New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-13
FOR FRIENDLY MEDIATION.
W. BouRKE COCHRAN URGES SUCH PRoFrEn
BY THE PRESIDENT.

W. BoURKE COCHRAN URGES SUCH A PRoFFEn
BY THE PRESIDENT.
Ex-Congressman ". Bourke Cochran who q
now on his way 10 Chicago. on August q sent the
following open letter to President Mckinley on
the Transvaal situation:
You will / am sure. excuse this invasion OF your
holiday when / explain that it's object Is to invoke
the, exercise Of a power which Providence seems
to have placed IN your hands. with special refer
ence to danger now threatening tho peace Of the
1t can hardly lie questioned that prefer o.
friendly mediation by you would suffice TO delay,
not to prevent, the threatened Invasion Of the
If this Government he justified in exertIng MIL.
tary force to restore order on the other side Of the
preserve order at half the distance.
A recourse to arms. which might result IN
throughout christendom on such questions a.
those al issue between Great Britain and the Bosr
Republic, would be an injury 70 civilized society
which ali the forces Of civilization should cOmbh.
The assertion at the point of the bayonet by or,
dbS ops the eGG ac @5 an
OF criminal aggression" the enormity Of which
terms by the present English Colonial Secretary
You cannot be indifferent TO the fact that when
Mr.. Chamberlain denounced indefensibe any
suggestion OF interference by the British Govern.
ment In the purely domestic affairs OF the Trans
land were strained over the Venezuelan BOUNDARY
while now that these relations have become cor
pie upon his professions, II not to violate his prn.
ciples.
An Anglo-Amercan alliance can hardly he a
force for the maintenance Of justice and the spread
of civilization, its advocates contend. II Eng
| justice while the two countries are estranged and
by wanton acts of aggression while their relations
are cordial 1t Is not extravagant or unreasonable
| to insist that any country seeking aiance-formal
| or tacit-with the United States must show some
| semblance OF regard for the moral law-at least
| during the period Of courtship.
If there be other and sounder reasons than thns,
assigned by the press for the attitude OF the Bst.
| ish Government In South Africa its position Will
| be strengthened by disclosure OF them. A
| friendly but urgent tender OF your good Offices
! would undoubtedly evoke a full and comples
| statement of the grounds which the peace AMI
| integrity OF the Transyaa are threatened. Such
! n statement would be powerful obstacle 20 hos.
Titles for Il would enable the civilized world 70
| form Judgment on the merits OF the controversy
and In all probability that judgment would impose
| itself on both dsputants. Public opinion e
| force which in these days no nation can disregard
| Allow to add that these suggestions OF.
fered solely from a regard for the welfare Of IN.
| mainly and the true glory OF our Flag, which
| hope, will remain forever inseparable.
Under date OF September 4, Mr.. Cochran ,.
ceived the following from J. \. Porter. secretay
| to the President:
| I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt ~ VOW
| communication of the 9th inst, which wa
! upon his return TO Washington.