Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-12-29
|PIRIT OF THE PRESS
kCTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
GREAT sR,TAlN's CRISIS.


The South African war cloud has re-
plved itself into tempest which threat
ms to involve the British nation iD the
host serious difficulties. The crisis
9hich the English government is facing
undoubtedlylthe most portentious that
Rs confronted 1t since the mutiny in
india, and some go so far as to predict
bat the conflict with the Beers will re-
bit in the dissolution of the British
npire itself. The dangers which
breaten the English government at
present are of two kinds, internal aud
External. If the British, after repeated
oversees at the hands of the Beers, sue
Fed in vanquishing their enemy, they
ill be faced by the possibility Of
European intervention. If they effect a
bmpromise with President Kruger, or
How the struggle to drag its weary
myth for months without striking a
flushing blow upon the forces Of tn
ransvaal, the weakness thus made APP
aren't will encourage the millions of
lacks in the English dominion to stand
r enlarged rights, if indeed 1t does not
lad to general uprising in Africa and
pdia.
That there is imminent danger IN both
these directions has already been made
Fident by the tone of the British press
4 well as by outside indications. 1t is
we'll known fact that France and Rus
Ia would welcome any excuse for the
bterve ntion of the continental powers
behalf of the Beers, and in spite of
Emperor Williams recent visit to Eng
End and the friendly sentiments expressed
that occasion the German press is
ktterly hostile to the British. The re-
Dated reverses suffered by the English
6rees in South Africa have already led
he newspapers of various continental
sntries to demand that Great Britain
not allowed to do more than to re-
ieve its military fortunes, and it is
britain that determined opposition Will
made to any attempt on the part OF
BE British to absorb the republics with
hitch they are now at war, while the in
bility to whip an insignificant power
ay tempt enyiOus powars to seek to
Fest from Great Britain some of her
Eeasures.
The most pressing danger which con-
Eonts the English government at the
resent time, however, Is the possibility
black uprising in Africa. The full
[gnificance of such an outcome does not
bpear until we consider that this
Ould not only end European dreams OF
WILLING Africa, but it would in al
Imam probability be the indirect mean;
a widespread revolution in India
he latter danger is so imminent that tbs
kopOsal to send considerable body Of
pops from that possession to Soutl
ERICA has led to protests on the part o.
Arious English leaders, the objection
fated being the possibility of an upris
in the event of the weakening of thu
hes stationed there. The British
ess has also frankly discussed
e disastrous result which would
low black rising in South Afric'
BID the inevitable spreading OF tn
bubble throughout that part of the darl
ntinent controlled by Great Britain, a
Ill as to the spheres of influence o
her Europe an powers.
Count Won BuelOw of Germany ha
pdoubtedly voiced the sentiments
pre- than one continental statesman i
3 deeply significant utterance to tn
beet that ave can not tell what grea
ternational effects the war now bein
ught in South Africa may have" bu
neither he had in mind European intel
htion or the possibility of the dissoll
On of the British empire as the result
EVOLUTION can only be coniectured. b
bis as it may 1t is evident that tt
verses sustained by the British hay
used rejoicing in more than or
uropean capital, and whenever EN-
Ind shows tendency to go down hi
either direction there will be no lac
willing hands to help her to gain IN
entum.
AS the situation now stands Engal
|uld not stop the South African co
let, II she would. Her only safety Ii
vigorous prosecution of the W
UGH as her leading men are now q
landing, and the sooner she strikes