The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-20
Enslsnd'S EriendshIn In 1903

,
possibly other nations, were ready and
anxious to form coalition 10 intervene
in the war and prevent the United States
from moiesting Spain. All these great
nations were described as intensely hos
tile 70 the United States and eager TO
oontriye her injury and humiliation. And
tHen Ne were told through the European
Rows agencies, which England controls
almost entirely. that the British Lion
had grovied and risen up and. with erect
and oristling nare had roared menace
u the plotters against England's beloved
cousins across the sea. So collapsed the
dire conspiracy. England had served no.
. uce-angry and warlike notice-that Eu-
/ rope must keep hands OF, and there passed
I BEFORE our grateful eyes the vision Of
/ haHied EmperOrs and Kings fleeing, foiled
( and furious, to the Jungle We heard
OF IT then, we have been reminded OF it
/ al very brief intervals ever since. 1t was
I brought out and paraded to show rs that
/ We ought 10 sympathze with England in
| her predatory war upon the South African
} republics II was trottsd across the stage
again To- remind Us Of our solemn duty 20
/ approve tho Hay-Pauncefote treaty-that
/ latest and crowning illustration Of Eng
7 lands modest self-sacriicing, not TO say
prodigal affection for the United States.
For nearly two years, in fact, it has been
kept steadily before US. harped upon
praised and euIogized, until thoughtful
people began at last TO ask whether II
was not too sweet and meek and noble
20 be true.
And Is 1t true? Did Germany, Russia,
France, Austria, &c, form a combination
10 destroy US, and did England come to
our rescue with naked sword and flaming
eyes and scatter the vile conspirators to
their hiding places? That is what we
should ike to know. We have never be
lieved in any British policy that did not
contemplate Great Britain's interest to
Americans are bound to Englishmen by
many ties-by the ties Of a common an
cestry. Of a common language and Of a
common standard Of human liberty Cfor
themselves, Of course). II is a fact that
the two peoples fraterniZe wherever they
meet; that our officers reaching naval
stations abroad almost invariably prefer
English officers for companions; that.
generally. Englishmen and Americans of .
similar birth, breeding, education, and an
tecedents, mingle together everywhere
with hardly .. sense OF nationality. That
Is easily ineligible. But no one who is
acquainted, even specifically. with the
history of the United States can be made
10 believe for so much as a moment that
the British government would dream Of
recognizing sentiment or kinship or any
thing else in its treatment of the United (
States. on the contrary, speaking in the I
light of history and fact everyb body knows /
that England would sacrifice US to Ger /
many or Russia or the CannibaI Islands 1
without the slightest hesitation If there /
by she could strengthen her empire or
Tut SO into her yawning treasury. Thus /.
il happens that We do not hasten TO gulp
and thrill over that pretty little fairy
tale OF England's heroic and unselfsh /
action in our behalf two years ago, but
prefer TO inquire for ourselves into it's
truth and authenticity.
Mr. ST. John Gaffney, evidently a gen
tleman Of education and intelligence, has
done this country the service of making
a special investigation of the episode We
are indebted to him for a careful COLA
ton Of the facts Of the case. He takes
up the doubts and the suspicious that
must have occurred to all well-informed
Americans, and give US, in Donohue's
the benefit Of his research. We I.
shall make a few quotations from his ar
ticle, both original and quoted We know,
Of course, that our Ambassadors both to
Germany and Russla-the latter Mr.. f.
4. Hitchcock. being now a member of
the Cabinet-indignantly denied the ex-
iStenCe OF the alleged European coalition.
We know that Hon. Horace Porter, our
to France, joined heartily in
this denial We know that Herr Won
the German Ambassador 10
he United States. several times called
upon the President himself to protest
against the organized Misrepresentation
II Germany through the medium Of the
press dispatches edited or oOncOcued in
London. We know that Mr.. Hay, when
he was our Ambassador in England, was
-hus quoted in the New York World OF
September %, 1898:
% You mean 70 state positively that there was
10 combined or individual attempt on the part o,
iernAEy France or Russia to humiliAte the United
states by taking sides with Spain2
"A certainly 20. Nothing Of the kind &C.
urTed''
And NTr ST. John Gaffney tells US that (
IN November u. 1885, Count Cassini. the 5
Of Russia here, said 10 an
interviewer for publication: :
AT no time was there purpose on TIE part o,
be great powers 10 intervene against the United
states No appeal by spain to lInit tss claims 0: /;
be United States las been n4de 10 Russia or to
thsr foreign governments
Meanwhile, what were the utterances
y representative British newspapers dur
rg that period when. We are asked 10
,tlieye. the continental powers were con- a
.niring against US, and when England !
'laimed 10 be our only friend? Let Us
i've a few specimens:
II American intervention goes farther nox "a an q
cgrssslye insulting attack upon the mere existence
{ European sovereignty over he island. our sense
Z justice conpels IS 20 sympAth.ze vita SPAN. 4
nd q ssraii-vaistcosJ Noald seen 70 be a useful /,
gtels for outside powers 10 provide for a country
Aich Iiks Greece ia TIE C-s.sn queEucn. wanted
, Bite - more tAsa II cou!t Crew without ary
,lsiserauOl tor the disturbance Of oltsr peoples
l,crssts. st James Gazette d-ondssi il
We are tod that America represents -. e.rss \
civilization. humanity. prsgress. while Spaiu rsc-
.ssrts medieval taFsarism and cruelty. We sAsBls
Es little better evidence o. TIE proposition. I,
-ba itself thsrs Is zEaFlsy and devastation sv,
e CO r5i knoS that TIE invasion O the islsus hy
msrissa Eisgs;ers sHt ossPs;-o2Eserz wiu carstj q
he a. Improvement Wips CT bots eovr {