The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24

But, II the State OF New York should see At
to make residence for seven years cond-
tion Of naturalization, neither Great Britain
nor any other foreign power would dream
OF describing the act as one Of intolerable
oppression justifying resort to arms.
A green book published In Pretoria, the
substance OF which has been telegraphed,
seems to offer q conclusive answer to the
charge that President KRtaER was guilty
OF bad faith In making proposal which he
knew to be inadmsslble when he offered
naturalization after five years residence on
the condition that England should renounee
all claim OF suzerainty. 1t turns out that
the precise terms OF the offer were infor-
mally communicated in advance to the
Colonial Office, and that the responsive tele-
gram was interpreted by the British
diplomatic agent at Pretoria to mean that
the conditional proposal would be accepted
II formally made. A perusal OF the report
made to President KRUGER by State Attor-
ney SHUTS, who conducted the negotia-
lions. leads to the conclusion that the
Transvaal Government has been straight
forward, and that II there has been any
shuff1ing or disingenuousness it must be
imputed to the British Colonial ONCE. The
despatch relating to this transaction was
sent to IHE SUN from Capetown, and con-
stitutes one among several proofs that the
Boer side OF the controversy is not fairly
stated In the London newspapers from
which most Of the information telegraphed
to New York Is drawn. 1t should be clearly
understood chat the Beers OF the Transvaal
could not expect active cooperation from
their neighbors In the Orange Free State
and moral support from the Afrikander
element in Cape Colony and Natal unless
they could demonstrate that they had done
everything in their power to avert a war
short OF making concessions that would
imperil their control Of their internal gov
eminent.
1t was strong language that Mr.. JOHN
MORLEY used the other day in his speech.
when he said that, II England used her vast
preponderance Of force to coerce a feeble
commonwealth into q virtual surrender OF
its independence, she would run the risk Of
being branded by mankind as pirate
nation" The epithet stings, but it will
stick, II England insists upon subverting
the Pretoria Government for no better rea-
son than because President KRtaRR pre-
fers seven years to Ave years as the term
OF residence required for naturalization.
Even the London Spectator, which now
takes Mr. MORLEY to task, acknowledged
two or three mouths ago. when the Trane-
vaal crisis became acute. that England had
no right, either in international law, or
under the Convention Of 1884, to prescribe
the conditions OF the franchise in the
Transvaal, inasmuch as these conditions lie
at the root OF local autonomy. Does not
the violation Of international law, when 1t
involves spoliation and bloodshed, consti-
tute the definition Of pirate2
The British Government can i'll afford to
risk the loss Of the respect and good will
OF the American people. 1t Is to be feared
that those feelings might not survive the
spectacle which would be offered to the
world, II the might Of the British Empire
were employed In crushing the South Afri-
can Republic.