The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-04

TIKENs rs no EVE.

''The annexation OF the Philippine Islands
may seem but a small thing. but II is Ge-
cisive. When Eve ate the apple it was but
the act of moment. But it barred against
her forever the gates of paradise. What
the old world says is that the new world
has now eaten of the forbidden fruit, and
that the flaming sword which Iuraei Eve
away will prevent return to the peaceful
traditions of the fathers of the Republic.
I'm the course of my tour, am now COM
PEELED to admit, 1 found proof of the exist
ence Of a disposition on the part OF the
powers TO intervene in behalf of Spain,
which might have been very serious had it
not been checked in the bud by the knowl-
edge that England would have nothing to
do with it. When I was in Paris was pos
itively told that no proposal had ever been
made to intervene and that therefore Eng
land had never had the occasion or oppor-
tunity TO put her foot down on the anti
American coalition. That no doubt, was
true as far as overt action OIL the part of
the government was concerned. But it is
not less true that Immediately after the war
broke out, a diplomatic representative OF
the powers communicated to an American
minister at European court, in plain and
unmstakable terms, the displeasure of the
powers and their desire to express that dis
pleasure publicly and forcibly. These com
munications were sufficiently serious for the
contingency of the use of the allied forces
of the European nations for the coercion of
the United States to be frankly discussed
between the two diplomats. The result of
that discussion was TO put summary stop
to all notion of European intervention.
'''If you intervene said the American
minister, it means war;
+" Yes, rejoined his visitor, and the forces
of the great European powers acting in alli-
ance would overwhelm any opposition which
America could offer
g No doubt said the American, hut you
would have to bring your forces across the
Atlantic to the other hemisphere and keep
them there for the rest of your natural life.
For the new world is not going to submit to
the old world any more No, sir, not any
more than it submitted q century since,
when the odds were far worse. And remem-
ber, he added, as clincher, that when you
are bringing your armies and navies across
three thousand miles Of sea TO fight with
America you would have to count with Eng
land, who is certainly not friendly to your
enterprise
This put an extnguisher to the proposal.
Nothing more was heard of the contem-
plated Intervention. 1t never got so far as
to be submitted to England. The whole de-
sign was checked at the very outset by the
calm audacity with which the representa-
tive Of America played his cards, including
the trump card of the Anglo-American en-
tente, which henceforth will play leading
part in all the dealings of the English
speaking people against their jealous neigh
bors. / am glad to set forth the actual
facts as they actually happened. They were
told me at first hand by the person most
Immediately concerned, and you can abso-
lutely rely upon the accuracy Of the above
statement.
IF the old world regards American
growth and expansion with unconcealed
alarm, the British empire, which is seated
both on the old world and the new, con-
templates the new departure with unaffected
sympathy. The relations between the en-
bassies of Britain and America at Constan-
tinople and at Rome could hardly be closer
and more cordial IL there had been a hard
and fast, clt-and-dried signed sealed and
delivered treaty of alliance, offensive and
defensive, between the two powers.
IF things go on as they are going now
every English-spealling man will feel as l
have felt throughout this war-that he has
not one ambassador, but two, in every capi-
tai in Europe, and that behind him, wher-
ever he goes, he is shielded by the might,
not of one empire, but of two, combina-
ton beneath whose shadow the whole world
may yet learn to rest in peace"