Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1896 — LONDON’S WAR SCARE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LONDON’S WAR SCARE

SERMANY AND ENGLAND MAY FIGHT. 3 rest Britain Attire in Military Preparations— Feeling Against Germany Gains Intensity—Emperor Declines to Recognize English Suzerainty. Crisis in African Affaire. London is for war. Jingoism,’hysterical n its fierce intensity, has taken possession >f the populace, and nothing will satisfy them but the imfhediate shedding of Gernan blood. At least thia is the tenor of late London cablegrams and newspaper »di to rials. The same rash cries that and thrilled the exCitgd Parisians 1870 are awaVemng't'lie‘ech<ffis of the murly and fog-enshrouded metropolis. The hoarse shoutj are but a paraphrase if the impetuous yells, “®n to Berlin.” Tory newspapers of the ultra-con-lervative stripe are to blame for this menacing tumult For days they have been

fulsomely extolling the buccaneeringjexplolts of Jameson against the Boers. The Times has fatuously stated in a doubleleaded leading article that the “march will remain a glorious tradition for the Anglo-Saxon race,” while the St. James’ Gazette says it relieves to a certain extent the dark odium attaching to Majuba Hill. But the principal cause of, the excitement is a dispatch from Berlin that the

emperor has declared, in no ambiguous phrases, that he will no longer recognize the treaty of 1884, thus expressing an intent to dash aside the British rlaim of suzerainty over the South African republic. Hardly had this news been published when the Globe issued an extra edition announcing under “scare headlines” that urgent and extreme activity prevailed in the war office and in the naval dockyards, and adding the following startling tidings: “A dispatch received from the military camp at Aidershot says that, the general belief, almost backed by proof, prevails there that-t he authorities are considering the mobilizing of the army reserves and part of the militia. The men employed in the ordnance stores are all very busy.” This announcement simply intensified

the inflated condition of the popular mind; and John Bull, as represented by the average po.t-valiant Londoner, shouted in raucous tones his utter detestation and defiance of the German ruler and his army. The activity in diplomatic circle* has seldom been equaled, a correspondent says. It Is feared If the dispatchessgnnouncing the bellicose intention of Em-

peror true that Europe will be in a blase in But there mutt be no doubt touching the attitude of the Salisbury governn/int. It will most assuredly fight for the maintenance of the treaty, and to diploma tieargument will be potent enough. to swerve it from that stern determination. Already Sir Frank Lascelles, the British ambassador, has been instructed to demand of the imperial German minister of state, Von Bieber st ein, an explanation touching these astounding reports affecting the attitude Of the kaiser. This demand is expected to counteract in a measure the querulous note of the Berlin government in regard to the bushwhacking operations of Cecil Rhodes and his ministers in South Africa. Emperor William’s Defiance, Emperor William’s declaration to Dr. W. J. Leyds, Secretary of State for the Transvaal, that he would not recognize any claim of suzerainty over the Boer republic, coming as it does so soon after the note to President Krueger congratulating hijn on the defeat of the English invaders under the lead of Dr. Jamfeson, is particularly to British pride. Great Britain boldly annexed the Tranavaal to Cape Colony in 1877, at a tlm'e

when the republic was in difficulty with' the native Africans. Although the an. nexation was said to be in response to a request from residents in the Transvaal, the Boers- soon rebelled against British rtye. By the treaty o£ 1884 the independence of the South African -republic was recognized in all matters relating to internal affairs. But Great Britain retained a suzerainty over the country, and it was through her ministers that all foreign negotiations of the republic were to be conducted. In the eyes of the British, therefore, Emperor William is overstepping the bounds of courtesy in presuming to communicate with the Government of the Transvaal at all, except through the ministers of her majesty’s government. Williams declaration that he will recognize no suzerainty over the Transvaal, which the British Claim by virtue of treaty, is an added insult that cannot be passed over without a serious humiliation to the pride of Great Britain. The situation Is complicated, top, by th* unsettled condition of affairs in South Africa, from whence trustworthy information is exceedingly meager. Cecil Rhodes has resigned the premiership of Cape Colony, but the reason for the action is not yet apparent. Once before, when there was an intimation of interference from the home government with the action bf the chartered company in conducting a war of aggression against the Matabeles, Rhodes, in threat, suggested the possibilityof a British South African republic independent of Great Britain. Tt is highly improbable that Jameson’s raid into tha Xransvaal was made without the knowledge and connivance of Rhodes. Possibly that uncrowned king of South Africa hopes for an early realization of hia dreams of federation, and has resigned in order that he may not be hampered by official responsibilities.

Of course, we want to fight with the rest of the boys, but we shall not be measured for a brass-mounted suit before spring. Uncle Sam will net permit bull fights in this country, but he isn’t averse to taking a hand, if necessary, in a John Bull fight elsewhere. The London Globe thinks “the Monroe doctrine is dead.” Well, we’re keeping

it yet, and no one will be permitted tr jump on the corpse. After all, do we really need a war? Isn't our supply of Colonels large enough! The last revelation in Colombia is said to h av ® cost the citizens of that country $4 apiece. Dirt cheap! Why, an ordinary Fourth of July celebration in this country costs a fellow more than that.

EMPEROR WILLIAM.