New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1899-10-18
Washington Letter.

4 WASHINGTON, D. c.
/ The expected has happenened in the
Transvaal. President Kruger has de-
clared war against Great Britain IN order
that he may strike before the British car
assemble an overwhelming and crushing
force
4 With all lines of cable communication
from South Africa under British control
the public need not to expect to heal
anything favorable to the Boer Tor weeks
i to come. Bnt the prediction is here
made with all emphasis that for the
next month the Beers will sweep over
the British outposts in Natal and Cape
Colony with almost unbroken strides.
The Beers will make their struggle
| for liberty and the possession of their
own land without even the sympathy OF
this country. In an official statement
from the State Department it is learned
that the President "does not think it ex-
pedient to offer mediation because he
has received no intimatlon that it
would be acceptable to both parties.
OF course mediation would not be &C.
ceptable to Great Britain but the Trans
vaal has intimated that it would appre-
ciate the good Offices of this country to
avert war and yet secure them deliver
ance from the oppression OF Great Brit
ain.
The secret understanding with Great
Britain is the most weighty reason why
Mckinley cannot interfere to even give
moral support to country fighting for
the same freedom that our Colonies
sought from the domination of Great
Britain. But it is also possible that the
Administration sees the absurdity of Of
fering to mediate in the Transvaal mat
ter when it is engaged in the business of
subjugating the Philippines, who are also
fighting for liberty and the right to gov
ern their own country III their own way.
| Great Britain is approac hing a catas-
trophe which may take from her many
of her possessions and reduce her to u
third rate power. She is by no means
invincible. The Beers are better marks
men than the British. The Beers are in
their own country. They are hardy and
used to exposure. They can live On
dried beef and parched corn. Great
Britain will have considerable trouble in
massing her troops to fight the Beers.
She will find her soldiers as helpless be-
fore Boer tactics as our soldiers are IN
the jungles of the Philippines. She will
shortly find herself fighting not only the
people of the Transvaal but also the At
ricanders of Cape Colony and Natal.
She has not only to fear the loss of
South Africa but just as soon as she en-
counters defeat there she will be set up
on by the Continental powers who have
a long score to settle and have been
waiting a fitting opportunity. Should
France, Germany and Russia seize this
opportunity to demand their share OF
the spoils of Empire which England has
accumulated, she would emerge from
the conflict third rate power compar.
able to Denmark
| TO guard against such defeat has
Salisbury sought and consumnated Sc
cret alliance with Mckinley. The deal
has been made and it's ratifcations are
deeper and wider than has ever been
charged. The one weak excuse for this
base surrender is the alleged interference
Of Great Britain to prevent a coalition
IN Continental powers against the Unit
ted States and in favor of Spain during
during the recent Spanish war. Tha
coalition was never contemplated. Grea
Britain rendered US no service. He
whole idea in the alliance is to make thu
United States render her service and Civ
nothing in return. Mckinley falls int
the trap with great readiness.
1t was Great Britain's policy to so in
volve the United States in, the Asiati'
squabble that in the end this countr,
would be obliged to ask her support
!, It is dangerously near succeeding. Thi
country is plunged into the Philippine
complication SO deeply that it is diff
cult to see any satisfactory ending Q
: our war of conquest. The worse the sit
. uation gets the better it will suit the de
signs of Great Britain.
THAT TRIP OF MCKINLEY
The opinion gains ground in Washing
ton that President McKinley's wester
trip has been considerable of fros
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