Evening star., 1902-03-08
VIEWS ON AMERICA
Gilbert Parker Returns to
London Well Stocked.
CHANGESINFIVE YEARS
HE NOTICES VAST STRIDES HAVE
BEEN MADE.
Lesson Of the Spanish War : Impres-
sions Formed Of President Roose-
velt-London News and Gossip.

special correspondence OF The Evening Star.
LONDON. February 26. 1902.
Mr.. Gilbert Parker. the novelist, has just
returned from America and has been i'm
parting his impressions to the newspapers.
1t was not his first visit, and for this rea-
son he is able to make comparisons which
appealed to him in connection with former
visits
1t is characteristic OF the English press
that OF all the reporters who have seen Mr..
Parker in London not one questioned him
about his speech in New York which gave
offense to certain city politicians and in
duced an anti-English outburst on their
part.
These things do not, as rule interest
English papers or English readers, and an
incident which in New York would be made
the subject Of interviews broadcast carica-
lures and opinions here passes with brief
notice and no comment.
Some Of Mr. Parkers views are interest
ing He thinks that the United States dur
ing the past five years has made many
changes and great strides Of progress, and
that the signs of these things are distinctly
visible.
New territories" said he, Involve new
considerations of commercial policy, new
adaptation of national principles to ma
tional administration; therefore, new mani
festation Of political activity. Questions of
tariff came up Immediately the new colo
nies were acquired: questions OF admins
tration; questions OF the constitutional re-
lations of these colonies to what is the
American mother country. Lying in wait
behind these constitutional questions were
the great mercantile and industrial inter-
eStS, ready to take advantage or to push
an advantage politically wherever possible.
How strong a hold that commercial in
tereSt has upon government and politics in
the United States! How quickly, too, are
the people educated!
Quick Educational System.
with what system is that education car
ried out! A political party determines upon
a change Of policy regarding the tariff. anu
employees the best minds of the country to
write brochure pamphlets, books. advocat-
ing the new policy. That is the mar
velous thing about the American people-a
quick response to a new idea Bryan and
his silver standard were not the growth Of
years, but rather of months. The man, the
idea, were seized upon. The idea was
worked to the limit the man was defeated
He was defeated twice; he and his policy
practically ceased to exist.
Now. that Is the way with Imperialism
In the United States. Not one man out of
hundred thousand realized either the re-
sponsbilities or the consequences Of the
Spanish war. 1t was entered into as light
heartedly as Greece entered into the war
with Turkey. The difference was that the
Grecians' conflict with Turkey was opera
bouffe. while the Spanish-American war
was downright tragedy. For America, hav-
ing done her job with that quickness, de-
cision and sprawling inaccuracy Of which
she can be sometimes accused, retrieved
the mistakes of her War Department in
good time and settled the Spanish American
business forever. How swift was the
growth Of American opinion! Like a young
man suddenly inheriting his fathers busi-
ness, who realizes, as it were, in jump
new field Of effort, the necessity arises for
a new policy, and there is thrust upon him
the duty of reconstruction"
Mr.. Parker thinks that the historical
novel has had much to do with the progress
Of Imperialism in America, and believes
that it will have still greater influence
in years to come. Here Is his opinion of
the President:
His Opinion Of the President.
''You know strong men are apt to jostle
when they walk in crowd. Strength, not
suavity, Is the outstanding characteristic
of Mr.. Roosevelt. He has more regard for
principles than for diplomacy. His courage
is greater than his tact He Is no velvet
scabbard and the sword Of steel. He is in
capable of flattery-that is my opinon-as
he is incapable Of subterfuge. l should
think him far greater ruler than a poll
Teddy 1t trusts him. too. He doesn't
spare their sensitiveness. He doesn't try
to be popular. Not that he doesn't seek to
have his IDEAS made popular. Personally,
I call it-dynamic to be a benediction when
he passes. He is no crowned head. To
my mind he represents more thoroughly
the democracy of the American people. their
Self-reliance and their audacity, their Wig
orcus-mindedness, that any man In the po-
litical arena Of the United States today.
He rides perhaps too roughly now and
then, but there Is no miStaking the way he
is travelling. AS an American said to me:
He is surprise party. but will always
have full house.
lone thing seems sure to me. and that is
that in the President of the United States
England has a friend, but frank friend
who will not hesitate to pursue a strenuous
policy in the preservation of American in
terests, and he will never allow personal
considerations to play part nthe equa-
ton. / think he will DO what he considers
just. and it is fortunate for us that behind
his sense Of justice and his radical Ameri-
canism there is the mind Of an educated
gentleman and Travelled observer, stu
dent of history and of the worlds life"
British criticism of the United States and
of Americans has changed bit since the
days of Charles Dickens and Thackeray.
Plethora of Coronation Novelties.
There is likely to be a slump in the coro-
ma ton novelties. The market is rapidly be-
coming overstocked, and firms who sell
these things are beginning to become alarm
ed Never in my long experience" said
one Of the leading merchants. have l
known such an early rush Of goods; the
demand for the novelties will have worn it
self out long before the coronation. The
novelties will cease to be novelties
Both English and foreign manufacturers
have for months past been turning out
fiaC n m
boxes coronation cigar cases. coronation
china coronation purses, watches with por-
traits of the king and queen-in fact, every
kind Of article for common use has been
decorated with a patriotic emblem: The
thing has been overdone.
The American button craze caught on
here along the first Of the war, and now
huge consignments Of coronation buttons
have been shipped from America, Austria,
and Germany, but the dealers say that now
the button craze has gone. Thousands Of
pounds were lost by traders at the Mafe-
king and other jubilations in consequence
of the glut In the market. Buttons were
manufactured by the million.
When the craze started America supplied
at Is. per gross. but ultimately Gablonz
manufacturers notorious for their cheap
goods) supplied at Is. per gross. The con-
sequence was that dealers bought reckless
ly and overstocked themselves. There is
tn ha q Sir Int at he