The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-12-21
Buffers Opportunity.

'EAFRICA Will prove the grave Oh Inc
British Empire The marvellous
growth in the Empire and influence OF
England since that prophecy was made
had almost rendered it absurd. 1t had
been consigned to the category of high
sounding phrases that become notor1-
rious because of their rhetoric, but are
conceded to be empty and meaningless.
The remarkable success that has tol-
lowed the arms of England wherever
ambition or necessity has led them has
nurtured the idea in the minds of the
people of the world that old England
is invincib1e, that wherever the en-
b1em of English supremacy has waved
in the imagination of her statesmen, 1t
will eventually float in reality, and
where it has once been raised 1T Will
never be lowered except by the free
will of her government. OF course
history has proved the fa1lacy of that
idea. but nevertheless it is almost uni
versa1. For generations a British
Africa has been the browning hope of
England. Little by little she has been
working it out to it's realization. Such
has been her success that it has never
occurred to the world at large to doubt
the final accomplishment of her pur-
pose.
England has just now reached the
crisis in her South African career. 1t
is not out of the range OF reason to
predict that the present war in the
Transvaa1 will determine whether or
not the cherished hopes of England
are ever to be realized. There are
those who have ventured the opinion
that the moment of the fulf11ment of
the prophecy has arrived, and that the
English, defeated by the Beers, will
eterna11y lose their hold on Africa.
However that may be, it is truth be-
You'd dispute that English supremacy
in South Africa is in a precarious con-
dition. There is an opposition in the
government, already strong, that the
repeated reversa1s in the Transvaa1
have materially strengthened. A con-
tinuation of the present state Of affairs
will threaten the control of the party
in power. In order to avoid this sig
nal and immediate victory is impera-
tive. But what are the chances of such
a victory? From the censored news
that has reached us from the seat of
war it is impossible to judge accurate
1y of the condition of the British
army. But it is certain that England
is staggering under a terrible and un-
expected blow. The instigators of the
war had prepared for a "three weeks
campaign" and Butler had made the
boast that he would eat mis- Christmas
dinner in Pretoria. The war is al
ready two months old, and not only
have their boasts all failed, but they
are farther than ever from the end.
Instead of victory the British have
met only with defeat; instead of a
steady advance, a stubborn and con-
slant repu1se. The brilliant British
so1diery have repeatedly gone down be-
fore motley array of Boer farmers.
All Eng1and's equipment of modern
war machinery and the unexce11ed
courage of her troops have avai1ed
nothing thus far against the obstinate
courage of her foes entrenched in the
inpregnab1e defi1es of their country.
England has met with nothing but
loss so severe that the officials dare not
make it public. Generals White,
Gatacre and Metheun have all tried
and failed m;serab1y. There is appar-
emily one more hope, and that lies in
General Butler. For him it is rare
opportunity. If he fails, it is more
than likely that England will fail. If
he is victorious, England will be secure
in her African policy and Butler him
self will merit, and no doubt receive,
from the English government such re-
wards as have been granted to the
Saviors of the British Empire from
time immemoria1.