The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-18
Drift OF British Oninion.


Drift Of British Opinion.
The war has brouht about a somewhat
unusual controversy I'm this country. and
thouh IT IS not one OF largedIhensions-
It Is worth while 20 consider he subject
The British press has generally declared
sympathy with the United States. on the
other hand, various writer's of letters
10 the editor" have maintained that the
press is wrong and that tho prevailing
feeling is .prO-Spanish. Correspondents
arc by no means unanimous I'm this
opinion, but as there is some conflict Of
view lt is just as we'll that We should
think tho matter out. 10 goes without
saying that the press has no title, and
claims none. 10 set up as an infallble
oracle. This is free country and every
man is entitled TO his own Jpialon. Nev-
everthclcss, in this case we arc abso-
lutely convinced that the press is right,
and that the apparent conflict simply
consists On the fact that the press mas
taken a. somewhat longer view than the
Spanish letter writer. We can easily
tesJ the question by putting an imagin-
AIRY case. Suppose the United States
were seriously monaccd. driven into real
straits. and involved I'm a struggle FOR
national existence. British and Irish
sympathy would go 20 America as natu-
rally and as certainly as water runs
dowl hill. We should stand ly our kins-
folk 10 a man. prO-Spanish letter writer's
included. Nobody can doubt it, and from
that standpoint we say the press mas
struck the true keynote in declaring
British sympathy with the safes. In.
the long run the great Enslish-speaking
peoples must stand or fall together That
there should be an apparent conflict OF
d. E..
easily 20 be explained. 10 Is not a con-
fict Of British opinion I'm particular. for
% existed in the United States az least
ur 10 the moment when the actual out
break of war gave the signal for all par
ties TO close up the national ranks. We
doubt whether anybody I'm this country
has criticised the war policy more tren-
ch1ntiy than, for example. Mr. Phelps;
and we may safely take it that Mr.
Phelps was not alone en- his opinion.
To say that British opinion was in favor
of the war would. we believe. be untrue.
FOR apart from the fact that British in
terests are prejudicially affected IL SEEM
ed 10 ms. as somebody has aptly eX-
pressed ii, that the United States were
trying TO do the right thing in the wrong
way, and that war was a blunder Brit
ish opinion may be said. roughly. to have
American peace party. There are other
factors iu the case besides. IL IS natural
10 sympatn!ze with the under dog, and
Spain is ovcrmatched. The war is Ike
an encounter between a vigorous young
prize-dghtcr and an old cripple. Spain
has undaniahly shown both self-restraint
and pluck and for both these qualities
t1c a"erago Butcn has instructive ad-
rirat0n. Then. again, the Americans
themselves have hitherto done very l!tt.e
10 encourage mutual sympathy between
the States and Britain. Their politicians
have made twisting the lions tall
common electioneering dodge. which i'm
piles that the exhibition was Of a popular
l,nd. The scurvy trick played on Lord
Sackville when British Ambassador ut
Washington. the war message Of Iresi-
dent Cleveland over the Venezuelan DIS
putc. and the outburstg OF ant-British
spleen which accompanied these incidents
are still fresh in memory: and though
they were, no doubt properly, regarded as
mere electioneerng lodges, We still had
TO face the ugly inference that such
lodges would not be prnctlced unless
they were deemed 10 command majority
or a decisive balance OF votes Nor have
we any guarantee that. supposing British
policy were again accused OF touching
the sacred ark of the Monroe doctrine,
another anti-British outburst would not
be witnessed tomorrow. For aught we
know, Mr. Bryan may be found at the
next presidential election going about
the country declaiming in plagarized
phrases about crucifying mankind on the
cross OF British gold. American politl-
clans have. IN fact, used Britain chiefly
as n sort Of DOGGY with which 10 scare
or ager the electors. II, under these cir
cumstances. there should be a section OF
opinion In this country which doubts the
genulneness Of the more friendly DISPOSE
ton now said 10 be manifesting Itself in
the States. the fact cannot be regarded as
surprising. And, considering that the
Cuban rebellion Is believed to have been
kept alive mainly or entirely by hlibust-
ering expeditions from the States which
could have been prevented by a twentieth
part OF the efforts which the war now
renders necessary, II cannot be wondered
at that some people should be disposed
10 regard Spain as an injured party.
Moreover. the Cuban war agitation has
been carried on in America in manner
which. II we rely on Mr.. Phelps views
alone Is not entitled TO unmixed sympa-
thv Take all these considerations to-
gether and we have an ample explana-
ton OF the fact that some people have
been found 20 express pro-Spanish senti-
ments In this country. They may consti-
tute q strong plea for one side OF the
case. Nevertheless we maintain that
the plea for the other side is s;ronger
still. and that the final judgmen OF this
country is bound in the end TO 90 de-
cisiyely I'm favor OF America. SO far as
our own grudges are concerned. we car
always bear in mind that the bosses.
puppets and harpies or American poll
lies are not the whole American people
Moreover, we are not so childish as TO
sulk for eyer over old offences. AS re-