The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-29

nOtnlnG OF pre-e1lll1leHI lui
NJ portance in literature, science
or art. the future historian
will revert to 1t as the beginning of a
long series of events necessarily result
ing from the inauguration of Pan-An-
Rlican policies embracing all the widely
separated countries which are domi-
mated by Anglican influences.
No event in American history, or in
the history of the world since the
Napleonic wars. has had q greater his
torical significance than the anglo
Saxon" rapprochement, contemplated as
possibility during the whole century,
but actually effected only in it's closing
year. The attempt to restore a har-
monious political. commercial and fl
nancial modus vivendi, between Eng
land and the United States was made
with great skill at the beginning of the
century and again at the time of the
Opium war, but in both cases the
friendly advances of England were re-
jected, as a result of deep-seated prejt-
dices produced by the wars of the
Revolution and of 1872 There existed,
too, at that time a feeling that Amer
lea had a peculiar destiny as "a herald
of liberty to all mankind" and every
effort of friendship and alliance from
the governing Eiass in England was
met by counter demonstrations of SYM
pathy for Ireland in the famines which
have so frequently afflicted it. and
under the Anglican coercion acts which
have driven so many of it's people to
America. Such influences as this, CO.
operating with resentment of the exul-
tation shown by the English upper
classes" because of our Civil war. post
poned, until the final year of the CEN
tury. the most important single event
in international politics since Give and
Hastings laid, in India, the foundations
of that great Anglican empire which
survived the suicide of the one and the
Impeachment of the other.
From any point of view. what has
been actually effected in the interna-
tional politics of the year. seems i'm
possible, Incredible! With population
consisting SO largely of the descend
ants of Irshmen, Germans. Scandi-
navians and others whose sympathy is
supposedly with American, rather than
Anglican, ideals. the United States
seemed destined at the beginning of the
Twentieth century, as at the beginning
nf the Nineteenth, to assert in proud
isolation the right to world-leadership
by virtue of distinct national ideal
which cannot succeed morally in the
uoitics of the world or even of the
Americans without completely revolu-
t'onizing the thought and existing
Political system of England.
THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS.
What could never have been expected
what has actually appened-during
he year was this: England has Joined
it's colonies in a union, which rejects
cqualityand secures the supremacy of
The South Briton (from the wall of
-'everus to the Lands End) over the
rest. but expects the rest to support
South British policies with men and
money. Canada and the states of Aus
tralia have Joined England in over
throwing the South African republics
and having done so, have united more
closely with England in the great Pan
Anglican movement which has included
the United States, developed the war in
China, and resulted In the crushing de-
feat of the Liberals" in England and
of the Democrats" in the United
States.
The policies of which these results
are incidents were carefully matured
and, during the last four years, they
have been developed with the highest
skill and with a determination which
stopped at nothing. A part Of this plan,
matured in advance. was, undoubtedly,
that the United States should annex or
control Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines, using the latter as a
base to support Pan Anglican opera
tions in the East: thus checking Ger
many. France and Russia in their
rivalry with England.
When, in 1898, it became obvious to
Intelligent students of politics that this
plan had been matured, it was equally
apparent that for the Democratic party
in the United States and the Liberal
party in England only a bOldness
superior to the astounding audacity of
this attack could avail as a means of
preventing overwhelming defeat The
necessity was self-evident, intelligence
was not lacking and courage would
have Increased with action; but neither
in England nor America did the Oppo-
sition have the morale-the faith in
itself and Its own professions of faith
to meet the emergency.
oBsTRUCTIONARY TACTICS.
No matter what the issues" are,
there are two policies which no party
In opposition can adopt without disor-
ganizing itself:
First-It inevitably defeats itself If,
when in opposition, it grows more CON
SENTATIVE, as the administration party
grows more radical Both in England
and America the practical" politicians
OF the Opposition did this. Had they
been better linguists they might have
reflected that those who grow more
conservative on the outside necessarily
CONSERVE" the outside for their pains,
and stay OUT
Second--The Opposition in America
attempted what one of the best prac-
tical politicians who ever lived CON
cluded to be impossible, except for
those who make up their minds to the
resultant ducking: it attempted to
swap issues while crossing the stream"
NO matter what the paramount" issue
Is, 1t can never be successfully changed
for another after 1t has been Joined,
1t Will be found, on examinatio of
party organization, both in England
and America. that these lethal imbecil-
tiles Of Opposition politics We're the
result of single cause.-the skill with
which those who controlled the poll
cies of the administration party con-
trolled also the machinery of the OPP
position. The attempt to do this is a
permanent feature of Machiavellian
craftsmanship; but If there were moth
ing novel in the attempt. the complete
success 1t achieved is without preced-
ent In recent politics.
CONDITIONS FAVORABLE.