The record-union., 1898-03-20


LONDON, March 19.-(Copyrighted.
1898, by the Associated Press. )-The
remarkable unanimity of the approval
of both classes and masses of the more
suggestion of an Anglo-American al
nance compels belief in the sincerity
OF the desire of the business public for
an entente with the United States The
Iact that most of the cable dispatches
from America have proclaimed that the
suggestion has been seriously discussed
is heartily welcomed here, and is re-
garded as extremely important and
gratifying, as evidencing a friendly
spirit. They are" as a diplomatist
put 1T, inspiring hope that the differ
ences of the past will be buried, and
that The Anglo Saxons in the near tu-
ture will be found issuing identical
notes to all opposed to their common
interests
The diplomat continued: 1T is not
any stretch of the imagination to say
that such a union has been longed for
by the best men in Great Britain many
years, not only because of the genuine
wish for closer bonds of friendship, but
because it is a known fact that all the
statesmen of Europe realize that
close alliance between America and
Great Britain would constitute, not
only the surest guarantee of the peace
of the world, but would afford proof
that the reign of law and individual
liberty is to be extended for the benefit
of mankind, in spite of the efforts to
extinguish it made by reactionary rul
ers and Governments.
The weekly newspapers pay consider
able attention to the subject.
The Speaker says: 1T is impos-
sible for the statesmen of either coun-
try TO find a nobler object to which to
devote their energies and their lives.
the actual relations in which
the Governments of London and Wash
ington regard the matter. the Ameri-
can people may be assured that if they
wish for an agreement the people of
Great Britain also wish for one. We
do not wish to ask the Americans to
fight cur battles, just as we feel con-
WINGED that they are too proud to de-
sire that we should fight theirs. But
what we do wish, and what wise men
on both sides most earnestly desire, is
in the other friend and a brother on
whose sympathy it can rely in time of
need"
The Spectator" noting the good
feeling expressed in the United States.
says: 1T does not follow from any de-
sire to court the old country because
it may be useful, but is due to the re-
ported coalition on the Continent
against England"
Continuing, the Spectator" remarks:
1.-The danger, or supposed danger, of
the British awoke race feeling with
rush, and the difficulty with Spain only
served to increase the latent sentiment
essential to the unity existing among
Anglo -Saxons The possibility that the
Spanish quarrel may bring them face
to face with a constitutional coalition
made the Americans realize that our
race is not beloved on the Continent,
and that we may some day have to
make common cause. Americans are
quite right in assuming that they will
have the support of the BritisherS
should a Continental alliance attempt
to oppress them. II our people once
realize the condition of Cuba half of
would be calling the Americans
hard names because they have not
earlier intervened to stop the horrors
at their very DOORS"
The curious mixture of pacific assur-
ances and the announcements of active
for war which are COM
ing from the United States keeps the
prophets guessing, but the opinion is
gaining ground that the outlook is i'm
Gno a
averted by a Spanish retreat under
some more or less specious excues, and
an agreement to recognize the claims
of the United States; for, in spite of
stories to the contrary, Spain is we'll
aware that it is useless to build hopes
of sympathy from the European pow
res.
Commenting on the attitude of Pres
ident Mckinley, the Saturday Re
view says it is a suggestive commen-
tary on government by the people that
the only means of preventing what
the President calls an unholy war; has
been for the Government to t'face popu-
lar clamor in an attitude of indiffer-
ence, such as might be expected of Rus
sia''
Reading between the lines of the re-
assuring cable messages, the "Specta-
tor thinks nothing has happened to
improve the situation, and says: while
the President is sincerely anxious to
avoid war, doubtless his desire will be
by the advices of the
Navy and Army Departments that the
every week of time gained now may
1n c11 oP
it comes, by many months
The reconvening of the Austrian
on Monday will not find the
outlook much improved by the recent
change of Ministry. The Germans are
as determined as ever, and any sup
port given the Ministry will be only in
return for concessions to the Clerical
and the National groups.
There is extraordinary activity in the
copper market. especially at Birming-
ham. Authorities agree that the sup
plies are manifestly scarce, and that
the stocks are unprecedentedly low.
Good brands have advanced f2 $50
per ton since January 1st. The activity
is largely attributed to the projected
expenditure of the United States for
war material, and a possible rupture
with the principal copper couneries.
John Meekin. an old weaver of Derby,
is the proudest man in the kingdom.
He has just received from Queen Vic
toria her autograph portrait. in recog-
iition of the fact that he has made her
Majesty's stockings for forty years.
Meekin, who is 81 years old, is about to
retire on a pension from the firm by