Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-25
BRITAIN |ND[[PXAI[R.
The Empire Never Involved in so
Many Issues Of Vital
Interest
Affairs in the East Giving Lord
Salisbury More Concern Than
Bosr War.
Missionaries Charged With Some Of
the Blame in China-For.
eign Gossip

VA6A NNVo0Ap' Il
Copyright. 1900, by Associated Press)
London, June 24.-Never at any time
in her history has Great Britain been
involved in 80 many diverse issues that
vitality affect the future of her empire.
And, tho there are still at stake in South
Africa military, territorial and financial
considerations that in their magnitude
have scarcely been exceeded during the
century, Great Britain is no exception
to the rest Of Europe in being wrought I
up TO pitch OF intense anxiety and an
ticipation to the exclusion of every I
other topic by the drama now being en-
ment of the moment the relief OF Mafe-
king seems a little thing compared With
the relief of Vice Admiral Seymour and
the international forces.
Spionkop, Paardeberg and Colenso
sink into insigniflcance compared With
the spectacle presented by the land and
sea forces of the six greatest powers
against a common enemy. With q keen
sense of the relative proportion Of
things. Great Britain quickly turned her
eyesto China, not 50 much. perhaps on
Immediate developments, as upon the
possibility Of the epoch making war or
wars which may arise out OF the pres
ent crisis.
The death of Count Muravieff. the
Russian minister OF foreign affairs.
evoked no canting obituaries or express
sions OF regret here, for the British
press In spite of the equanimity of the
foreign Office was unanimous in realiz-
ing the gravity of the present turn Of
affairs. To quote Il staid and humane
weekly, The death of Russia's minis
ter removes an obstacle to the cordially
between Russia and England" and. tho
this summarizes the comment OF the
leading papers. there is little hope ex-
pressed that Russia's aggressive policy
toward China will be much modified.
Apart from the material view Of the re-
suit of Count MuraietY.s death. 1t is gem
orally referred to az one of the nosts|
pathetic happenings in political careers,
for according to the dead mans critics,
he seemed, owing to the crisis in China,
on the verge OF accomplishing the OBJ
ject to which he had devoted his life.
Lord Loch's death almost coincding
With Count MuraSieff's. also remoyesl
one whose name was much conEectedl
With matters in thefar east. Before he
became a colonial governor Lord Loeb
assisted in the negotiations which re-
suited In the treaty of Tien Tsin in 1860,
and only esaped execution at the hands
of the Chinese empire by fifteen min
utes grace. Like Muravieff, he was
struck down when the dream of his life
seemed about to be realized. In his case
II Was British federation over the whole
of South Africa
Lord Salsbury.s entreaty last week
TO the missionaries not to have them
selves murdered is one more instance
of his uncommon frankness, or, as 1t is
referred to, his thinking aloud phase"
Among the secular press the premier's8
remark will meet the appobation OF
their sound common sense, but II will
not add church votessto the conservative
party at the next general election,
which, by the way, is still further post
poned on account of the Chinese trou-
ble..
Great Britains army in South Africa
is slowly accomplishing the work Of pa
cifcation. The s,nouldering embers Of
What once Was fierce resistance occas-:
iionally flare up. but the hard fighting
seems TO be practically over.
The British military progress in the
Transvaal is scarcely more Interesting
/ now than the events in the Orange
River Colony during the last two
months.
The Transvaa annexation proclana-
ton is soon expected. Almost all re-
ports indicate that the Beers are rap
! idly realizing the futility of further
I struggle when opposed to such an over
whelming force.
! One of the most noticeable features
tof the week in South Africa was Lord
Il Roberts abandonment OF humane
measures towards the Beers. which he
/ had SO long persisted in, despite the
criticism Of the British colonists and
4 many officers. The stern vengeance
I that now will be visited not only on
those who give the Beers passive as
sistance, but on those who, after sur
/ render, fail to assist the Britist, arms
savors more of Gen. Kitchener than OF
1"Bobs."
81 Kumassi still awaits relief. Governor
i Hodgson Is expected to hold out, but
l8even after the siege ends little can be
4 done to subdue the natives until the
rains are over In December punitive
expedition, with corps OF white troops,
will probably be sent. The mortality
among the officers Of Col WILCOX
staff shows how useless ii would be to
4 send many white troops until then.
The khedive's unfortunate illness has
robbed London OF much of the expected
festivities, and in some respects has
made the visit somewhat of fixzle.
Some such stimulus to trade is badly
4 needed. as in spite OF the efforts Of the
royalties, the season is dull in the ex-
i IRENE.
Several papers this week printed long
4 articles alleging that London is over
run with gangs Of American swindlers.
# Col. Sir Edward Bradford. the commits
sioner of police Of the metropolis, said
inan interview with representative OF
the Associated Press:
1T ts absolutely untrue. suppose
there are American swindlers just as
there are English. German and every
other kind Of swindlers. But to say
the American swindler predominates il
a libel on one OF Londons best classes
4 Of visitors
Col. Cary Sanger, q. 8. A., who is coll
llecting facts regarding the South Afri-
i can war for the United States war de-