The Republican journal., 1901-10-24
ENGLISH SENTIMENT.

JUL. dACO1 g AOo hAu UuSty AluC AiOuI
home, the clerk gave us the sad and
startling news of the assassination of
President Mckinley; and later the
newspaper extras gave further partic-
ulars, which were added to by the pa
pers next morning. We sailed away on
ten days voyage with the fate of our
beloved President an uncertainty, and
thus to remain until the pilot should
board us on the other side of the Allan
tic. We all hoped for the best. but
feared the worst, and rs the pilot came
alongside off Holyhead we gathered at
the rail. Before he was half way up
the rope ladder lowered for him one of
the oarsmen making trumpet of his
hands shouted, "Your President is
dead" We soon were in possession of
the black-bordered Liverpool news
papers, which gave the details of the
Presidents death, together with express
sions of the deepest sympathy. And
from that time on, wherever we went,
we found flags at half-mast, on the
shipping, the inland steamers, on pub
lie buildings and private residences.
On the day of the funeral memorial
services were held in the churches of
London, Liverpool, Glasgow and other
cities, and the spontaneity and evident
sincerity of these demonstrations
touched us all deeply and testified to
the strong bonds of sympathy which
now exist between the two countries.
No finer tributes to the murdered Pres
| ident could have appeared in our own
country than those published in the
newspapers of England and Scotland
an editorial in the London Graphic
was particularly fine-and the lead
ing papers also did full Justice
! to Vice President Roosevelt and ex-
pressed their satisfaction that as Presi-
dent he would follow the foreign policy
of his lamented predecessor. Among
the less Informed people there was
much anxiety as to what the course of
earnest solicitude that the. present
friendly relations between the two
| countries should be continued We did
not come in contact with the nobility,
but at the leading hotels, on the omni-
/ BUSES and trains, on the streets and in
the Shops we met all classes and found
| them inn hpa6 with common sentiment.
that of friendliness to the I nited States
and a desire that the two countries
should stand by each other in any inter
national questions that may arise. We
were readily recognized everywhere
as Americans and the expressions of
sympathy and friendship came vol
unfairly from so many different classes
that one could but believe it is univer-
sal. One gentleman told us that there
were more demonstrations of sorrow
in London over the assassination of
President Mckinley than over the
recent death of a member of the royal
family.
Another indication of the existing
sentiment with regard to the United
States was afforded at the Empire
theatre in Liverpool This is big
music hall or variety show. These
places cater to the popular taste: that
is, of certain class; and on the even
I ing our party was present a compliment
tary reference to the United States and
the showing of the two flags together
was greeted with thunderous applause,
in which the Maine people heartily
joined
The American cup contest afforded
another index to public opinion While
it was hoped that Shamrock II. would
win, no bitter feelings were aroused by
her defeat. The result was accepted
philosophically, and the leading papers
conceded that the races were absolutely
fair and that the Columbia had proved
herself the better boat. Two of the
three races were sailed under conditions
that were supposed to be most favora-
BILE to the Shamrock, and it was as sur
prising to us as it was to the English
people that Columbia should have won
the three straight races. When we left
home everybody felt that the cup was
in great danger, and most, if not all,
the yachting experts had conceded the
victory to Shamrock, while all the
time the betting odds were on Column
bia. But this is an old story and needs
no further discussion. Our only object
in bringing it up now is to afford an
other illustration of the prevailing SEN
timent in Great Britain concerning The
United States. The races were seldom
referred to without an expression of
satisfaction that nothing had occurred
to mar the friendly relations between
the two countries.
There is depression everywhere in
Great Britain. A drouth has affected
the crops and outside competition is af-
fecting the agriculturalists. Both i'm
ports and exports are falling off, and
the shop keepers complain of dullness
in their respective lines of business
There is deDreSSiOn also because of the