Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-22
1900, by The Associated Press.

Copyrighted 1900 by The Associated Press.
London, Eng, March 17.--Between
the lines of the politely worded edi-
torial comments on President McKin-
ley's expression of willingness to aid
IN the restoral Of peace between Great
Britain and the Boer Republics can be
discerned many evidences of an inward
invection which the less responsible
| public does not hesitate to outwardly
express, while even members Of the
government privately display pique
that of all the Powers America should
have consented TO assume what one
official designated as the "ungracious
role of suggesting some form of inter
ference" to which he added this ex-
preston: "Englishmen cannot help
contrasting the perfect correctness of
the attitude of openly unfrien5iy
France with the offer Of the United
States, which, il it had come from a
less disinterested source, could only
have been regarded as an unfriendly
act. " There is no doubt that the over :
lures of the United States, even though
so carefully worded, have sensibly
Initiated Great Britain as whole,
while circles especially friendly to the
United States express open regret at
the opportunity offered TO oriticise and
compare the refusal of M. Delcasse,
the French Minister of Foreign fairs,
to crafty the hostile sentiment in
France by making proposals to Lord
Salisbury which were sure of rejection
with what they testify call the enter
ference" of Washington, and which,
though only tentative and clothed in
words Of perfect friendliness and
courtesy, came at an inopportune
moment, when the supreme self
sutficiency of the British Empire is
the predominating feeling of the day.
Eyeiywhers one hears expressions Of
satisfaction that, while the answer to
the proposal was clothed in words OF
perfect courtesy, the language OF Lord
Salisbury in "brushing aside" Presi-
dent McKinley's proffer was so ex-
tremely definite as to kill all possibility
of repetition of the offers from any
source. unless those proposing them
are DESTROYS of being recognized as
openly antagonistic to this country.
Emphasis is laid on the fact that Great
Britain declared at the outset her un.
willingness to consent to any outside
interference, and,, therefore, as accord.
ing to the we'll. established principle Of
international law that the right oil
intervention is conditional on the
willingness of both parties to the
quarrel to accept the good offices of a
mediating Power, such interference
was, in this case, outside the bounds
of diplomatic possibilities. and gave
Lord Salisbury full justification for his
"retort courteous"
Outside the high internationa
politics, Ireland and the Shamroch
largely monopolize the attention o.
London.
OF the $4,000, 600 which tho govern
ment proposes to spend in developing
the volunteers, $3.50, 900 will be spent,
at the rate of $40 per man, to en-,
courage each regiment to form com.
pany of bicyclists.
A quaint, venerable lady, who NIGH
to all appearances have just STEPPED
out of Goldsmith comedy or Gains
borough picture, died this week, il
the person of Lady John Scott Spottis
woode, the composer of "Annie Laurie
and other familiar melodies. She was
81 years of age, and aunt OF the Duke
Of Buccleugh, and closely related tt
the late Gen. Wauchope. She had 8
very strong character, and was great
upholder of old manners and customs
When travelling, she rode in carriage
always had postillions, and encouraged
the observance of old customs. Shl
was liberal benefactor of the pool
and maintained "a meal mill as relic
of old times, and she preferred thatct
on roofs and peat for fires. She wa:
an indefatigable collector of ANTIQUITIES