America, supplies the one great exception to the rale. Opinion
there is steadily on the British side. A crowd in New York cheered loudly when it was known that the naval guns bad silenced the Boer forty-pounder, and the Press almost without an exception expresses sympathy over the re- verse at Ladysmith, and the expectation that it will speedily be retrieved. It is even reported as the official opinion that an intervention by the Powers would be hostile to American interests especially in China, and would greatly displease the Union as an unjustified interference. From the words in which this statement is couched we should gather that some such opinion was really expressed semi-officially to some European diplomatist who was sounding opinion on the matter, though, of course, not in a way to pledge the Govern- ment of Washington. Apart from their feeling as kinsmen, Americans are, we believe, universally aware that we saved them from European intervention during their war with Spain, and would hail with delight the opportunity of paying off that debt. That feeling, which is well known on the Con- tinent, greatly tends to save Foreign Offices from entertaining rash suggestions.
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