The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-16

AInerIcdn ShIppInS Not Long TO lie
Held in Its Present Narrow Linn
its - Russia in Advance of the
Other Powers in Solving the Chi
nese Puzz1e-ReaI Patriotism Is
Rare I'm Public Life.
LONDON, Sept. 2S.-The truth about
several interesting affairs is gradually
coming to light, and it hardly reflects
| credit upon this overpraised British
government. Why the cable does not
tell more of the inside history Of the
recent sickening British victory over
the poor Dervishes is inconceivable.
Following SO closely upon acts Of real
heroism and generosity displayed IN
the Spanish-American war, these atroc-
tiles in the upper Nile region are all
the more appalling. When the truth
comes to be fully known, the British
war cry of "avenge Gordon will be
the very polite and patriotic way Of
referring to a horrible butchery For
there is scarcely any doubt that the
DerVishes were actually butchered at
the instigation and with the help Of
the British government at frightful
Wholesale It was slaughter Of the
worst kind
The reports by the correspondents
all British-on the scene of this alleged
battle have all been unusually guard
ed. There was such an effort put forth
to dwell at length upon the wonderful
valor Of the Dervishes and they were
so praised for their pluck that it arous-
ed suspicion. Men discussing the affair
at their London clubs rather shook
their heads, and the fact of there hav-
ing been thousands of the enemy shot
down wantonly gradually stood out
prominently enough to counteract the
excessive praise for their courage Then
came the suggestions between the lines
of the dispatches that the wounded
were murdered in cold blood for fear
they might get up and do some harm.
It was explained that this particular
breed of Hottentot has a way with him
when wounded and is much better
dead. So (of course, in the interest Of
Christianity and England's civilizing
in1uence) the poor devils were simply
put where they could retard Christian
progress no longer. And 1 take 1t for
granted Gordon was avenged" He
was avenged" in the Christian way,
as practiced by this grand humanita-
rian British government.
ENGLAND ASHAMED.
And afraid and ashamed to have any
thing further known Of her Christian
methods, the government, or at least
its representatives, expelled ali the cor
respondents from Khartoum and pro-
poses to carry on it's game of murder
and robbery for a time in the dark!
Somebody, described as white
force" loomed up dead ahead at Fa-
shoda, and there was every reason for
believing that force represented France.
In my last letter I referred to this
interesting situation. At the time of
my writing 1t 1 depended upon pri-
vate sources of information Since then
the whole world knows how the French
evidently got there first" and fairly.
or what appears fairly, headed Eng
land off. The outcome at the present
writing is not known.
Compare, If you please, this murder
Gus campaign of England in Africa
with what happened in Cuba when II
appeared that the Cubans We're inclin-
ed to attack the defenseless Spaniards
forced to land from their burning
ships. You may say the Spaniards and
the Dervishes are not the same breed
Of cattle, but that is no answer. The
Americans are not butchers, even in
the cause Of Christianity and civiliza-
ton.
That record Of $1,000 Dervishes killed
and $4,000 wounded in a few hours
with no loss worth mentioning on the
other side, together with the stories of
the correspondents, gives a little in
sight into the "c1vilizing'' methods that
Mr.. Chamberlain would cunningly in
vite America to tie herself up to-
While the British press has tried its
best to make the British victory at
| Khartoum sound we'll to the nations
of the earth, 1 confess 1t has filled me
with feeling of disgust and loathing.
Possibly this is because I have not the
true conception Of the most approved
and up-to-date policy Of a Christian
nation.
For instance, to show my utter hope
1essness for more enlightened views, 1t
seems to me that every clergyman in
the United States should lend his voice
and influence to oppose the growing
ambition Of America to acquire remote
territory and form entangling alliances
with the old world and depart from
her glorious traditional policy.
TENDENCY OF TIMES.
There is no denying that the ten
dency of the times in America today
is to run pellmell into dangerous and
extravagant policies and to adopt meas
ures which foster the extremes Of rich
and poor. Our own President McKin-
ley lacks individuality.
We hear little these days about the
Anglo-American understanding. The
interviews in America with Mr.. Cham
berlain have rather raised doubts in
the minds of many as to the thing be-
ing already an accomplished fact.
When Mr.. Chamberlain points out that
England is ready for alliance and if is
for America to say what she thinks
about it, the question naturally comes
UP here: why, thought this all set
tied. What does it mean2" To which
the answer is forced that America has
not considered the idea seriously at all
Still, If England can make it so this
Anglo-American alliance talk in Lon
don and New York Is going to be an