The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-05
JOHN ] INGALLS, on THE BoERs.

The situation in South Africa IS an
ironicaI commentary on the peace con-
ferer\ at The Hague and the proposal
Of the ear for the disarmament o. ma
tons. Before the wax on the seal Of
the credentials. Of her delegates was
cold. England was deliberately and
wantonly forcing q quarrel upon Presi-
dent Kruger upon trumped-up ana base
less pretence for the purpose Of destroy
ing the Independence % the Transvaal re-
public Having succeeded in forming an
uItimatum, she is now assembling an
army greater than the entire native
Boer population. larger than the aggre-
gate Of the forces under Wellington al
Waterloo and Raglan in the Crimea. for
the purpose OF obHterating little COM
monwealth whose area is less than that
Of Montana and whose citizenship IS ex-
ceeded by scores OF cities in the state Of
New York.
Having been snubbed and kicked and
cu1ed by all the great powers Of Europe.
subjected 10 indignities which she has
submitted without protest. England now
makes an enormous military demonstra-
ton against an Insignificant community,
as discredited slugger avenges himself
for the insults of his equals by indis-
criminate assault upon children and wo-
men and crippIes; and their war OF con-
quest-the most brutal and indefensiole
OF all her crimes against human rights
IS waged in the name Of civilizauonl II
should not be forgotten that the Boer
republic has been an established, indie
pendent sovereign republic. Il had the
same right 70 exist as Germany or France
or the United States. BY the convention
OF Pretoria in 1881 England conceded its
autonomy. and again 10y the London
convention in 1884 it was formally and
definitely agreed that the Transvaal re-
public should be supreme in its internal
administration: that IL should make no
treaty with powers other than the
Orange Free State without the consent
and approval of Great Britain
There is no pretence that these stipu-
lations have been violated in the pres
ent contention. The foreign relations Of
the Beers are not in question. Nothing is
involved except the conditions upon
which naturalization. the franchise and
representation are granted 10 immigrants
and foreigners. These are matters Of in
ternal policy and administration. 70 be
determined by the Transvaal government
as it sees TT. The regulations may De
satisfactory 10 England or otherwise,
but by international law she has no
more right to NEEDLE than she has to in
terfere with suffrage in the United States
or with the methods Of taxation in Rus
STA. The claim that the Beers are an
obstacle to the onward march of civili-
cation is a pretext equally impudent and
bIasphemous. They are what they have
been for a century They are neither
better nor worse than they were when
Lord Derby treated with them fifteen
years ago in London. They are a race
Of fairly educated, industrious sober
farmers. They are peaceable. much given
to hospitality, and deeply religious; they
love liberty and are devoted 70 the prin-
cipIes of self-government.
Originally settled in Cape Colony, they
fed from the tyranny Of the British to
Natal sixty years ago. Pursued by their
they again emigrated, and set up their
homes and affairs, like the Puritans OF
New England and the pioneers of the
west. in the wilderness surrounded by
savage foes, and there they remained
with such degree OF civilization as con
tented them and disturbed no one else
until the discovery Of the diamond fields
in Kimberley and the gold reefs Of the
Witewatersrand. Quite likely they were
refined in their ways Of life as the Eng
lish gentlemen who figured in the Cleve-
land street scandal; possibly they were
not more honest than the guinea pigs Of
British nobility who sold their names to
be promoters Of swindling corporations.
or the comrades Of the Prince Of wales
who cheated at cards; but they were
hardy. self-reliant and prone to the en-
joyments OF domestic life.
II may be that the overnment OF Paul
Kruger Is narrow, prospective and intol-
cradle; but II the Beers are satisfied. it
IS no concern Of England. There are
other governments which are not ideal
and none are perfect. The portraits OF
Dom Paul show that he has no more
beauty than without a candle would 90
dark 10 bed The CUT % his whiskers il
not up to date. his clothes DO not IL. his
countenance betrays ignorance. craft and
obstinacy: but he is the legitimate ruler
OF a sovereign state is much as William
Mckinley OF Kaiser Wilhelm. It is said
that Mrs. Kruger cooks for the family.
makes the bed and waits on guests at
table. But none % these characteristics
and conditions menaced AngIo-Saxon civ
fuzation or threatened the stability Of the
British empire untH 1ss5. when gold was
discovered al Johannesburg.
The sinle truth is that the real grew
ance OF England against the Beers is not
that they are HliteTate scolld and M
progressive. but that the TranSvaai con
tains the richest gold mines IN TIE world.
and English miners. capitalists and spec
ulators want 70 control them Whenever
q weak or feeble power mas anything that
England wants and refuses 70 surrender
that Is OF Itself cases bsIf ard Ire
pinHis-. robbery m extor-Lou that fol
lows are always Ga the interest of civil
izasion- IN this CousecTatei name she
bullt Up the Indian empire By q series
q Uncomfortable baroariGes, whose hor-
ro-s as narrated IL the speeches % Burke
and hastings wjlI forever sEock TIE con
science Il mankind. T-poa the sane pre-
tense she forced the famozs opium trsf-
nc in China, and Is now engaged in dis
ne1l5ersuE that ancient domain % al
vance civilization and az the sane alns
secure control Il the suez Caral ard
protect patent land holders shs bou-
barde5 Alexandra and burasd~it tn tae
night England IS the Dolly and rufHaa
az c9wart srnnz na.lars sne -ars-