"ONE TONGUE, ONE FLAG!"

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 3

"ONE TONGUE, ONE FLAG!"

HOW THE ADMIRAL BEAT THE 1 PRESIDENT. "'• '■•'.. A GOOD STORY. ' ■'•' . Chicago has a representative citizen in Wellington.at the present timein.th t e person of Mr. Geo. A.'Walker, who is special representative ior Messrs. Fairbanks, Morse and Co., one of the largest machinery firms in, the world. vMr. Walker is cosmopolitan, and' knows the world better than many New Zealanders ' know their own country,: which brings us to the point. ■:■' ■'•" ■■The- conversation turned on , a'conjecture as. to what was ,the real feeling between Americans and Englishmen, and just how would;'the, two people act were H. G. Well's prophecy of a world's war to come about ■ -i ?V kn ° lv >, or Perhaps you don't know," said ■ Mr. Walker, , ''that ■ our constitution practically prohibits' an open alliance with .Jinglaud or any other country, but I am pretty Certain that for some years-at least there has been an unwritten agreement between Imgland and America. I have'nothing conclusive to base this opiuion. oh, except that'from time to time, things have happened that to the observant man show that a;.game .is.-being• worked., What hits one nation hits the. other: To indicate whak I have said.,llltell you a story.• -My business takes me to all parts of the world—and well not so'long ago, one of the : little 'simmering Kepublics boiled over into a revolution, and after a great old scTep, the-President fled, ,and the general of the revolutionary army entered into the occupation of the palace and t°°. k PPon. itself ■ the duties of. President. This little affair had been going, on before the issue was decided, and the. U;S. Government sent down.oneof our admirals on his flagship—l think it was Admiral Davis—to watch .things. By the- time the warship reached the port the revolutionaries had eot •through successfully,.and were:rioting!round the town, like a lot of boys. ' A party of officers'and men; in plain clothes; landed'from the flagship;on the evening of arrival : to take ; stook of things, and'.in the' course , 'of their wanderings-they saw-.the.flag of the British Consulate, -torn ■: down ■ and partly burnt ■The officers:- reported the', affair' to 'the' admiral, and the next > morning he landed in ■person, with-a' few. officers 'and-a squad" of men, and oho of the staff ■ was sent to inform the- brand .new President that ■ the 'admiral would like to see him; '■• : ,■. '-.v ■..■■-■ ■■; " ' Well, why. doesn't','he come' \to 'the 'Palace?/;asked,the general! .-•' ■• .'.!!■, ,- .•.'•; .";-',He doesn't wish to come to the,palace but.he.would' very much like to" see' you as soon-.as:-possible,- and'-expects you .within half'an hour.'.; .::,',,■- •.'.'■■;'.- -. '. .-■ : ; " "Feeling _ the mailed fist underneath, the' general; adjusted-his; toilet,' and went down to .meet -.the.admiral; who l was-coolly waiting on theiwharf for the country's ruler; ..When he appeared, the admiral," speaking .soft, told him; what he had heard about the tearing, down of ■the English flag by the revolu-' tidnary troops." :-• .• , ; ; , .'■ ' ' ":VWell,' said,the general,in effect, 'what of: ltr-it. .18--not' the American 'flag-"they pulleddown!'. :. ■ ... F .i ■~-.:, ■...•,° :./■ , ':.''! No, is so, but American' and -English- flags are going -to mean the same thing to you. I'll give'you (looking at' his watch) 24; hours to hoist that flag, again; write, am apology, and, supply,iv.ine'.j'with'.-a' signed copy.v.-If.you don'.t choose'io'doHhat,the; time- I have given :you" will;'enable 7 you to.;get: the■ women>;and•,children: out'.of the' : town-..before.l ; blow it outofvexistence. , ' '■' 'I: was quite remarkable," Mr. Walker relates, 'how soon, the. English flag was' flying: again,.and evidence was forthcoming, as to what a rapid writer tho;new general was. I think,;.th'at,'is. a. good, instance of what the feeling _ is , between the two nations' , under everything else. .... . -...-',... .-.■... ' "I was in Nicaragua last year, and'in the course of',a chat with the' American Consul he told me ithat they were trying to hush up a row. then; , .but;;diplomatic relations were then ; strained vtb. the utmost. ! '.You 'can't do. a-thing with.them—it's the Spanish and 'native ,,, blood that'lfcWtiH/' tffcahdHtf "quiet life: , Jlaft had '_W"go, "down there,"a little' time a'go.' : ;-He is a strong" man .'with a magnetic' ,aud;is ; a'.inari that' can get be,tiv:eeiv':two:bitter, factions, ?and' in!ah-hour or .two.'will Jiave'th'emlshaking hands and drink■ing together."Taft.is a, big man all right"