The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-12-21
EMPIRE AT STAKE.
England Took Enormous Chances in
the Transvaa War.

/
the Transvaal War.
Editorial in seattle acknowledgements
British.
At last Great Britain understands
that she must put forth her full
strength against the South African up
rising. The appointment OF Lord Rob
erts as commander-in-chief, the calling
out of the entire military reserve and
the dispatch Of another division 30 the
seat OF war raise this conflict to the
rank Of the greatest In which England
has ever been involved. They are an
announcement TO the world Of the
seriousness Of the situation, and n
pledge Of the tremendous issues invol.
we'd In the event.
II has come TO this; that the integ-
rity Of the British empire itself il at
stake. At the outset, il would have cost
little more to concede the Boer demands
and retire from the borders of the
Transvaal than il cost Mr.. Gladstone to
follow the same course in 1881. II il
different now. II Is n question not only
of territory, but Of prestige. And in
the prestige status of Englands affairs
aud OF feeling among the patrons Of
Europe, prestige means empire.
The first danger is the loss not mere
ly OF suzerainty over the Trnsyaal, hut
Of all South Africa For long time
there has been q sentiment growing
among the Dutch colonists in favor OF
confederation OF their own. The South
Alrikander movement is obscure, but ,
Il is real. II the Beers are not crushed, !
losses retrieved, authority re.established |
and extended, Natal and Free State and |
Rhodesia and Cape Colony itself will be
swept into the stream. Their unexpected
victories have filled the South Afrikand-
ers with belief that their dream may
become a practical reality British
sovereignty is trembling today in every
portion Of South Africa.
A grayer danger, perhaps, looks from
'he Fast across the ocean that leads 10
Injia. British authority there rests
till upon the popular conviction that
her might is irresistible. The terrible
esson of the mutiny has not been for
Iolten. But neither have Indian people
ost the tinot of their peculiar blood.
'ecretiye, brooding, changeless, they
'old the Briton still an alien and an
nemy. II England were overwhelmed
nd driven out Of South Aafrica, there
lonld be sleepless nights in India,
there a whisper, running mysteriously
Trough the slumbering millions, might
AXE them TO ambitions and deeds not
ct forgotten. II is a question OF empire
. India.
The events of the last few weeks have
Shlbited the temper aud disposition Of
'urope, as invisible handwriting ap
ppers before the fire, Great Britain has
iemies only upon the continent. Re
seen her aud France there is the
ncient blood-ieud Germany breaks
no insolent joy at the first moment of
er repulse. All OF them have waited
leir opportunity. An OF them hope /
nd most Of them say frankly that il is
sre' France would avenge the FASH
la affair with her check in Africa.
ermany would be paramount in Africa
I'd wrest from England her commei-
Al interests in China. Russia would
'nr over the Indian borders and make
Asia her own. Ii is the terror Of
nglish arms that prevented amy al
'noe in the past; the memory OF the
imea, OF Waterloo. OF all the glorious, |
oody fields oi France. England's
ssessions would he no safer than
'ina's Il she We're proved a weaklins.
is a question Of empire ia Europe.
The boundaries OF the war with thar
Ne handful Of Dutehmen, coope,l Ia II
cir inland state, have thus expanded
III their portenls an the worlds horl. =
B. Now a. Of old il l. the weakest