The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-27
ENGLISH, ARE FIGHTING MAD


London, July 2O.-The Associated
Press tonight interviewed many prom
inent persons connected and in close
touch with the government relative to
the seizure Of British vessels by
steamers of the Russian VOLUNTEER deet
in the Red sea-. AS result Of these
INQUIRIES there is shown to be re-
markably hostile feeling against Rus
sia Of strength and bitterness al
most without precedent since the
Crimean war. Even the most conser7a-
tive who havsSbeen in the service of
the government for many years and
who openly deplored the haste with
which they thcaght Great Britain had
plunged into the Transyaal war tonight
frankly declared for policy Of rep
risal against what is regarded here as
Russia's violation of treaties and her
piratical attack ON British commerce.
The warlike tone Of such papers as
The Times, The Standard. The Morn
ing Post and The Daily Telegraph.
which in national crisis hitherto almost
invariably advised caution has had its
inevitable effect. There has been STIR
red up storm of indignation among
all classes in the United Kingdom and
strength with which the Government
itself can scarcely gauge.
Those who deplored the outbreak OF
the war between Japan and Russia and
insisted publicly and privately that
Great Britain, crippled financially al
ter her South African experiences,
must not at all costs be drawn into the
far eastern struggle, are now Iamongst
the most outspoken champions of a
physical force that will prevent the
repetition of the Malacca incident in
the Red sea.
@'Lord Lansdowne. says The Daily
Telegraph voicing the views Of the gov
ernment, "has faced the situation
created by the abuse of the right Of
search in the only manner worthy Of a
British minister compelled to defend
the interest of the British commerce
and the honor of the flag, and. acting
with Gnhesitating frmness and promp-
tit1de which recall the strongest days
of the national policy, he has justified
the trust Of the country.
While not one rash word should be
said which could have the effect Of in
creasing the tension of an anxious and
dangerous interval, it would be futile
to disguise the character or to mini
mize the risks of the situation which
has arisen. We hope and believe that
solution of the difficulty may still be
found in the Withdrawal of the Russian
government from its false position. -
The Telegraph goes on to say thU the
stores of the Masacca were plainly
marked With the broad arrow, show
ing that they belonged to the Brit
:sh government and were destined only
for British depot.
1t would be impossible to conceive
a more remarkable accumulation of il
legality and error than has attended
the present case y the paper says. "if
this country were capable under any
circumstances OF tamely enduring so
grave an injury to its honor We should
have forfeited our Claim to be a great
nation. In any circumstances we
think it may be assumed tiat the Ma
laccs will never be navigated by prize
crew to any Russian port. She is
watched. if not actually stopped. by
British warsbips and she will, i'll any
case, be restored to her owners long
before she can be taken through the
Dardsnelles or navigated to Libau.
''Thls emergency in some respects
is the most critical that has marked our
relations with Russia in the last 20
years and in faces of the infamed state
of public of public opinion in St Pc
tersbnrg it wcrld be unwise to blind
ourselves 10 the existence Of possibi
ties that would otherwise be unthink-
able. This county has adopted with
decision and compo>ure an attitude
from which there can be no retreat
or hinch.ng We seek simple re-
dress :or violent and unprovoked in
jury and where the reace of the west
oepeDd uron the will of the czar we
cauDot believe that civilization will
look t. him dur ns the next 48 hours in
vain
The foregoing procurement from
an ORGAN so notcriouslv inSpj rcd with