The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-12
POOR Old "O(|NP5|JL :
viii Probably End His Days
as Napoleon Did
ON HISTORIC ST. HELENA
But Then, He Still Lacks a
Lot of Being Caught

| new 4Orks dec. 1.-the journal says
The British government has already de.
| cided what it will do with President
Kruger, of the Transvaal-when he has
| been caught.
There may be new exile at ST He
lena.
In any case, Kruger will be expatrieted
for the rest Of his life from the country
| he has loved so much
The British consider Dom Paul too dan
| gerOus an enemy to be left at large af-
| ter the present war is over.
The Cabinet has considered long and
carefully the question of dealing with
him, and has just reached a decision
which has been announced in this coun-
try by the cable.
In the first place he will be exlied
from South Africa and sent to Eng and,
where he will be permitted to live within
a certain radius, on condition that he will
promise not to interfere in any way with
South African politics or TO hold any
communication with any one concerning
them.
In case he shall break any of these con-
ditions he vii be deported to the Island Of
ST. Helena, where he will be kept under
strict surveillance, as was Napoleon.
It is therefore extremely probable that
the world will see President Kruger, at
the beginning of the twentieth century,
treated exactly in the some way as was
the great French Emeror at the begin
ming of the nineteenth, confined to the
same desert island and occupying the
same old house.
In view of President KrugeTs unlinit-
ed courage and obstinacy it is not likely
that he would consent to any conditions
declaring him from striving for the polit-
ical rights of his country, or that If he
accepted such conditions he would OBJ
serve them. He would probably endure
any sort of confinement rather than vol
unfairly forego his natural rights.
The position Of Kruger in the event Of
his defeat will bear many points Of re-
semblance to that of Napoleon after the
hattie of Waterloo. The British Govern
ment was in a; state Of panic lest Napo-
leon should escape from its hands again.
Therefore it decided to imprison him on
an island 1000 miles from anywhere,
which no one on earth could reach with
out the permission Of the British navy.
The action of the government was re-
garded as mean even by many English
men and by Europeans who had fought
against Napoleon. He had been the
greatest power in Europe for years, and
he had been recognized by all Govern
ments as an Emperor. It was therefore
considered that it would have benn fit
ting and generous to have treated him
as a fallen Emeror-to have given him a
palace to live in, a proper retinue of SER
wants and a liberal area of freedom.
There is hardly a Frenchman today who
does not bitterly resent the British treat
ment of Napoleon.
Exactly the same criticisms will be
aroused by similar disposition of Pres
ident Kruger. The latter is not less he
roic figure than Napoleon, although
the two are SO vastly different in ex-
ternal aspects. Kruger, at the head of
a people of not much fore than hundred
thousand, defies the most populous en-
pire in the world. Napoleon with one
nation behind him dominated the whole
world.
Although the British Governments
treatment of Napoleon was undoubtedly
harsh, it may be reasonably argued that
it was wise in a military and political
sense. If Napoleon had not been kept
absolutely out of reach of France he
would have certainly tried to plunge Eu-
rope into war again and destroy England
as a political entity. Similarly it may be
argued that in view of the terrible loss
of life England is suffering in her pres
ent war with the Beers It would be wise
to put Dom Paul absolutely out or harms
way. There could be no better way of do
ing this than by sending him to ST. He
lena.
When this expected event takes place,
the Cd scenes, illusions and pictures
connected with the exile of Napoleon Will
acquire new interest and significance.
Instead of Napoleon on the rock at
St. Helena, It viii be loom Paul. Kru-
ger on the rock at st. Helena.
Instead Of Napoleon on the deck Of the
Benerophon, it will be kruger on the
deck of some other war ship.
Instead Of Napoleon debating his ne
moirs to Las Sases, it will Zoe Kruger
dstaung TO ex-General Peit Cronje
It is rather early to speculate who will
be the successor of Sir Hudson Lowe,
the tyrannical and spying British Govern
or who made the last years of Napoleon
misehable. But probably DR. Jamison,
whose raid was nipped in the bud by
President Kruger, would find the post to
his liking.
In order that the American public may
better understand what is going to hap
pen TO President Kruger, it Will be wei
to recall the principal facts connected |