The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-02

boys. Some OF the more important CoH-
tents of the Depew budget for 1902 are
as follows:
The most noticeable change in Europe
since my last visit Is the disappearance OF
the American terror. Then there was a
panic of Industrial fear of American in
vasion. The productive possibilities OF
the United States were exaggerated until
cabinets were consulting seriously about
protective measures, either in tariff walls
or in concerted action by the powers.
That fear has disappeared. 1t was too
hysterical to last. The foreign mind Is
now not SO much how to keep the pro-
ducts of American mills, factories and
furnaces out, as to copy American meth
ods, and then with their cheaper labor
they hope to hold their markets at home
and abroad. But their study of our in
dustrial development and success. which
is very careful and exhaustive, has pro-
duced a widespread desire to combine
with us. They have great trusts and are
rapidly creating larger ones, but are
quite satisfied to join In with similar
combinations in the United States and
leave the management III American
hands. They have faith in American in
itiative and push to get things together
and make the concern, however big,
work successfully. This feeling has been
conspicuously shown in the popularity of
the shipping combination. 1t first aroused
fear and intense hostility. but in a few
months this has changed into a desire to
join.
So complete is this that even the
French the most conservative and jeal-
Gus of nations. are seriously considering
the advantages which would accrue to
their lines by entering the combination.
The German emperor is the most modern,
up to date and brilliant ruler Europe has
known in a generation. He is alert to
seize upon everything which will promote
German commerce and increase the pres
tige of Germany as world power. He
took a Enthusiastically quick and Amer
lean way of ascertaining the scope and
purpose of American enterprises by
brushing away all formalities and inter-
mediaries. and extending to j. Pierpont
Morgan and his party hospitalities and
courtesies quite unheard of in the rela-
tions between sovereigns and citizens. 1t
may be taken for granted If he can find
any advantage for Germany in American
ways or international combinations under
American management that there will be
no hesitation about the position which
Germany will take.
Senator Depew was abroad while the
negotiations with the Vatican on the
question of the friars and their lands
We're at their heighth and he was nat
urally interested in how they impressed
the craftsmanship and public opinion
of Europe. He thinks they "have done
more in few weeks to educate Europe
about our position in the war with
Spain and our possession and govern
ment of the archipelago than all the
diplomacy and literature since the be-
ginning of that contest. Particularly on
the continent is this noticeable. Our
attitude and purposes have been the
theme of discussion in the press and
ecclesiastical circles. They are thor
oughly understood and universally ap-
proved. The general hostility toward
us which was so marked among most
continental powers and peoples on ac-
count of racial and financial sympathy
with Spain is wholly gone. There is
general concurrence in the opinion that
the action of the American government
is necessary for peace and order in the
islands, and eminently just and fair. I
met leading men in political and church
circles, and did not anywhere hear any
criticism of our propositions. On the
contrary, they all agreed, and so does
the European press of all shades of
opinion, that the negotiations have been
carried on in a most creditable spirit.
and there Is general admiration of the
tact, wisdom and moderation displayed
by President Roosevelt and Governor
Taft"
While in cabinet rooms there Is
better understanding of America and
her conditions and aims than ever be-
fore, Senator Depew finds much to
lament in the American news" and
comment thereon in the continental
press. Apropos of which he gives this
amusing-or shall we say pathetic?-
instances:
In village where l happened to be
over Sunday found in the reading room
of the hotel a newspaper containing Il
cable dispatch from New York which said
that the directors OF the Rock Island
Railroad company had voted to issue to
the stockholders of the company as a
free gift $500, 900 in face value of new
stock and bonds. and with the comment
that thus American multmilionaires are
made by the stroke of pen, l then at
tended little church in the place. The
pastor said the church was struggling
with a debt for the first time. but he
hoped the liberallty of the visitors would
wipe 1t out before the season closed. He
then with some trepidation stated the
amount to be 125 francs. AS franc is
about 20 cents, one can see the extent of
the burden. With my mind too much oc-
cupied with the statement l had read an
hour before about the $500, ,0O0,0 600 Rock ISL
and bonus and this church struggling
with debt of s25, / could not help SER
monizing to myself how ones sense of
proportion could be violently wrenched!
Perhaps the most striking impress
sion that the senator received was in
some of the smaller municipalities of
the continent-places where for genera
tions ways of living and public con-
veniences or lack thereof had until re-
Gently shown no signs of adaptation to
the passing years. Today, he says. the
pc ople of these little places are waking
up. They have heard tales of the won-
derful methods In America, and they
are prodding their administrators for
modern lighting plants. modern trolley
systems. modern paving and the thous-