New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-31
THO rIEnS or ENGLIsH POLICY


pire where nothing ever seems to 20 right.
Since TIE close of the campaign in the Trans
vaal the adjoining district OF the Bechuana
country has necn invaded b. Boer hlhustclS
and frccbooters and a state of lawlessness has
ensued. Feuds have arisen among the native
chiefs. sope of whom have been ready to make
terms with the Beers. while tie Others Lave
looked to f. gland for protection. a conNen-
ton has finally been made b. which por-
ton of the territory has virtually been annexed
70 tac TIansyaal. Thi, convention seems to
have been forbidden 10y the treaty Of peace
signed with Great britain Engl,hr,en were
naturally humliatcd by their in-lorious cam
paign with that brave bit petty Rcplbhc, and
having swallowed tier pride III making peace
without winning n single victory, they are eX-
asprrattd ly the contcupt which the botIs
have shown for q cir treaty engagements. ms
feeling of indignation has been intensified by
the serious obligations incurred during the
cam,aicn. Before the battle OF Lalngs Sex
various tribes in the Bcchuana country were
encouraged by British agents to remain neutral
and TO give protection 10 any loyal colonl-is
who would seek refuge among them. They
were assured that their services would not be
tected against tho resentment of the Bocrs.
They were rot British subjects IN any street
sense, nor were they formal allies IN The cam
uai.n but .hcy wrTo useful friends ana have
suffered in consequence Of that friendship.
Their country has been invaded, their cattle
have been stolen, their land has been taken
away. and the Beers have treated them "a enc
mic, NhO were to be punished for their loyalty
to the British.
Mr.. Forster has made in the Commons an elO-
Gucnt Plea in behalf Of these humble allies IN
south Africa represents the Bechuana dis
trict as the scene for half century OF success
full missionary labors on the part OF Living
stone. Monat and others, aud repcls the charge
that the country has always been land OF law
lc,sncss and robbery He contends that the
annexation to the Tran,yaal Of country III
which English missionaries have made such ex-
crllcpt progress is Il most dcplOrabo result.
Moreover, he adduces from the Bluo Books
strong evidence of the obligations Of the Brit
isl, Government to protect these black races.
He protests against the dcScItlOn of allies III
their distress after they have rendered ma
trria all To- the Government and been punished
in consequence. lie can see only two courses
Oxen TO the Crown officials cithcc to fulfil
their obligations 10y protecting faithful allies,
or TO declare with honesty and humility that
they will not or cannot do it. lie holds that
the policy Of DESERVING allies If carried ont
logically will lead to a Withdrawal from the
Cane and from India as well. Nor Is this view
unreasonable; for the British colonial system
throughout the world has been grounded npOE
the principle of supporting allies with irmncss
and promDtncss whenever thcy have required
protection.
Nr. Gladstone, in replying to this vigorous
succcl, described the Bcchuana country as q
land of Turbulence and disorder DIVIDED among
a multitude OF Independent chiefs the III ajor
| ty Of whom were in sympathy with the Dutch
settlers. Iio would not admit that there had
| been any acl,nO ylcdgmcnt Of inability to pro-
| feet allies There WAS simply reluctance On the
| part Of The Government to interpOse IN a native
| quarrel between the friends ana the foes OF the
Beers in a broad district winch had no defined
| frontier. military expedition, lac cOntcndcd,
which would repress the incursions of frceboot-
| ing farmers and restore the property OF those
who had been faithful to the British in the last
campaign would have only mOmentary effect,
after involving the risk of campaign to be
| lOugHJ ,IOO mllcS from any DdSc vi oDcIduiohS'
There would always je fresh land for cOlonists
to occupy in the north, and their advance
would lead to inevitable feuds, intrigues and
| conflicts with native tribes, and the chiefs
would be divided Ill their alliances, as they had
ever been, between the rival races of foreigners.
Such a military expedition woud only extend
tho area of conflict toward the equator and
open the way for new discomfort and tur-
bulence. Mr.. Morley had said: "Be they
"good or bad, why should not these people be
absorbed by the Transvaalf 1t is not our
"afair." Mr.. Gladstone could not with like in
difference regard the fate of chiefs who had
befnended loyal subjects of the Crown. lie
recognized it as public duty to undertake ne
gotiatons and measures of Daciication in their
] Behalf. although he was inclined to believe that