The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-13

ger-Lady Randolph ChurchiIpa
Engagement Opposed.
copyrighted by the Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. 12.-It is but short
step from the momentous reference to
the Iransvaal in the queens speech at
the prorogation of parliament, and the
hnal statement in the house of COM
mons Of the secretary of state for the
colonies, Joseph Chamberlain. the last
governmental utterance of the session.
to declaration of war, and it cannot
be long now before the issue is known.
The queens speech declares the position
OF the queens subjects in the South
African republic lis inconsistent with
the promise of equal treatment whereon
the grant of internal independence to
that republic was founded and in con-
sequence, therefore, OF constant danger
Of disturbance in my possessions in
South Africa
1t is now explained that the ministers
therein explicitly declared the Trans
vaal must submit to the demands made
in the queens name or accept the con-
sequences. 1t is impossible to accept
the suggestion of Michael DaVitt and T.
T. OConnor, Irish Nationalist members
| Of parliament, and others, that the min
| listers are merely conducting a great
game of bluff, and it may be taken for
granted that failing the acquiescence of
President Kruger to the British demands
they mean to compel aeQuiescence at the
point of the sword
An official of the colonIaI office, speak
ing today, said
"Surely the Americans realize that
their sympathies and interests are with
Great Britain over the BoeT question.
There are a number of American out
landers, and it is to their benefit as well
as to those of the BritiShers that these
reforms should be carried out. The case
Of John Hays Hammond (the American
| engineer who was imprisoned in the
| TransvaaD ought to have brought the
situation home TO the Americans. We
fully understand the underlying SYM
pathy of the United States for all repub-
lies, but the question of interests,
whether American or British, ought to
have nothing to do with republican
principles"
TASK IN PROSPECT.
An article in Blackwoods Magazine by
an expert authority on the fighting ca
pacity of the Beers is attracting the at
tention Of those interested in the situation.
The idea prevails here that war with the
TransYaal means a terrible, bloody strug-
gle which will severely tax the British
military resources, will not be ended
without a vast expenditure of money and
will demand consummate leadership sue
cessfully to conclude it. This idea the
writes controverts. He shows that the
exaggerated estimate of the fighting
strength of the Beers is due to recollec-
tions of the disastrous war of 1881, but
that then the British reverses were due
chiefly to insufficient force and under
rating of the strength and military quail
ties of the Beers.
Again, British craftsmanship has i'm
proved, while that of the Beers has de-
Perforated, and, finally, it is improbable
that the government will embark on the
struggle without placing an amIEe force
at the disposal of the general in COM
mand.
The writer concludes from all these con-
siderations that an alarmist view would
only be justified If the quarrel should ex-
tend over Cape Colony, Orange Free
State, Natal and Rhodesia, which is un-
likely, but that 1t would be mistake to
suppose that the conquest of the Trans
vaal, the Beers being left to themselves,
would be a task which would severely
test the British army or Involve an alarm
ing expenditure.
BRITISH TRADE.
The board of trade returns for July
have been received with chastened salts
faction. While the totals indicate con-
siderable progress, an analysis shows that
the totals have not been swollen by raw
materials of manufacturers, and large
percentage Of this decrease is in machin-
cry that has gone to their rivals. In
fact, it is useless to blink at the check
Itch, e. FTJI-
market is flooded with foreign articles
and the exports are about the same as
they were year ago. The newspapers are
comparing this situation with the bound
ing progress of the United States, and
are using 1t as a text against 1.-The in
antics and fallacies of the free trade
system, beloved of Cobdenftes.''
The report of the secretary of state of
the colonies on Barbados shows that the
trade of that island has decreased with
Great Britain during the past year G22,-
600, while it has increased with other
countries more than 474000. The secre-
tary attributes this state of affairs to
the increasing tendency to get all sup
plies from the United States, while more
than half the exports of Barbados go
to the United States.
ENGLAND A MODEL.
The state department at Washington
colonial office regarding the government
of British colonies in the East, with the
supposed idea of the probable adoption
Of British methods in the Philippines.
The American policy there is watched
with interest by the British officials An
official of the colonial Office expressed the
view that the United States would have
to reform its civil service before it can
acquire any degree of success in the gov
ernment of the Philippines
MARLBOROUGHS FURIOUS.
The engagement of Lady Randolph
Churchill to young Lieut.. G. F. M. Corn
wallis-West, brother of the Princess of
Pless, is meeting with the most violent
opposition. The Marlborough family is
quite furious at her, while Lieut.. Corn
wallis-West's family is denying the en-
gagement everywhere, and has cut Lady
Randolph Churchill dead All influence
is being brought to bear in the matter
The Prince of Wales even went to see
the Cornwallis-We especially to talk
it over, and he also spoke to Lady
Randolph Churchill on the subject. But
nevertheless the engagement has not
yet been broken of.