The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-10
GERMANY CULTIVATING NEW
FRIENDS.

FRIENDS.
II has been stated several times lately in
the foreign dispatches, az If TO emphasize
the fact. that Germany has declined 70 en-
ter into or encourage the movement for
European Intervention in the Transvaal
war As such Intervention would be dis
tinctly unfriendly to Great Britain. Ger
many's refusal TO participate in il is
friendly act on her part. Recent events
seem to indicate disposition on the part
of Germany TO readjust her international
relations and, perhaps to favor the much
talked-of Anglo-Saxon alliance, including
under the term Saxon the Germans. Such an
alliance. i'm its broadest sense. would in
clude Great Britain, the United States and
Germany. There is not the least probability
that these nations or any two of them will
ever enter into formal treaty or hard and
fast alliance binding themselves to make
either OF them might be embroiled. but it
is quite possible that they might establish
such friendly relations as would be equiva-
lent to an understanding that in any great
or threatening emergency they would stand
together There has been a distinct ap-
proach to such a tacit understanding be-
tween Great Britain and the United States
during the last two years. At the begin
ming of the war with Spain British SYM
pathy with the United States was so mani
fest as to attract the attention of all other
powers. 1t is no longer secret that the at
titude of Great Britain at that time was
the main cause of the failure of an attempt
to bring about European intervention in be-
half of Spain. Great Britain not only re-
fused to join in the proposed Intervention,
but gave other powers to understand that
it must not be attempted. At that time Ger
many was not showing any friendship for
either Great Britain or the United States.
Everybody remembers how meddesome and
exasperating was the conduct of the Ger
man naval officers at Manila, and how Ad-
miral Dewey had to .'call them down."
Germany repeatedly disavowed any I'M
friendly designs or feeling towards the
United States, yet her ships continued to
hang around" the Philippines for some
time after it became evident that the
islands had passed under American control.
and there is scarcely a doubt that If a IA
vorable pretext or opening had offered
Germany would have seized one of the
islands or in some way tried to obtain a
foothold there. During the entire war with
Spain neither the German government,
press people evinced any sympathy with
the United States, affording marked con-
trast in this respect to the attitude Of the
British.
But a change seems to have come over
Germany, and from an attitude of almost
unfriendliness towards Great Britain and
the United States she now seems disposed
to cultivate the friendship of both. AS for
Great Britain. we note. first. the reiterated
refusal of Germany to join in the interven-
ton movement; second, the public an
nouncement that the Emperor's famous
telegram of sympathy to President Kruger
at the time of the Jameson raid had been
misconstrued, and was not intended to be
unfriendly TO Great Britain: third. the En-
perors approaching visit to the Queen,
which, doubtless, means more than a mere
friendly or family cali. AS for the United
States We note. first, the revocation Of an
order excluding American insurance COM
panies from doing business in Germany;
second. an expressed desire on the part of
the government for a closer commercial
treaty and improved relations generally
with the United States: third, the consent
Of Germany to a friendly partition of the
Samoan islands, on terms satisfactory to
both Great Britain and the United States.
1t might be added that, during General
Harrison's recent visit to Berlin he received
very marked and unusual attentions from
Emperor william, who evidently intended
to placate the government and people
through their ex-President.
IL il is true, these things indicate, that
Germany has changed her attitude of sus-
picion and dislike towards Great Britain
and of superior and contemptuous indiffer-
ence towards the United States to one that
courts the friendship of both countries, it
may mean much for civilization and future
history. These three nations should be true
and lasting friends. Their peoples represent
different branches of the same family and
together constitute, in a broad sense. the
Anglo-Saxon race. They are all liberty-lov-
ing and progressive peoples and they are
all Protestant peoples. They have nothing
in common with the Latin race nor with
the Slavonic races. The domestic tastes and
habits of the three peoples are much alike.
Their literatures flow together. Shakespeare
is read in Germany almost as much as he
is in England or the United States, and
Goethe is read in both countries almost as
much as he is in Germany. The three ma
tons should be friends. not enemies. There
should be between them a tacit and friendly
understanding that, in a large sense, their
aims and interests are one and that they
represent the highest type of civilization.
If the time ever comes when there shall be
a struggle for supremacy between Slav and
Saxon they should stand together. United,
!. Great Britain, the United States and Ger
many could defeat the world in arms or en-
brace il with their civilization
SUCCESS OF RURAL DELIVERY.
The repOrt Of First Assistant P0Sfuaa 81 ar