The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-07

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
in the worlds affairs, or, indeed, re-
gain what we have lost.
Says English Press Is stupid.
Thirdly Americans are coming over
to this country and are beginning liter
ally to run it. Every year sees more
and more American enterprise here.
AS England sends her white men to
Africa to exploit the country and make
the niggers work for them, America is
sending her Morgans and Yerkeses
over here and exploiting our country.
I'VE are the niggers in the case. the
Americans the white men. American
ways and methods will become nat
uralized here, and then we shall wake
up, and find ourselves Americanized,
with the American form of govern
ment, and all the rest"
l was surprised to obtain such an
open expression as the above from
one of the closest students of politics
in all Europe-for as editor of the Pail
Mall Gazette for many years,
Mr. Stead exerted a powerful
influence on English and Con-
tinental political thought and had a
most intimate knowledge of political
affairs.
Mr. Stead has written several essays
on the government of a country by
means of the press. / asked him If he
thought the English press servile.
No, not servile; only stupid" was
Stead's quick answer. 1.-The editor who
is really an editor, and eXerts an in
fiuence on the minds of his readers is
fast disappearing from England. With
the exception of one paper, the West
minister Gazette, edited by Alfred
Spender, there will soon be hardly I
paper here whose editorial policy (save
the markD is not dictated by the bus
mess office. The papers here think
more of their circulation than their in
f1uence; and the main object of the
editor is not to offend-to say nothing,
even when he knows the truth, that
shall differ from preconceived ideas al
ready formed by the readers; to give
them stuff that they like to read; not
what is best for them
His Best Newspaper Work.
What is the best newspaper work
you ever did in your life, Mr. Stead?"
The publication of the Maiden Tri-
butte to Modern Babylon" he answer
ed. L have seen the good influence of
that work on every hand. In fact, l
regard the writing of the Maiden Trf-
butte to Modern Babylon as the best
act I ever performed in my life"
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Stead's
Maiden Tribute" published in the
Pail Mall Gazette. created one of the
greatest sensations England has ever
known. SteadS object was to exhibit
the absence of any legal protection for
girls and to raise the age of consent
The work he did in connection with
this series of articles led to his i'm
prisonment for several months.
1t is such books as the Maiden Tri-
butte" and eff Christ Came to Chi
cago," that have won for MIR. Stead
the reputation of being erratic. But
his erraticism is always with purpose
there is method in his madness
and the results of such publications
have been to direct attention to crying
abuses.
Speaking of the Boer war. and his
own attitude, Mr.. Stead made a very
remarkable statment:
''Why am 1 so extremely vehement
against the Boer war? because 1 have
sorrowfully to admit that quite min
tentionally L was largely responsible
for it. 1t was 1 who put the Sleeps
clothing on the wolf of Imperialism--I
was the first Liberal journalist in Eng
land to advocate the doctrine of Im-
perialism. But my Imperialism was
one of responsibility. The Imperialism
that actually entered into the war was
the lingo caricature, and l found my
self in d similar position to that of the
disciple of Christianity who saw the
horrors of the ipquisition springing d.
rectly from his teaching-or, rather, a
perversion of it.
1T was l. also, who largely popular
lied Cecil Rhodes, and made the pub
lie believe in him. l knew him most
intimately. l still think he was a very
great man: but, like other great men,
he was northumberland to tralnple
down all obstacles that stood in his
path.
when l took my stand against the
terrible war. people said to me, How
is it that you now cry down Imperial
ism?' l only cry down the Imperialism
of rapine, just as the apostles would
have denounced the Inquisition.
stead's Opinion of Roosevelt.
What is your impression of Presi-
dent ROOSEVELT"
Roosevelt seems to me to be n good
man-almost too good for the place."
said Stead. Lord Gray remarked to
me not long ago that Roosevelt re-
minded him of Rhodes IN no little de-
gree. Perhaps there is resemblance. AS
to the chances of Roosevelt for cleo
ton to the next presidency, it VIII de-
pend on what he is willing to do. If
he is too good for the position he won't
get it. 1t is often the case that really
great rulers-I mean the men best suit
ed to act in the capacity of governors
do not become So
Mr.. Stead knows the new premier,
Balfour. intimately.
"If you asked each member of Par
Lament as to his choice of man to be
leader. each would. l think. say
'Balfour' He Is personally the best
liked man in Parliament and / would
rather see him premier than any one
else"
Only Two Years at school.
As Mr.. Stead is more known in his
works than personally, l gathered from
his interview "A few facts about the
personal life Of the famous publicist
Mr.. Stead IS only IS years old and
looks H. He tells me people are con-
stantly taking him for a man Of more
years. His actions, however are those
OF n youth OF 49, He always rushes
up stairs az breakneck speed does the
work Of three men At his office, and
possesses steam engine energy.
Stead Was born at Embleton. In
Northumberland. His father was a
ConRreEati0nolist minister there and
removed 90 Hondon-on-Tyne when his
nou was not "a year old. Stead was
tbs sldest son ~ family ~ three