New-York tribune., 1899-12-18
THE BRITISH VINDICATION.

British disaster brings British vndcation-
That is one of the most obvious and most sig
nifcant facts of the present situation in South
Africa. The disaster Is not complete nor ir-
reuievable. The vindication may not TO all
seem complete and indsputable But each is,
as far as it goes sufficient The British ad-
vance is checked and driven back at all points.
with heavy loss. That is sufficient evil for the
day. The British contention Of months ago
that British paramountcy in South Africa was
being challenged, If not imperilled. by the
growth of an alien and hostile power within the
territorial limits Of the empire is proved to
have been true That is an ample vindication
On that one basic principle. For, after all. that
was the basic principle of the whole case. The
questions Of the franchise, the dynamite mo-
nopoly the distribution Of seats, the indepen-
dence and integrity of the courts, and what not,
were secondary. The one supreme and primal
question was whether Great Britain was or
was not TO be the paramount Power in South
Africa.
There are, no doubt. those who contend that
she ought not 10 be; that she ought 10 sur
render the whole region TO the Beers. They
likewise contend that she ought TO surrender
Egypt TO the Turks. and Canada to the French.
and India TO the Moguls and Mahrattas, and
New-ZealaDd 10 the Maoris, and so on through
all her empire. Yes; but why stop there? Surely
the Beers should in turn surrender their land to
the Kafirs and Hottentots, and Egypt should
be given TO the Copts and Canada TO the
lroquois. If that principle were carried to its
logical conclusion there would be prodigious
remaling of the political maps of the world
II not, IL that principle be not applied Impair
TALLY and in It's entirety. there seems TO be no
satisfactory reason why Great Britain alone
should be made subject TO II. The case OF Fin
land Of recent memory, supplies comparison
which. though not perfect, is suggestive and
should not be odous. The autonomy of that
country was repeatedly guaranteed In the most
explicit and solemn manner by Russia. Yet
within the year Russia has arbitrarily and
forcibly abolished ii, for the simple and avowed
reason that she deemed such an Emporium in
imperio" hurtful to her interests. Why should
those who approve Russias action IN Finland
condemn Great Britain's in South Africa? Es-
pecially since Finland was a friendly and loyal
while the Boer States were an unfrendly and
hostile, Emporium In imperio"? Or why should
those who strenuously uphold the Monroe Doc
trine OF the paramountcy Of the United States
In Amortization 1t comes practically 10 that
object TO the enforcement Of similar doctrine
by Great Britain in South Africa?
The British vindication Is not. however, upon
that phase Of the matter so much as upon this
that British paramountcy. whether right or
wrong was actually challenged Mr.. Chamber
lain and bis colleagues said that II was. Mr..
Morley and the few who followed him denied
IT, scornfuly asking how a mere handful Of
peaceful, unframed and unarmed farmers could
challenge it. What is now made entirely clear
is that Mr.. Chamberlain and his colleagues were
right There was growing up In South Africa
a power Of great military resources-far greater