The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-03

AMERICA THE WORLD POWER.

Fearing that Americans would not con-
TESS their country under so profound
debt Of gratitude that It could never be
liquidated, Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain missed no opportunity 10 remind
us OF Great Britain's sympathy" when
the Spanish American war was brewing
and during It's progress.
No student of contemporary event has
denied that Great Britain's attitude at
that time was distinctly friendly, nor will
any one contend that, had It been other
wise, serious disadvantages to the Amer
lean cause would have come trooplng for
wari that might have prolonged the strug-
gle and touched II up with bloodier hive
but never to have put the final result In
doubt. THE service itself has been exag-
gerated and it's constant repetition is we'll
calculated 10 excite American statesmen TO
a cold dispassionate analysis from which
the colonial secretary and his government
will emerge under the grave suspicion OF
being an august aggregation OF cantlng
hypocrItes.
Long In advance OF the Spanish Amer
lean war, undertaken on plea that has
never distinguished the bloody pages OF
English history since the hour when It's
initial page was written, Great Britain
was cunningiy preparing to realize upon
her designs for the establishment OF a
South African federation on the ruins of
tho Transvanl republic. The demands to
| be made on the Dutch republic had al
ready been formulated and 1t was known
that, In their mnnstrous disregard Of every
principle OF justice by which the honor
/ OF states is maintained, the Boer would
I them. Who shall therefore, with confident
Judgment declare that Great Britain did
not deliberately plan 10 place Americans
under such obligations as would avoid
troublesome questions and timely prot
fer OF arbitration in behalf Of menaced
and outraged republic7 IF not then why,
during the hdeous unfolding OF the bloody
drama In the Transvaal, is America daily
told of England's friendly attitude during
the Spanish American war? But for this
debt of gratitude imposed by British cum
ming for British benefit, and because OF
subsequent entanglements in the Philip
pines. for which official Washington is
alone responsible, since It has acted with
out authorization of the American con-
gress, what would have been more natural
out the grand pattern OF free government
wherein the sovereign citizen rules. and
which democracy struggles to follow
wherever. exiled by the expressions of
monarchies It has found Judgment. should
have inclined sympathetic ear to the
pleadings of another republic threatened
with destructiou7
| Mr.. Chamberlain's Leicester speech
should not go unchallenged by the best
and safest thought OF this country merely
because he made 1t the occasion to indulge
lot OF sentimental twaddle. that exact
| justice can not tolerate. when he talked
about the overthrow OF American "sus-
picion which has SO often accompanied
/ British transactions when engaged In a
war OF Justice against oppression. a war
ment." There is far graver question in
volved In this luncheon delivery at Leices-
ter waivipg, for the purposes OF this brief
review. comparison of the events aud
causes consplring to respectively produce
the Spanish American and the Anglo Boer
wars. 1t is Indicated In this statement
OF the colonial secretary: THE union,
the alliance. II you please. the under
standing between these two great nations
(the United Kingdom and the United
states) Is indeed guarantee Of the peace
| of the world"
The establishment OF a world peace was
the idle dream OF the disarmament con-
ference. but yet tho hope OF honest men
to deal now. but OF the secretary's affrma-
tion Of an alliance between his and this
country. Americans understand that al
iiances are attained through the medium
Of treaties. and that treaties are beyond
the creative power and authority OF the
Nations executive. Upon what authority
| then. does the colonial secretary base his
solemn declaration? Has the administra-
ton at Washington so far put aside the
constitution as to perndously assume to
bird his sovereign countrymen to secret
alliance with Great Britain or with any
other country? II not. Il IL now In order
that he enter protest or. II It be true, that
he resort 10 the code and instruct Ambas-
eador Ghoate to neok fha AR of Mr.