The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
|SAMER|CACOM|NG.
| 0UT0F HER SHELF.
English People Interested in
Probable Attitude in
Liberia.
MEANS USE OF BIG STICK
Terms of Kings Declaration Con
corning Professionalism
Settled.
USE OF BIG STICK
by WILLIAM II. STEAD.
Especial Gable to The Times-Dispatct

youE SeCTetdry NHON ID medltatlnS the
economic regeneration OF Liberia has
reused a genuine thrill of interest in
England. Is America. then, really COM
ing out OF her she'll and about to
share in the risks and bear the bur-
dens of world power?
It is easy to explain In a way the
significance of the Liberian proposal,
but the Instinct of the English people
is that in such matters 1t is the first
step that counts.
II the United States Is going to es-
tabllsh a coaling station in Liberia; II
American credit Is to be used to ex-
| tricate the negro republic from diff
| culties, and if American authority is
to be invoked whenever Liberia has
| difficulties With her neighbors, then
| beyond doubt the Stars and Stripes
| will have to be set up on the West
| Coast of Africa.
Uncle Sam will find 1t a great deal
easier to get into Africa than to get
| out So far as Britain is concerned,
| there is not shred of Jealousy or
alarm excited by the latest spectacle
of American oversee Development.
| However strange 1t may appear to
| Americans who have not yet escaped
| the War of Independence, the English
people persist in regarding the United
| States as an Integral part OF the great
English speaking community. which
Is to all intents and purposes one
state, with one language, one law, one
literature and one religion
EnElnnd's Costly Experience.
If any Englishman expressed regret
at the spectacle of America crossing
the Atlantic in order to plant a firm
foot on African territory it is solely
because we have had so painful and
costly an experience in attempting
civilization on the West Coast of At
RIGA that some of us regret that Amer
lea should have begun an imperial
colonization in such very unpromis-
ing quarter.
The Big Stick, even If it is not con-
stsntly in evidence, will have to be
| always on the horizon, and the future
! offers an unpleasant vista of military
snd naval expeditions in territory
which, excepting rubber. holds out 1T
| tie or no promise of successful COM
mercial exploitation.
The question OF a coaling station on
the West Coast of Africa is shower
than practical. Liberia is not a half
way house to any goal which can be
regarded at present as an objective
! in American diplomacy Great Britain
| never felt 1t worth while to establish
| coaling station in those regions 1t
| is difficult to believe that any amount
/ of expenditure OF money would make
Liperian coaling station place OF
/ arms whence the United States could
threaten any German expedition to
4 South or Central America
. All these considerations, however,
Il apr IN ha when the
Imagination is heated by the dream OF
planting the Stars and Stripes on an
other continent To those who specu-
late as to the future developments OF
, American ambition 1t seems as IL the
, most probable objective an intelli-
gent policy of expansion is to be found
! In Asiatic Turkey. There is no doubt
, that single vilayet in Asia Minor
has more prospect of profit in 1t than
: the whole of the forests and swamps
OF Liberia.
People here are wondering whether
Secretary Knox, having succeeded in
uniting Russia and Japan against the
American policy in Manchuria. will en-
deavor a commensurate in the way OF
establishing American authority near
to the East. The massacre OF some of
the innumerable American missionaries
in Asiat!c Turkey might at any mo-
ment supply as good a pretext as
that which led Germany to establish
authority at Kaiochau.
A Truce in Religious Strife.
In English affairs the chief interest
OF the week has been in the salts
factory settlement of the terms of the
Kings declaration concerning Protest
antlsn. The ministers found them
selves embarrassed by the formidable
coalition of opponents to the Formula
which they originally proposed. IN
stead of Insisting that the king mus
declare himseiA a member OF the Re
formed Church. by law established
he has now only to declare that he i
! a Protestant, whatever that may mean
He is determined to uphold the Prot
estant succession.
This note was practically dictate'
by the nonconformists, who revolte'
against the formula which appeare'
to shut out the nonconformists for
ever from the throne. ultra-l'rotest
ants are still raving against the los
OF the denunciation Of Catholic prac
tees and beliefs, but the nation a
large is heartily glad a settlement !
| arrived at, which is accepteu as satls
factolily by all reasonable Catholic
and Protestunts.
The Parliamen tary session is comm
| to a close much more peacefully tina
any one ventured to anticipate. IN
leaders of the two parties Will kce
\ on puttering away at the conferenc'
| trusting to chapter OF accidents tina
/ something may turn up to enable thei
\ to tide over the constitutional crlsl
/ until the coronation. The radicals al
/ uneasy. bat as things are they canh'
\ help themselves.
\ The question OF womans sullras
\ has advanced another step by the oirt
\ Of Mr. Asauith to give facilities ft
h the further progress Of tne conclllt
II I}tion hill II its promoters Will conser
Il In such an alteration of the preamb
/ as win permit 1t to be amended
i committee so as to render IT a MOI
h democratic measure than 1t is at pre-!
n emf For the moment the coalition {
II ITnionists and Liberals who carried tt
II second reading of the cancellation bi
II is threatened by this demand on Il
II part Of the ministry, but It is obvious
II IL impossible for such a coalition
II insist that the Commons should NJ
II no allowed to discuss the questic
II whether or not the franchise whit
II is proposed to be granted to spnste
II and widows should not be extended
u married women,