Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-10
Urging the Impossible.

Doubtless most of those who are urg-
ing President Mckinley to offer media
ton in the Transvaal crisis are inspired
by a laudable desire to do the most IN
their power to preserve peace. Others
do so in their eagerness to attack the
administration; and it is curious to
note that in one breath they clamor
against an expansion policy that takes
us out of our isolation, and in the next
they urge our government to plunge
into a South African controversy in
tional interest. 1t is much to be hoped
that the threatened war in the Trans
yaal may be averted, and that England
and President Kruger may patch up
their difficulties in a way that will en-
sure a lasting peace, but the idea of in
reference by the United States to
bring about this end is not seriously to
be thought of.
1t may be that President Mckinley
friendly offices to two countries on the
verge of conflict, but they have an
equal right to reject his proposal His
offer would not lay him open to the
charge of discourtesy nor could their
refusal give him any cause for offense
1t takes two to accept mediation. and
= &c ~ "a rTranSVl1I
would look with favor on such propo-
sition from this government, 1t is GER
tain that polite but firm negative
would be returned by the other and
stronger party in the quarrel. Great
Britain is likely to hold that the Trans
vaal question is purely a domestic
matter, and in this she is the Sole
Judge Of her own faith. 1t was only
few months ago that President Nc
Kinley courteously declined the ten
dered friendly offices of European
powers in the matter of our differences
with Spain. We held that Cuba was
an American question. The proximity
Of the Transvaal to British possessions
in South Africa and England's claim of
suzerainity over it, would give her equal
opportunity to say that the Transvaal
is a British question. Thus if media
ton by this country were offered, 1t
would surely be rejected by one party.
and this country would accomplish
nothing and gain nothing, and might
lose much.
~,o~n who urge President Mckinley
to act. hold that mediation is his
duty as well as his right" Some
are influenced to this belief because,
being of Dutch extraction. they SYM
pathize with the Transvaal; or, being
of Irish descent they have an undying
hatred and suspicion of England. To
be swayed by such old prejudices is
most unworthy and discreditable to
those claiming American citizenship.
Others honestly assume that The
Hague peace conference compels the
head of a neutral sovereign state to
offer mediation in Such 4 case. ms
cannot be the case. for the arbitration
scheme considered at The Hague still
lacks the formal approval of the pow
ers represented at the conference. The
court of arbitration provided for does
not yet exist, and if it were in exist
ence the Transvaal question could not
be made the subject of mediation so
long as Great Britain objected. If
England and the Transvaal would ask
the limited States to act as mediator in
their controversy, or would accept its
mediation if offered, the situation
would be altogether different.
The expressed desire of Admiral
Dewey that his new home in Washing
IA, l, f,x, IA. al1t