Evening star., 1907-10-13
SAY DANGER LURKS
IN PACIFIC CRUISE
English Journals Much Work.
ed Up Over Prospect.
ExCULPATE ROOSEVELT
Declare He Is Too High Minded to
Think Evil.
BLAME EVANS AND METCALF
Conclude Resignedly That It Is .
Part Of the Game Of Domestic
Politics. But Bad Form.
Special Casiegram to The Star.

Special Cabiegrsm to The Star.
LONDON. October 12.-The American
policy of sending a feet to the Pacific
discussed public questions OF Europe.
Two great organs OF opposite sides in
British politics, the Spectator and the
Nation. today devote long articles to ths
subject. and their views are not divergent.
The Spectator says of the general situa-
ton: AT first sight. and even at second
sight. it seems unfortunate that the cruise
Of the battleships should take place now,
when the object of every responsible
American. as we are convinced. is not to
paint the international situation In more
vivid coiors. but rather to reduce 1t to an
agreeable dove color"
The Spectator does its best to exculpats
PRESIDENT Roosevelt by saying: The un-
comfortable conjunction of facts which
makes the visit inopportune has been
brought about by accident and not de-
sign It denounces Admiral Evans and
Secretary Metcalf for using language
which was capable of mischievous inter-
probation. and then asks why President
Roosevelt. recognizing the harm that may
be done by an unwise Interpretation of
the cruise. does not use his power to
postpone 1T. The editor then proceeds to
answer his own question in this ingenious
fashion: I'VE believe President Roose-
veit's character alone is the answer
He is kind of moral aristocrat whose
high courage Is almost arrogantly i'm
patient of motives meaner than his own.
He sweeps mistaken words by public
men and foolish words by the yellow
press on one side as though it were i'm
possible that they could have any power
for evil. Perhaps he undertakes the
power of folly, but that is part of his
character. He goes marching on as If the
yellow press could not possibly use the
transference of the fleet to the Pacific as
an instrument of mischief"
Restricted immigration.
Finally the Spectator warns the United
States that If Japan does not wish to re-
strict immigration to the United States
and Canada. Great Britain cannot join
the United States in compelling her to
do So
The Nation agrees that President Roose-
velt is shrewd enough politician to be
well aware that his action would work
up war scare. What really dlsturbs
the minds Of sober persons" says the Ma
ton. 'is not the belief that Japan is pre-
pairing for a naval struggle with the
United States. or that an American fleet
is moving to the Pacific coast for the ex-
press purpose of providing against this
contingency. but the Injurious influence
which repeated and aggravated sugges-
tions by Admiral Evans and the press
may have upon the minds of the most ex-
citable. sensation loving people upon the
earth. In a word it seems quite evident
that President Roosevelt has unwittingly
furnished the material for scare"
Very Dangerous Game.
The Nation discards the idea that either
President Roosevelt or Japan is willing to
unuertake today settlement by force or
otherwise Of the race blending problem,
which Is one Of the greatest that the
world has to face. 1t ascribes all the Pres
idents motives to the exigencies of domes-
tic politics, and sees that the first desire
on his part is to force a big naval apprO-
prlation. 1t goes on to say: Finally the
incidental service rendered to the govern
ment by a parade of bellicosity when q
presidential election is approaching must
not be left out of account. This may be
regarded as an orthodox piece of cam
paigning tactics. At one time 1t took the
familiar form of twisting the lions tall
and brandishing the Monroe doctrine.
More than once the United States has run
grave risks Of war In playing what is in
fact domestic party game.
though other considerations are prob
ably dominant In President Roosevelt's
mind ana underlies his determination to
persist In moving the fleet. the politi-
clans whom he consults are well aware of
the advantage of creating or conniving at
a foreign situation which shall possess at
any rate so plausible semblance Of
crisis as to enable them to quote the ia
miliar proverb about not swapping horses
while crossing stream"