The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-20
The Tables Turned.

called halt to Great Britaiu's march
o occupy as English territory large
part of the republic of Venezuela Mr..
CbamberIn, now secretary nf state for
the colonies, denounced as indelensi-
BILE any suggestion of interference by
the British government in the purely
domestic affairs of the Transvaal. AT
that time the American Eigls was
plunging his talons into the back of the
British lion and there was war in the
air. Amily of very cordial kind ex
lists at the present time between En-
gland and America, but Mr.. Cham
berlin is now proposing 10 do in the
Transvasl what he then denounced as
indefensible, and there is again war in
the air, between the English Goiah
and the Boer David.
In this emergency Bourke Cock ran
writes an open letter to President Nc
Kinley, "invoking the exercise of a
power which Providence seems to b ave
placed in your hands," by the prefer of
friendly mediation, to delay, if not to
prevent, he threatened invasion of
the Trapsvaal. OF one feature of the
case of England against the Transvaal
Mr.. Cochran, writes with his custom
airy cogency:
The assertion at the point of the bayonet
by one power of right to control or pre-
scribe the conditions governing the cleo
toral franchise in another country admit
teddy Independent, would be an act of
criminal aggression" the enormity of
which has been described in clear, vigorous
and scathing terms by the present English
colonial secretary.
The writer of this open letter comes
of people which, in the place of its ma
tivity, has for centuries known some.
thing of English interfere nee in the
domestic affairs OF other states, and of
her capacity for "criminal aggression"
This knowledge assists to give color TO
his views nd cogency 10 their express
sion. Whether or not these circum-
stances qualify Mr.. Cochran to deal
judicially with the present aspect of
England's relations with the Boer re-
public, they certainly add interest and
lend piquancy TO their expression.
Commenting on the existing state of
public feeling between England and
America, and referring to Mr.. Chamber
lain's past and present attitude toward
the South African Republic, Mr.. Cock
ran again gives evidence of the blood
in his veins and his capacity for trench
ant statement:
An Anglo.American alliance can hardly
be force for the maintenance of justice
and the spread Of civilization, as its advo-
Gates contend, II highlands foreign policy
be marked by respect for justice while the
countries are estranged and by wanton
acts of aggression while their relations are
cordial. 1t is not extravagant or unreason-
able to insist that any country seeking al
liance-formal or tacit-with the United
States, must show some semblance Of re-
gard for the moral law, at least during the
period of courtship.
Probably. this suggestion of the moral
principle that should be the rule of ac-
ton between nations as well as indi-
viduals will have the assent of very
many who have not Irish blood in
their veins, aud whose judgment is I'M
influenced by memories of England's
COZ quest of Ireland and her RUE of
Irishmen.
Mr.. Cochran suggests that a friend
ly but urgent tender of President Nc
Kin,ey's good Offices would undoubted-
ly evoke full and comp lete statement
Of the grounds on which the peace and
integrity of the Transvaal is threaten
ed, if there are other aud sounder rea.
sons than those publicly given for the
course of the British government in
South Africa. He says he offers his
suggestion "so!cly from O regard for
the welfare of humanity" and other
equally praiseworthy motives, but he
probably had no expectation that they
would be acted upon, but improved an
effective means of securing public con-
sidelation of HE judgment of England
in this matter. And his judgment is just,
no matter what agencies may have in
spired it's expression or given force to
its utterance.