The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-24
THE Cl.AMOROUs OUTLANDERs.

THE CLAMOROUs OUTLANDERS.
If the Outlanders could have their way
! Great Britain would declare war against
for action The present uncertain state of
affairs Is running their business. They see
bankruptcy staring them in the face. The
Beers are not disturbed by that fact, how
ever. and IL is doubtful if the British gov
eminent is. The Outlanders, by their
complaints and demands, provoked the ex-
listing trouble Their clamorous demand
fOT war. in order that the issues at stake
may be promptly settled, commands very
little consideration. The Beers are not pay
ing attention to the Outlanders now and
the British regard them as a factor Of
minor importance in the situation.
The British are not going to strike until
they are ready. and II is evident from the
way they are prolongng the diplomatic
part Of the business that they are not yet
ready. II is probable also that they hope
that the Beers, when they see that war Is
inevitable unless the concessions demanded
are made, wiz accept the British terms.
But they are not depending upon the Beers
yielding. They are collecting a force in
South Africa which they believe will he
strong enough to make the first blow they
strike a decisive one.
The fact that business in the Transvaal
is practically at a standstiH does not cause
the Beers much uneasiness. The grea or
part Of the business is in the hand of the
Outlanders. The great majority of the
rntG
Threats of war do not disturb them. They
can afford to regard with indifference the
havoc in business which the near APP
proach of war in causing.
The opinion prevails in London and in
Pretoria that war is inevitable. 1t GER
tainly is inevitable unless the President of
the Transvaal decides it is better for his
people TO grant the demands of Great Brit
ain than to fight. 1t may be considered
as certain that Great Britain is not going
to take a step backward. The Boer Pres
ident is a stubborn old fellow, and he
knows that the Beers viii approve any
thing he does as long as there are enough
of them to make showing on the Held
of battle He knows also that he would
have the active support of the Orange Free
State and the sympathy of the Beers of
the other South African republics. He
could make a strong defense, and proba-
bly, punish Great Britain severely for in
terfering with the affairs of his country
but what would be the good of it adj? There
is no probability of his receiving help from
outside sources, and he would eventually
have to yield to superior force. He can
make far better terms with Great Britain
now than he could after defeat in disas-
trous war
AS certain as war looks to be now, there
fore, it would not be surprising If, by the
time Great Britain was ready to strike the
first blow of war, the Boer President
should come to the conclusion that peace
was preferable to war. He is not lacking
in courage; neither are his people. If
there were a prospect for success they
would never grant the British demands.
but why should they enter upon ruinous
war with the certainty that they would
meet with defeat? That is the question
which President Kruger is probably now
considering. In the meantime the clamor-
Gus appeals of the Outlanders for quick
termination of the existing uncertainty-an
uncertainty which is carrying them down
Ia financial ruin-are unheeded.