The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 239, 25 January 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1898.

The eyes of the civilised world are fixed on the cloud which is hanging over the Celestial Empire. At the present moment it appears to be impossible to prognosticate as to whether it will disperse quietly or prove the nucleus of a more terrible war than hiscory has yet recorded. This much is clear; England will not recede from the position that she has taken up, and why should she. She does not ask more for herself than for the rest of the world. At the same time she is determined that no other Power shall acquire advantages whether in the shape of trade or strategical positions cabnlated to impede her commerce or render the defence of that commerce more difficult. This is no new departure, she has pursued the same policy for many years. Whenever she has acquired territory by force of arms or the peaceful march of colonisation, that territory has immediately been open to all the world, people of any nationality were free to settle and pursue the arts of peace equally with. hor own countrymen, so long as they were obedient to the laws of the country in which they settled. If desirous of casting in their lot entirely with their fellow-colonists no difficulty has stood in the way of their becoming naturalised subjects of the Queen. If they have been desirous of retaining their nationality, they have invariably been accorded the full rights of citizens, except, of course, that as foreigners they have been precluded from holding political positions or of voting for the selection of men to fill them. The commercial treaties are not yet abrogated which prohibited a group of colonies from giving another group or the Mother Country trade advantages above those accorded to every other country. The animosity therefore, which we cannot help recognising the other nations feel against Britain, is not because she has evidenced a dog-in-the-manger policy as regards the territory ovsr which her flag flies. It is much more the outcome of joalousy at the success which has attended the colonising efforts of her people. Judging by the cablegrams which have reached us, there is a compact between France, deruiauy and Russia, by which each is to acquire trade advantages, exclusively for their own people, and Great Britain to be left out in the cold. This is treatment to which she is not likely to submit, and as Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has said she will resort to .var in preference. Britain stands alone, except that Japan, in the event of hostilities, will of necessity become her ally. Germany has asked Austria and Italy to send men-of-war to the China seas. This we iinagiue they are not in the least likely to do, they will be far too wise to help pick the chestnuts out of the fire for the three predatory Powers. For our part we do not believe that this unholy alliance for the gain of selfish ends will push matters to extremities. The risk would be too great. The British and Japanese fleets, with the army of the latter aud their country for a base, would be more than a match for the combined navies. The combat would be a terrible one, but as Britain and Japan would have the superior force, the result should not be difficult to predict. Britain has right on her side; if she fights she will fight for the unrestricted advance of commerce, which is clearly for the advantage of the whole world. Such a war would not, of course, be confined to the China seas, but so long a 3 Britain has the superior fleet she has little to fear from attack. It behoves the col»nies to organise their forces, in view of such an emergency as appears to be imminent; it is the duty of every able-bodied man to learn the use of arms. It is very unlikely, but at the same time it is possible that such a scheme as is attributed to Russia in this morning's issue might be attempted. It is our duty to be prepared.