The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
Un.ir rs oorNo on IN EUROPE

have been successfully tho centres OF VITAL
European interest and now comes south Africa.
Neither tho outbreak VI tho war with tho
Hulus. nor oven tho calamity which Inns befallcn
n detachment OF tho British army. can be-
dceoribcd M surprising. Tho London press.
and moro especially tho Woes, warned the Gov
eminent for months OF tho danger Of tho situa-
ton in the south African colonies Neither did
tho savage tribes living on the bOrders OF
British possessions make any attempt 10 con
zeal their hostile intentions Only u few weeks
ago Capt. Patterson and Mr.. Sargeaunt. ENJOYS
from Sir Bnrtlo Prero to Lobcnguia. King
OF tho MatUbce. and fix men composing
thor suite. were poisoned on their homo
ward journey from Lobcngula's camp.
Tie death of the party was set down 10
poisonous spring. and tho Government OF tho
Queen accepted this explanation, although they
must have known that poisonous springs were
not among the phenomena Of that region
recorded in the books. Some unwholeeomc
water IL unqucstionably to be- found thorc dis
case may be caused by it and death may follow
Int springs OF this kind must have boon known
TO the natives who escorted the ENJOYS. COnso-
qucnty the sudden death Of these eight per-
sons is much more likely to have been gentle
hint that the chief Of the Matabelo tribe did not
want to have even amicabe negotiations with
their white neighbors. But tho British arc
equally famous for not knowing when they aro
beaten and for not knowing when they are not
wanted. So tho gentle hint Of King Lobengula
was explained away IA merely a sad accident,
and both the Government and the nation seemed
to be satisfied.
King Cctywayos case was not OF nature to
be 40 easily disposed Of Negotiations with tho
chief " the Zulus have been going on for a con-
siderable time past. and have, from the very
outset indicated the impossibity u q peace
ful settlement The opposition press under
| stood this and warned the Government Of Lord
Bcaconsneld. but no heed was taken of tho
warning, and even after Cctyway6had rejected
| all tho demands which Sir Barte Frcrc had
| made upon him. the Government and its syco-
plants continued to treat the matter ~ some
thing hardly worth taking notice OF. On Jan.
~ the Telegraph said. in it, first editorial:
tam that W. have auotner i'c Kar war on our hands.
has FASTENED the front Every thing has been made
ready or tic march Of our troops and before tc present
ny, have been carried into the heart OF Luiuiand
Unhappily. rs tho week advanced II became
| known that the only standard which was car
rcd into tho heart OF Iululand" was tho
| captured colOrs Of tho gallant Twenty fourth
| Regiment A massacre Of some 600 valiant
soldiers. including moro than thirty officers.
-gas the re,ori OF a savage African chief 10 the
| bold BLUM Of Lord Boaconsleld and tho hraRga-
doco Of his fellow Israclito who moulds the
public opinion u the lower and middle classes
OF Great Britain hy means Of the 100000 copies
| OF his newspaper.
The honest and truly patriot, English news
papers had plainly shown tho in.uuty and
danger Of this war many DAYS before HOSTILE
| tics broke out. Hero il Tho substance Of the in
| tcrpretation which the Aeirs put on the matter:
| In the old quarrel which Groat Britain took
| over when tho Government OF the Transvaal
| Republic was superseded by British force.
| Cetywayo seems 60 have been in tho right The
| piece OF land in dispute was described in n de-
| spatch from Mr.. j. ". Nhepstone. the acting
Secretary for Native Affairs at Natal as being
be.t OF land lying To- the east OF tho Blood River
and extending 20 the Buffalo River. south OF tho
Pousolo River. II was on Cetywayo's own pro-
posalthatacommis~ ON was appo ntcd to inquire
into this matter and the result Of the inquiry was
TO restore 10 the Zulu King the greater part Of his
| territory. But Sir Bartlc Frerc's memorandum
| made the return Of the territory unfairly an
| noXed moro nominal than real. by giving the
| Boer farmers who had settled in II "A British
guarantee for the continued enjoyment Of
rights granted them by n usurpring Govern
mcnt ~ completely Ms though they had been
given by the Zulu Government 10 whom the
territory belonged This was something ike
| klNlUE w an fNittH out tnhtlnnlnE 10 occupy
and hold the houses on II; and there need be
10 wonder that cvcn half savage notion
ot justice was dissatisfied with IL. Apart from
that, a British resident was to be appointed in
| Iululand. His functions were 10 be those of nm
| Indian officer Of that name. He was 10 eNer-
else "a potential influence in all national
| questions and the station which might be So
lcctod for his residence. together with n suit
able ACCOMPLISHMENT. carefully marked out aud
bc0concd To prevent intrusion Of unauthorized
! native habitatlons for couple Of miles round
! tho rcsidcncy, was 10 be declared British tor
rtoyy. Cetywayo had always desired T. nave a
| British Resident; but when il was asked that
TIE British Resident should have sort II inn
perum in impcrio marked out rs British ter
rtory in the very hear, Of the Zulu Kings do.
mlnions. the demand WAS certain to be resented
by him as an indication Of a wish to put an end
50 his power.
Moreover, the ultlma,gm ins 'stcd upon tho
dishanding Of the Zulu army. a portion of
which was proved guilty Of raids intoth British
territory This object RS the Nocs remarked
might have been easily attained by cutting on
tho supply Of firearms and ammunition. most
OF which come from the English colonies them
solves. and only small portion from the Portu.
Gucsc station of Delagoa Bay. II seems to be
the old story Of the British merchant making
H'Nu'l ny 0'lllNk 10 SuNhker arms WITH which L
XIII British soldiers. Says the Nccs:
II was understood IT homo that sir Blrir Frcre wont
o in ftA AMI secure peace AMI trust was placed DO
ll@ lfrNi1hs dealings win and III age ma
uHi. HuAA h mat 90" general impression tni>r
ana mat Sir HtrNr tfrl" Wa n other thuughts intent
$685. however tl- may hc Wr nave 70. tho mann result q,
hl- south African negotiations "a war which may cost u
h'", l"'-es 900 men amt money. which can bring u,
'.'l i""n. Ntns hul Wllc',u Ilruui have been huu
otn, wooded D, unc o uloc hunders which agr almo,
! equivalent On crucs
II is 60 be hoped that tho largo forces about I,
hc despatched will prove adequate " To rouaii
aud Wipo out the di-astcr" as Sir S,afrar,
Nouhcoto, on behalf of the Government. prom
ised tho House Of Commons 10 do There ear
Wee no doubt that thorc are plenty of mon wilnnl
To nh up the gaps MS rapidly rs thoy are made
The general depression Of business will render
tho task OF the recruiting officers very easy
one.
The alarming news from the Capo has. o
course. cflaced all other topics and caused over
tho disEraceiul freak Of Lord Aylesford I,
be overlooked. This ornamental member o
the House of Lords had already been nncd In
police court for throwing bags Of -four at IN,
British public returning from the Derby. Now