New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-06
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
THE CANDID FRIEND MAKING HIMSELF
HEARD-A RADICAL ADMIRER OF
AMERICANA. BALFOUR IN
THE FOREIGN OFFICE.


THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
London. April a.
Since the outbreak of war the English press
has taken UP the attitude OF the candid friend.
when It Is not openly hostile to America. The
hostile Journals are few In number and with
out influence. THE Saturday Review" The
81. Jan,es's Gazette" and THE Globe" are con.
spicuous among them. The friendly press In.
cludcs all the Liberal and most Of the Con.
servative journals in London and the prov
inces Their sympathies are undisgused. hut
they are English journals conducted for a ma.
ton which is always complaining and grum-
bling about Its own affairs The Spectator"
the sincerity OF whose friendship for America
cannot be questioned. has already given warn.
ing that the English people. while on the Amer
ican side will be critical and censorious. accord.
ing 10 an nveterate habit. There are evidences
Of this critical mood already in press utter.
snce, and club talk. John Bulls heart Is with
Brother Jonathan. but he ia a keen observer and
an outspoken critic and his advice and strict
ures will often be patronizing and sometimes
cold blooded. n Americans are representative
th.v will inevitably be irritated by English
comments upon the Cuban war now opening
What this candid friend is now saying is that
the United States Government has been out
matched in diplomacy by Spain. that it is I'M
prepared for war by land or sea with third
rate Power that its Constitution Is not work.
ing well, and that. while its motives for inter-
yent!on are not discreditable its manners are
bad and its methods of warfare crude and I'M
scientific Whenever the hostile fleets are en-
gagged there will be criticism without equivoca-
ton or reserve whatever may be the result II
the action. TIE English have made an immense
investment If treasur, in a navy Of their own,
which they believe t. be the most scientific one
aioat; and when broadsides are exchanged be-
tween the American and Spanish fleets they are
wellnish certain TO pronounce II feeble per-
Torrance by undsciplined and unframed forces
They are already forecasting long and tedious
war in consequence Of tn. lack OF preparation
and military spirit on each side. This candid
friend is likely 10 try and vex American pa
thence during the next few months of hostilities
He certainly will do this II Americans in their
sen-!tiveness to criticism allow themselves to
resent plain speaking
ENGLANDS SELF-CRTT1CTSM
One point at least 1t will be we'll for Ameri.
cans 10 remember This is the candor with
which the English criticise their own foreign
policies and military and naval services. They
arc ALWAYS complaining that their imperial IN
terests are neglected ana that the Admiralty
ard War Offices are incompetent sluggish and
unprepared for emergencies. From the 3egn-
ming 10 the end Of the year the grumblng goes
on in and out Of Parliament. Criticism IL the
Oldest Of English privileges. and 1t Is justined
nv nature and climate as well as grounded
upon Magma Charta. II is a habit ~ mind
which may make the Englishmau trying ana
disagreeahla 20 foreigners but which also keeps
him alive 10 sources 81 weakness and danger
and enables him to protect his own interests
Indifferent TO .riicism from foreign Countries
he is unconscious Of the offence which his own
ca ,dor causes whenever he comments upon
what I, going on in the world outside the
Empire Americans will make mistake X
they take this candid friend too seriously dur
ing the war with Spain. He will continue -
point out the flaws In American representative
institutions and the weak points in the military
and naval services: but his friendship will b
real and constant. hard and cavilltng as h1
criticism may sometimes seem.
Mr. william Allan. whose sympathies with
the Americans in the liberation OF Cuba nave
found expression already in The Tribune. IS
one Of the heartiest and most consistent Radi-
calls In the House Of Commons. He Is big.
buily Scotchman. with practical taient TOT
mechanics and a taste for poetry and letters.
He ls one OF the raciest story-tellers In the
Iyouse Of Commons and Is a familiar figure IN
the smoking room. where he pulls energeticaNy
az a pipe and delights in "reminiscences OF
life ~ adventure Mr.. Allan was once work.
ing engineer IN tho navy and In the merchant
service and although he is now builder OF
marine engines and owner II the Scotia Works
In Sunderland, ne is a strong advocate or the
true interests Of labor. In his factory ne mas
adopted voluntarily the eight hour rule. and
during the recent struggle in the engineering
trade he was outside the Employers Fedora
ton He is man Of genuine force Of char
acter. and one Of the most thorough going
Radicals In the Commons.
Mr. ALLAN IN AMERICA.
II was during the Civil War that Mr.. Allan
first visited America Indeed. he made a series
Of flying visits. for he engineer in the
blockade running service. Born at Dundee N
1887 he was Il working engineer with a love ~
adventure when the blockade Of the Southern
seahoard WAS established. and he was drawn
into a dangerous service which suited his
humor. He did his work with wonderful EN-
cheney in the entsine-room. and could always 10
depended upon 10 drive the ship at the highest
possible speed. He made several voyages from
Nassau to Wilmington. Charleston and other
ports. and had many thrilling experiences. which
h" rec cunts with dra matte fervor To a robust
youth OF twenty-five there was pleasurable ex'
element in the extraordinary risks Of blockade
running when the vigilance OF a squadron had
to he euded and harbor entered al midnight
without a light burning on the ship. Mr. Allans
face lights up with fine glow ~ enthusiasm
as he recalls the adventures OF that stirring
period His career as a blockade-runney was
brought to a close by the capture OF the vessei