The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-31

ASaah interference MOI considered
PFObnbIe-COaI Famine Is the
Latest Difficulty for England
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dee S0.-It is strange to note
that as the new year dawns for Great
Britain the largest army she ever put In
the field remains passive In South Africa
held at bay by two of the smallest re-
publics on the face of the earth, while
at home in spite of the large volume
of trade and apparent prosperity her
financial interests are in a state Of in
stability not seen since the Barring
crash All Europe is yelping at her
heels, and the necessity for Americas
friendship is recognized on all sides. Pa
pers and people that for years have been
ready with a jibe for Americas good
will no longer make any attempt to be-
little The desirability of securing her
friendship.
America" says the Globe, usually
humorous at the expense of all things
transatlantic, with crop Of 542 0O0, ,O03
bushels, is especially in a position to help
US"
ECONOMIC SHOE PINCHES.
AiiC 'NOAAOl4lAS SllOG diISdNiy DSSillS "
pinch the military foot Not very Sc
riously, but enough to suggest grave
cogitations as to what would happen If
Great Britain We're at war with a great
power. The fact that the navy has
chartered so many transports has re-
suited in a rise in the price of bread,
while coal is rising by leaps and bounds
to famine prices. 1t is such unpleasant
results these that silence the scoffer
at things American, and induce such
Vituperative publication as the Saturday
Review to say:
The Americans have had their eyes
opened to the possibilities of foreign
policy and are taking a sounder, broader
view of the situation. They are not
less friendly to us than before but the
insincere- element has been eliminated
and has left a substratum of good will"
The Saturday Review under different
circumstances, would doubtless construe
this into damning evidence of the in
sincerity of American friendship. 1t
must be Inferred that this view is held
by many Of the sincere English friends
of America, who now point to what they
are pleased to term It's great friendfiness
as proof of what they have always main
tanned.
COMPELS ADMIRATION.
With such a serious outlook for the
coming year it is hardly surprising that
articles are appearing under the heard.
Are We Decadent?" and similar strains
On the other hand there is still small
section of the press and public which de-
votes it's energies to senSelessly abusing
the Beers and prophesying the speedy
entrance of the British into Pretoria. Yet,
on the whole, the organs voicing the bet
ter class of opinion face 1900 and it's
eventualities in South Africa with an
even-mindcd, unhysterical determination
that cOmpels admiration. That there will
be a day of reckoning for someone is a
certainty that even the most guarded
and conservative do not try to conceal.
Whether 1t be Lord Lansdowne Lord
Wo!seley or Gen. Butler it is impossible
to tell But all the information obtain
able at present and the gist of criticisms
point to Lord Lansdowne having to
shoulder the onus for the terrible mis-
management.
BOERS TURN TO AMERICA
While Great Britain feeds contentedly
upon long special cables, showing Ameri-
can friendship, the BOer agents in Europe
believe sentiment in the United States
has been gradually turning Boerward
until the time is now ripe to drop it into
material effect. Under this impression
the Associated Press learns they are
contemplating dispatching a special mis-
sion to the United States for the purpose
Of influencing public opinion, possibly by
open meetings and by personally assist
Ing the efforts of those in congress whom
they believe friendly Moreover, they
consider it advisable to offset what they
declare has been a systematic campaign
of John Hays Hammond the American
engineer, who was a member Of the Jo-
hannesburg reform committee, to in
huence Washington opinion If the plans
now under consideration are carried out
the mission will include a very prominent
BOer agent and prO-Boer member Of the
British parliament, who intended to sail
this week, but was prevented by what is
thought to be a temporary hitch in the
arrangement. Their desire is to affiliate
themselves with no particular party, but
by influencing political and public opinion
to secure at least an offer of mediation
from the United States.
A representative of the Associated
Press has made careful inquiries. but
failed to find any circumstances to war
rant the belief that such an offer, how
ever made, would receive the slightest
consideration.
COAL FAMINE FEARED
The British government is threatened
with a coal famine the most serious de-
velopment of recent weeks. Unless tine
conditions improve many Industrial con.
Germs depending upon the coal supply
may have to suspend operations before
February, as their margin of profit is
rapidly being wiped ont. The trouble an.
pears to be the withdrawal OF So many
colliers to take their places in the ranks
of the reserves. Wages have gone up
but labor is hard to find.
The enormous Christmas traffic aggra-
Yates the situation, while the government
need of fuel for warsEtps, transports and
depots on the way TO the Cape has created
an unprecedented demand.
Thomas Kite, the old parish clerk Of
Shakespeare's church. has quickly fol-
lowed the custodian of Hathaway's cot
tage TO the grave. He was n:ncty-flve
years of age ard succeeded his father
and grandfather half a century ago and
was well known to all dramatic ceIebri-
ties. Amongst those be conducted to
Shakespeare's tomb were Sir Walter
Scott, Washington Irving, Dickens, EN-
erson. Booth, Keene ard Nathaniel Haw-
thorne.
Senior wrangler promises to be thing
of the past at Cambridge the board of
mathematics having recommended the