question involving
the rights and interests of nations. 1t
is interesting to note how complete, II
not how ungrudging, this recognition
has become during the past four
months. There is not the slightest sign
of a disposition to raise any opposition
to the terms of peace as far as they are
defined in the protocol.
There is no voice of protest yet
against Americas retaining the Philip
liticaI Importance. 1t is, indeed, re-
garded as a fOregOne conclusion that
the islands will become virtually Amer
lean, as the result of the Paris confer
ence.
1t is hoped at most continental chan
celleries that Spain, by cajOlery and
pleading, or by superior guile, may sue
coed in retaining the ASlaI4c group, ana
the Spanish government will probably
receive secret aid in the shape or the
best advice that the diplomatic Wiles
of the continent can suggest. But the
Philippine question is bound up in the
general ASiatic crisis, which is certain
to take a new, and, perhaps, unexpect-
ed shape before the peace commission
will get to work. The position of most
European powers, therefore, is still IN
defined.
Russia's course in helping humiliation
after humiliation upon England Is re-
lentIess and apparently regardless OF
consequences. 1t is not true, however
that Russia is deliberately melting
Great Britain to war. 1t is believed at
St. Petersburg, and throughout Europe
for that matter that nothing which may
happen in China will force Lord Sails
bury to draw the sword. The chief rea-
son for this belief is the well known
fact of the queens determination never
under any circumstances, to sign an
other declaration of war.
The real question is how far 1t is safe
for EngIand'S rivals to trust to this as
sumption. There is a point beyond
which the queen herself would be pow
erIeSs. There have been indications In
the past few days that this point is al
most within sight Public sentiment
throughout England is very deeply
stirred. Lord Salisbury's critics today
number the great majority OF EngIlsn-
men. His own party almost unan1-
1nously condemns him. There is not a
newspaper of any consequence In Great
Britain which has not, during the pres
ent week, attacked the criticised the
Eastern policy of the government.
Public opinion in England is unden-
onstrative until it can bear no more,
then it becomes insiStent and coerc1Ve.
The limits of it's passive submission TO
repeated humiliation are well nigh
reached, according to all indications 1t
is already in open rebellion to Lord
Salisbury and will even override the
wishes of the queen herself if it is only
convinced that national honor and ma
tional interests are both at stake.
This condition of the public mind will
probably force the government before
long to do one of two things-either for
cibly to intervene alone or in conjunc-
ton with the United States to keep
open markets in China, or accept the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Chinese empire,
toward which events are obviously has
tening, and to seize whatever is posi-
BILE for the British share There is rea-
son to believe that Russia, France and
Germany hope that Lord Salisbury Will
resort to the latter policy It is almost
certain that those powers are so far
agreed that they expect to restrict the
British share in such a division of the
prize to very narrow limits.
The United States, of course, viii get
nothing, as it wants nothing territorial
" but it will inevitably be shut out OF
the markets which it does want, except
such as Great Britain will kindly con-
sent to share with America.
There is one course open which not
even the Russian diplomatists deny will
prove effective. If the United States
and Great Britain deliver joint de-
claration that they will not permit the
Of China TO he closed DV
power no country or combination OF
countries, will care to accept that cha1-
lenge.
commenting upon the signing OF the
Spanish-American protocol and cOnSe-
quent virtual end of the war, says:
America will hencefOrth have an I'M
disputed place among the powers which
make the history of the civilized and
unciviized world. Her day OF selI-con-
tanned isolation is gone forever she
may advance a little raster or a nItle
less fast to meet her manifest Destiny
but there can be no American citizen
today who does not feel that the old or
der of things has changed since Amer
lea stood at the parting Of the ways
four months ago, and that she stands
today upon the threshold OF a new ME
Then, referring to the intertwined in
terests of Great Britain and the United
States in China, the Gazette says:
I'VE can only say that the latest
news does not augur well for the main
tenance of the newly restored peace OF
nations, in which all men of good will
are rejoicing today.
The Globe says:
1.-The ending of the war marks the
final disappearance of Spain from the
new world For good or i'll, the United
States has taken a place among the
great powers and must accept the re-
sponsibilities. They have taken po-
foreign policy which will demand means
of making them respected abroad. They