The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-22
ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
The Boer President Has Refused to
Submit to England's Demands.
A CRISIS Is NEAR AT HAND.

The Long Standing Differences Be.
tween the South African Republic
and Great Britain May Be Settled by
Force OF Arms Very Soon.
London, Aug. 22.-There is no longer
any doubt that President Kruger has
refused to submit to the demand OF MT.
Chamberlain for the appointment OF q
court of inquiry. He may have done SO
diplomatically or hedgingly, but that
his answer is regarded by the British
government as tantamount to posi-
tive refusal is now an established fact.
The report that President Kruger has
proposed new terms Is somewhat veri-
| fed by the guarded comment of the
colonial office officials and the irrita-
bility displayed there. There is not the
| slightest doubt that they believe war
is now the only way to settle the con-
troversy. They would far rather had
curt defiant answer than the tempor-
iZing reply which the Boer president
has sent.
| With the former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for quick COM
| mencement of hostilities. Under the
circumstance which it is believed now
exist aggressive action needs consider
able explanation to justify it In the
| eyes of the world and the English mi-
| nority who still declare that war would
be an outrage However, If Mr. Cham
berlain has his way it is believed
, President Kruger's counter proposals
will meet with scant attention. and un-
less the Beers completely back down,
which is not likely, the crisis will
quickly develop into war.
The colonial office has been aware OF
the nature of the Transvaals reply for
some days. hence 1t Is probable that
Great Britain will delay the denounce-
ment as little as possible.
A high colonial official says: "The
kind of game which Kruger is playing
must be clear to Americans. The pro-
testations of the Beers that they wish
to live quiet, agricultural life may be
the tune Of some on the Veldt, but the
gang in Pretoria is simply after money.
Though President Kruger says many
harsh things of the Outlanders, he
never hesitated to make money out OF
them, either by fair or foul means.
This Transvaal question cannot be
judged by recent occurrences. You must
go back 80 years. 1t has been hanging
fire all that time. and the sooner 1t is
settled now the better"
The government Is somewhat an
noyed at the public's slight interest in
the Transvaal. The off1cial above
quoted said that Dreyfus seemed to be
the only thing the people think about,
though England is in most serious
crisis.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
says there is great danger of an out
break of violence on the frontier. and
that the scum of South Africa are en-.
listing throughout the colony and are
being sent to Pitsani and Jameson. on
the border.
Sunday was observed throughout the
Orange Free States and Cape Colony
with humiliation. prayer and sermons
advocating a peaceful solution of the
crisis. Mr.. Snytler. leading Dutch Re-
form preacher here, referred to the
close ties uniting the cape Dutch to
those Of the Transvaal. If war was de-
clared, he asserted, Great Britain would
commit "heinous crime before God
and man, resulting in civil war in
Cape Colony"
There is evidence of growing un-
easiness at Johannesburg Great crowds
gather at the railroad station, express
sing disapproval at the departures for
Cape Colony and Durham. Natal.