Washington sentinel., 1901-05-11
BRITAIN'S BUBBLE.
Her Military PreteDsIOns Impaired
by South African war,

by SOuth African war,
n Not even the loss Of II, 900 Bri
O ish soldiers killed in battle or Il
c victims of disease and the exper
Y dIture OF S75o, ,ooo, 900 in prosecu
u ing the war upon the Dutch r,
. Publics of South Africa can distur
a the serenity OF the London SbecE6
101- From the point Of view {
this philosophical English weekl,
the conflict with the Beers ha
been really blessing in disguise
The war;" it says, "has been o
immense indirect advantage to us
despite the injury done to our fs
cal system and the drain on oui
national resources. The Beers
have made US realize how serious
a business war really is and how
absolutely necessary it is to be
prepared at all points. Had we
fought a formidable European
State two years ago the position
would have been one OF serious
peril Though we have paid a
very big price for the lessons the
Beers have taught us, we have by
no means bought our experience
too dear. We could indeed hardly
pay too big a price for obtaining a
national security which was real,
not nominal"
This is a sentiment worthy OF
Mark Tapley in his most optimistic
mood, says the Baltimore San 1t
is eheerfulness in its sublimest
iorm-on a par with the joyous
spirit the man who pronounced
graveyard at midnight the "iol-
liest place in the world, The
London papers Mark Tapleyism
does not seem to be infectious,
however. The average Briton is
accustomed to taking life very
seriously, and he finds little in this
war to make him feel either proud
or happy, When the conflict be-
gan the experts in England said
scorntully that the Boer military
power was bubble which could
be prieked in a lew weeks. The
result OF the 6rst year OF this strug-
& ls proved that it was Brtain's
profession which was the
~ as. prodiRious bubble ~ the
century. Defeat after
delea took all the pride out OF the
Eng Iish, until finally they were re-
iuced 70 the humlliating necessity
u begging the colonies to come to
he assistance Of the mother
country" A nation OF 40, ooo, 900
'eople did not present a very in. /
piring or admirable appearance
vhen 1t had to summon its sons
rom all quarters of the globe to
'ull the little Boer republics of its
'ack. Not even Mark TapIev
ould find much in such a spscta.
lie to make him cheerful, except
pon the Biblical theory that
eaven chastens those whom it
owes, and the terrific beating
'hIeh the Boer was giving the
triton was a sign that Briton is
ighlY favored in celestial circles.
Still, in view OF the tremendous
osses OF our British friends in their
outh African adventure they
ught to be allowed to extract any
omiort they can from the situation
l South Africa. If they are not
atished with the three. quarters OF
billion dollars which they have
lreadY spent. their credit is un.
uestionably good for a few hun ,
red millions more. The twentieth :
entury Mark Tapley can doubt {
,ss Ind reasons for optimism :
another permanent addition to :
he national debt and in increased :
IXation. II there are not enough .
ritish graves in South Africa,
leTe is an abundance OF food for {
owder and pestilence at ome. r
hich can be sent out to the Cape !
make the graveyards latter. &.
lark Tapley will cheerfully un- =
srtake to prove that the popula- I
on OF Britain is too large for the l.
'untrY and that the loss Of a lew | +
ousand men will make the ser. i
ces OF the survivors more valua-
e and insure steady employment +
r them. So, after all, a national ?
.ot, heavy taxes and a fat grave q
lrd in South Africa NAV, from r
e Mark Tapley point OF view, a
'ove OF inealculable advantage to Il
ritain. Still, there are millions =
Britons who will not agree that p
ngland has any cause to be cheer. r
l over the war in South Africa. n
he families Of soldiers who have c
,rished in the struggle, the men e
Id women with moderate incomes =
ho are compelled to give the r
overnment zo cents out OF every r