New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18
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ST. PATRICK's DAY oBsERvANcEs
MUSIC. ART AND DRAMA.
Copyright; 1900: BY The Nsvv-York Tribune
IBT CABLE TO THE rE1BrxEI
London. March IT-John Bull. having eaten
leek and bitter herbs during his weary weeks
OF humiliation and reverse, IS now in the prom
ised land. feeding milk and honey. He en-
joys his triumph, and resumes his natural arti-
tude OF supreme contentuent with his relations
TO the human race The pax Britannica has been
established at Bloemfonten. and In due course
will be extended 10 Pretoria The Queen is the
wisest and most gracious OF sovereigns. and she
has accepted St. Patrick her patron sain.
for day in the year Every loyal English
man ought to be proud wear the shamrock
Roberts is the greatest general living. Kitch-
ener the most energetic Of military organizers
and Tommy Atkins the best soldier IN the
world Lord Salisbury Is a nasterfuI states
man. who has commanded the neutrality OF the
Continent. has summed up the history and
morality Of the war in his reply Kruger and
Steyn. and proudly proclaimed that England
does not propose to accept the Intervention OF
any Power in South Africa. Now that he has
passed out of the Valley Of Humiliation and
reached the crests of the Delectable Mountains.
which kopies bristling with rifles. John
Bull looks out upon a united empire, and Is
highly pleased with himself and his surround
ngs.
This good humor has colored the comments
of the English press upon the action of the
State Department in taking notice Of the
despairiug appeal of the Dutch Presidents 70
neutral Powers TO assist them in making peace
The friendly tone of Secretary Hays dispatch
has been recognized and there is no bitterness
in the reflection that England did not embarTass
the United States with equally friendly over
lures at the close OF the war with Spain One
journal is even just enough 70 lay stress upon
the fact that the offer OF the State Department.
was in strict accordance with the third article
of the arbitration convention accepted last year
at The Hague Congress. in which Lord Paunce-
fote took a prominent part. and won his peer
age. Some mild references made % ths
political motives OF President Mckinley in taxi
ing up President Krjigers appeal when the
European Powers were 100 wary and cautious
10 do So but these expressions are not unkind
20 America; indeed, Lord Salisbury himself IS
open 10 the charge OF making political use OF rhs
friendly offer OF the State Department; ne sup
pressed Krtiger's manifesto for more than
week and thereby exposed the Washington
Government 70 a Dutch ambuscade. since the
TransvaaI authorities invited the good Offices
of the Powers without explaining tae.- imprac-
Secretary Hays friendly dispatch he interpreted
it without warrant from the text proposal
for intervention and aroused enthusiasm in
Parliament and in the country by declaring that
the British Governments would not accept in
tervention from any Power.
The Prime Minister has shown himself an
adroit politician in turning TO practical account
an entirely friendly proposal from America and
in ordering flourish Of trumpets for the benefit
-
Lord Salisbury's political play in this inter-
national episode is not apparent from the Eng
lish press, which interprets the action OF the
Washington Government fairly and Justly from
the text OF Secretary Hays dispatch: the harm
comes from the general impression which the
English public has obtained from Lord Sails
bury's reply and from the made Of IL in Par
lament Senator Evarts used 10 tell the story
OF a lawyer in a murder case who submitted 70
the jury diagram OF barn with a window
marked as the place where the niger got in;
there was no intervention in the State Depart
nent's offer. but Lord Salisbury has provided
the Empire with a marked diagram telling
where Intervention came in.
There is without doubt a strong feeling in Eng
land that America has tried AT the last moment
70 intervene IN South African affairs. and willis
this attempt is not resented IL Will be rernern-
bered. The American Senator'S who have fan
cied that the British Government VIII consent TO
the amendment CT the canal treaty ought to
profit by a second sober thought; they only
inviting a second rebuff, and viii do well to
strike out the amendment and sanction the
treaty in its original form. thereby bringing 10
an end barren controversy which has lasted
fifty years.
Mr. Julian Ralph's letter in to-day's Daily
Mall contains a remarkable interview with
Cecil Rhodes whose structures upon the mis-
takes OF incompetent generals and the relations
OF regulars 70 colonial volunteers are most Sc
we're. Englishmen can now accept them philo-
sOphicaIy since Lord Roberts has transformed
all the conditions Of the campaign which had
previously reflected credit upon Tommy Atkins
alcne.
Whether the shamrock be worn with sincerity
from respect for the Queens example. IL IS
certain that the laureIs OF the campaign belong
10 the Irish generals Roberts. French. whits
and Kelly Kenny are Irishmen by birth or par
entage and even Kitchener was born in Ire
lsnd. These are the generals who have done ths
best work in the campaign; the only Irish gen.
eral who has failed make a reputation is
cavalry regiments have been in service during
the campaign. and their gaIlantry has earned
the fine tribute paid to-day throughout Eng
land in the marked observance OF ST Pat-tck's
Day Immense quantities OF shamrock have
been sent over from Ireland and the green IS
worn generally to-day in PiccadiIly Pail Mall
and the strand. There Is also an unusual dis
play OF bunting in London ROYAL Windsor IS
having an Irish gala day. and Dunno. the little
bugler is the hero OF Portsmouth. where thu
Tbhlip Ersiliers are holding high holiday.