The times., 1899-02-28
niscb;cf Makers mt MANILA.

hands.
Mischief Makers mt Manila.
We are not yet at the end of the sub
iect of Admiral Dewey's message asking
for the battleship Oregon for political
reasons There is q very suggestive
leader in the London Times of yester-
day about the situation in the Philippines
1t uses the term mischief makers who
it says. should be warned away from there.
This is not a phrase that could run oil the
pen of a careful writer without reason. Ii
is TO be considered in the light of many
things-the refusal OF Won Diederich, the
German admiral who is again at Manila.
to pay the same respect to Admiral DeW-
ey's regulations that the naval officers OF
other countries did: the belief of Generals
Merritt and Otis and our consular officers
at Hongkong that Aguinaldo is the plant
tool of foreign conspirators at that port
an opinion that was strengthened by the
transmission of -Agoncillo's dispatches by
way of HonglSong and confirmed by the
discovery and seizure of arms and ammu-i-
ton intended for the rebels. 1t has been
the common inference that these conspira-
tors are German, although it has not been
charged that they act with the kno owledse
of the Berlin government.
The London Times" in thus affirming
that there are mischief makers who inter-
fere in order to obstruct the efforts of the
Americans to crush the rebels, leaves no
doubt that it refers to the Germans. It's
comments are based on the alleged inter-
view of Prince Radziwil in 'L.berte.'
This official was the representative of the
Kaiser at the Faure obsequies, and he
spoke with indiscreet frahkness. The
Times chooses to speak of the interview
as spurious because that is wise, but it
treats it as though il We're authentic.
Radziwill told the French that it was al
most impossible there should be en-
tente between such serious commercial
rivals as Great Britain and Germany
which is true; and that the Continental
powers should cooperate to combat the
United States, whose pretensions and
wealth are becoming danger to all. This
describes so exactly the German feeling
especially in relation to the increas-
ing industrial rivalry and inevitable
| triumph of America that there is
no reasonable doubt of the accuracy
of the newspaper report OF the in
terview. But for this country. Germany
| would soon have almost undisputed control
of the worlds best markets. in which she
has shown herself more enterprising than
England. 1t is a matter of bread and but
ter and therefore of domestic tranquillity
| for Germany.
| The Times" observes that, of course,
there is no real reason for the separation
of American and German interests; but
nations are governed as much by senti-
ment as by logic, and considering the df-
| fculty and magnitude OF America s
task in the Philippines. il is only fair that
| the mischief makers should be warned oil
in time" There is nothing ambiguous in
that statement, and undoubtedly the time
is near when, in spite of the representa-
tions of Ambassador White. it will BE-
necessary to issue a formal warning. IT
may be true that neither Germany nor any
other power has a present intention to in
terfere in the Philippines or to disembark
troops to protect foreign residents: but
there has been talk of the latter. Some
influence has been at work to stir up the
foreign Consuls at Manila to represent the
situation extremely dangerous and il
is believed this was done TO make the pres
ence of Admiral Won Dederich with his
warship appear to be measure of secur-
ity. The English Consul has declined tc
take part in these alarnist meetings, which
he would hardly do If the danger were a:
great as it is represented to be.
1t cannot be charged that the Berlin gov
ernment consciously promotes the schemes
of the mischief makers, but all Germany
would rejoice at any new difficulties en-.
countered by our Government in its effort.
to establish full authority. 1t is our owl
officials at Manila and Hongkong wht
must be alert to discover just who tn,
mischief makers are and the means t,
place the responsibility where it belongs