Evening star., 1898-12-20
Favorable Opinion Of 1t Expressed in
London.
WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS
Reported Combinations of CONT
mental Powers Against England.
V It's OF RO Y ALT Y
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star,

more cordial than usual. Perhaps the first
point that strikes the British mind. long
now used to regard Americans as prone to
Dragging, is the absolute absence in the
message of what is called here Spread
eagleism" and bounce" 1t would not be
surprising if after so successful a war some
slight glorying had been INDUCED even in
a state paper, and these people who know
how to make a little British fighting go a
very long way should be the last to con-
denim this sort of thing. No trace, however,
of triumph appears in the message, and
hostile critics of America are completely
diSarmed. Some slight disappointment is
manifest at the formaity of the Presidents
references to England, but this is explained
by all writer's on the subject as usual un-
der the circumstances. The use of the
superlative, most friendly footing in the
message is gratifying, and the English see
in the phrase all that is necessary and per-
haps more than is meant. The feeling in
the American colony is one of thankfulness
that the President treated the subject with
the dignity and cordality 1t deserved and
went no farther, as he might easily have
been tempted to do.
The most striking point in the message
to people on this side lies in the refer
ences to Cuba. They see in the straight
forward and emphatic statements strong
the occupation of Egypt. Indeed. the SINH
larity between the position of the Unlted
States in regard to Cuba and England
toward Egypt is most pronounced rms
similarity is noted by most of the COM
ments on the message.
England went to Egypt to put an end
to anarchy and bloodshed,' to do sood TO
the Egyptians, and to do little good, by
the way, TO her own holders of Egyptian
bonds. The United States went to Cuba
to put an end to anarchy and bioodshed
too, and to rescue the Cubans, ana TO re
move the ruinoUs check put by the struggle
between Spain and the Cubans upon Amerl-
can trade with Cuba. SO far the cases are
alike. When England had conferred the
blessings of bombar}ment upon one ESyp-
tian city, she discovered that steps OF this
nature were not constructive The Dontl-
cal health of Egypt had to be built up until
she could walk alone And so it was IN
Cuba. When America interviewed in CUBA,
the assumption by the Cubans vas that
people struggling to be free would be aided
in the struggle, and that as soon as 1t was
won the rescuers would retire and leave
them to the enjoyment of their longed-for
liberty. Then it was seen that they might
cut each others thrOats, and the emancl-
pated nation was put. and will for some
time remain, under military occupation
Cuba. too, must be taught to walk alone
The resemblance goes still further. Eng
land bound herself over repeatedly not to
appropriate Egypt while teaching her to
walk. The United States entered into and
are still renewing similar recognizances.
On the eve of the war Congress made a
sort of VOW not to seize Cuba, and Mr..
Mckinley now repeats the assurance.
Again, in England and America alike there
are large groups of politicians who propose
that these sef-denying ordinances should
not be observed.
What the outcome will be, and whether
the United States. with the best inten-
tons to confer independence on Cuba, will
follow England's Egyptian policy, which
h1ts ha oil he -i.,a han * O.
mains to be seen.
If one should pin his faith upon the lead
ing articles in the principal reviews and
n wspapers of this country at the present
time, he would be forced to accept a very
gloomy outlook for the beginning of the
new century. Wars and Rumors of Wars"
is the text preached and insisted upon.
Many writer's, most of whom are anOny
nous, but whose identity can be shreWdly
guessed at, profess to believe in the eX
istence on the continent Of plots against
British interests in nearly every quarter of
the globe. One writer endeavors to show
that Marchar's 5 mission was but one move
in a deliberate conspiracy against British
power in Africa the immediate COnse-
quences of which would he to strew the
valley of the White Nile with the dead
bodies of Anglo-Egyrtian officers and sol
diers." Another anonymous writer, head
ing his article The Arch-Enemy Of Eng
land" makes terrible Illumination against
the Emperor # Germany. H charges the
against England, lin a far more insidious
and perilous form than was conceived by
Napoleon" The alliance is that of Ger
many. Russia and France, with Austria
and Italy subsequently to be dragged in,
and its object is to crush the naval power
of Great Britain and rob her of her colo
mics. According to this writer, Germany
r. her than Russia was at the bottom Of
.. the trouble in China. Kiao-Chau was
seized by Germany ito oblige Russia and
diScOmfOrt Ell gland
It was done in order to keep Great Brit
ain from occupying that port when the
Russians acquired Port Arthur and. what
is more says this writer, 'tha Russian
ruler holds his Ghe kasCr's) personal prom
ise TO withdraw from kiaO-Chau when Rus
sia is ready to take it over, and TO provide
Germany with compensation in some other
part Of China" The Emperor of Germany'S
hostility against Great Britain is not die
tated by personal hatred of England but
due to Il patriotic desire to make Germany
the leading commercial and colonial state
in the world" This can only be brought
about by the humiliation of England. When
Great Britain finds that the naval strength
arrayed against her is greater than har
own she will give way and allow him and
his friends to regulate matters in Africa,
in the far east and elsewhere as they wish
and to recolCr the map they choose"
The great difficulty that lies in the way of
the successful accomplishment of the
scheme and which battles the imperial plot
ter is suggested by this fertile writer to be
the unexpected assertion of American pre-
tensions in the far east and the prospect
of an AnglO-AmeriCan alliance. Thus va
are brought back again to the animating
impulse of the British policy al the PRESENT.
time. 1t would be d eXaggeration to say
that all eyes are turned to the west, but
it is quite true that Edgish politicians are
looking toward the United States with in
tense interest and seem to see in the new
empire that is being founded and the new
relations now forming between our country
and the world at large a force that may be
turned to useful account for Great Britain.
The last number of the Spectator. too. has
a sensational article, entitled rs Revolu-
ton Coming in France?' ana prefaces it by
stating that even if accused of sensation
mongerirg it must have it's say. The arti-
Gle is Il strong one and foreshadows a coup
d'etat in France.
The responsible journals are full of fore
bodings, and ones daily reading seems to
get tinctGred with gloom.
Old Age Pensions.
great topic at present for both political
parties i'll England is the question of old
age pensions. painstaking Scotchman
has carefully calculated that it would cost
the country $12o,900oo0 year to give
everybody over siXty-fve a pension Of only
SD week. Public grants for the relief