New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
THE NEWSOF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR FOL-
LOWED WITH CALMNESS.
MR.. cHAMBERLAINs ATTITUDE TOWARD
AMERIcA-GoLD pRoBLEMs-ARr NoTEa
[BY CABLE TO THE rRrPuxE.I ,

AMERICA-GOLD PROBLEMS-ART NOTEA
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE
London. Dec. 9-Engand has renewed her
faith in Tommy Atkins her best general, and
bears with fortitude and patience the con-
tinuous strain OF with its hurres OF ex-
citement and its endless exaggeration OF trivial
details If a campaign entered into without pop
ular enthusiasm and mainly with feeling OF
political fatalism a conflict forced upon her
by Krtger's ultimatum and extensive military
preparations be watched with something like
evidences Of weariness 1t is because there is an
utter lack Of proportion between the minor in
cidents which I'LL the columns Of the news
lapers and the magnitude OF the British arma-
ments and efforts. John Bull suffers every day
from the pin pricking process by which skir-
mshes are enlarged into battles, and momentary
Interruptions OF communications exaggerated
into crises and defects in the supply depart
ment, and military preparations paraded as
signs Of War Office mismana cement. The effect
Of the undue Importance attached TO the trivial
details and OF the increasing criticism OF the
management OF the war is to induce irritability
and nervousness
1t is only when Englishmen think OF the eplen-
did bearing Of the private soldier that their
faces light up with fine glow OF enthusiasm
He is the true hero of the war in South Africa
he was in Cuba year ago. and the war
charities go to Kipling's refrain, Pay, pay,
pay!'
There is one unfaillng source Of English
serenity in time this is the complete calm
prevailing in foreign affairs. Lord Salisbury has
done his work so well that there safeguards
against foreign intrigue and mischief making
when England is employing an army of one hun
dred thousand men in Africa and large portion
of her naval resources John Bull has as little
liking for entangng alliances Brother Jona-
than, but he knows in his heart the efficiency
OF that good understanding which Lord Sails
bury has established with Germany. and when
the time comes will be ready in his turn to
allow the Emperor liberty to carry out any de-
signs commercial or otherwise, which he may
have formed for the expansion and development
of his interests in Asia Minor.
The Bagdad railway scheme continues to ex-
cite resentment in Russia and enthusiasm In
Germany, and is evidently the Kaser's favorite
project for enlarging German trade and infu-
in the Near East. He has England's best
wishes, although there is no entangling alliance
for batting the Russian bear.
The only reference which Mr.. Chamberlain has
made to the fusillade of criticism which has
been directed against him from various coun-
tries was the quiet remark dropped last night at
Birmingham, when he distributing the
prizes OF the Municipal School OF Art. lie had,
for him, the unusual experience Of hesitating for
the choice of a word. and with a twinkling eye
covered his embarrassment by explaining aside
that II was necessary for him TO be exceedingly
careful lest some editor should misunderstood
him. Probably nobody has been more aston
ished than Mr.. Chamberlain himself by the criti-
cism which his speech, brimming over with good
feeling for America. has excited in America; he
is, in reality. the last man in England who
wants formal alliance with the United States.
for. as Secretary of State for the Colonies he
has Canada to deal with. and his own reputa-
ton to maintain the greatest English Inn
periast He believes heartily In the closest
possible fellowship between England and Amer
lea, and takes the statesmanlike view that both
nations can admit Germany into the same
sphere OF good feeling and cooperation in COM
mercial and maritime policies
This was the idea which he clearly expressed
at Leicester, and Americans have no reason to
hold him accountable for the nadvertent use OF
the word alliance" which Immediately
translated into understanding based on good
feeling" Mr.. Chamberlain is a sincere and
useful friend of America probably there Is no
other leading Englishman who is equally out
spoken in prasing America or Is so utterly IN
different to a foreign alliance in any quarter, so
long as England can COUNT upon eooo
will. His diplomacy could probably be summed
up in words like these: with Americans with
us in heart, It matters not who may be with US
or against US"
THE Spectator" is undoubtedly right when It
says that a spontaneous example Of good feeling
like that Of the equipment OF the hospital ship
Maine Is worth more than diplomatic assur-
ances or official acts of politeness in developing
sympathy between the two branches OF the
Anglo Saxon stock. The subscriptions TO that
enterprise have now reached S13O,OOO, owing to
the energy Of Lady Randolph Churchill, MIS-.
Ronalds. Mrs. Blow and other American women
IN London The sailing of the Maine has been
delayed by the work Of reftting her; the Vessei
will be opened a week from to-day Tor lnspec-
ton by the General Committee. and VIII san
with the most complete and scientific surgicA
and medical equipment ever known afoat. The
doctors and nurses from America have received
much hospitality here. and the Maine is re-
earded by the Army Medical Corps as model
hospital ship.
English discussion OF President McKiniey's
Message and the American financial policy,
opened by the daily press in a kindly spirit, is
continued this morning by the weekly journals,
which clearly recognize the fact that the Prest-
dent is bent upon working with Congress rather
than against ii, as was Mr.. Cleyeland's falling.
and also that the Republicans, with prosper
GUS country behind them, have little TO fear from
a revival Of the silver agitation and Organism.
The strong financial position OF America at
time when England and every European coun-
try needs gold and cannot draw 1t out Of the
United States is regarded by economists and
bankers as the crowning opportunity for cur
rency legislation by which official payments
shall be made In gold only and the fact shall
be legally recognized that America has single
standard.
The Indian government, under less favorable
conditions. is persevering in It's policy OF estab-
fishing the gold standard. Rupees are needed
sor currency purposes but instead OF buying