Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29

the way for the great inland highway which
will give England great strategic advan-
tage and the monopoly Of the carrying OF the
vast regions soon to be developed under the
influence OF the telegraph, the steamboat and
the locomotive. Whatever horrors OF war
follow the determined and spirited resistance
OF the Beers will be charged by the English
to their cbstinacy OF spirit and their Dutch
phlegm, instead Of being counted as the ulti-
mate heroism of a people born free devoting
their homes to fire and sword rather than
to slavery.
Not Like Our War with Spain.
There Is no analogy between the position
of the British in South Africa and that OF
the people Of the United States in regard TO
the war with Spain. On one hand, the Boers
are an inland community, agrarian and
patriarchal. avoiding all foreign complica-
tions and living the life which Abraham led
among his 1ocks and herds. without a sea-
port, without standing army, with no navy
with no foreign agents to embroil II; LOOKING
only to foreign nations for peaceful eH-
change OF manufactured goods for natural
commodities, it is difficult to conceive how
the interests of the Beers and the British
could clash in anything save some mere
local matter of border police.
The war between the United States and
Spain was brought about by fifty years OF
unending persecution OF American citizens,
bv an lntolcrable and brutal disregard OF all
the interests of the United States. With
Cuba, an armed Spanish stronghold. lying at
the open gates of the Gulf of Mexico, with
the record OF massacre, spoilation and IN
humanity left by the butcher Weyler, 1t was
with a righteous indignation that the United
States at last fought to proven the final ex-
tinction OF the Cuban people. The solemn
guarantee OF the United States opens every
acre in Cuba to the peaceful occupation OF
all we'll disposed people, regardless OF re-
| ligion, color or station. The continued
domination OF Spain in the West Indies was
| a menace to our unprotected southern coast
| and the rights of man demanded that the
| intoleTable cruelties OF Spanish rule should
give way to reign OF peace.
The moral responsibilities OF England In
| engaging In a fight to n finish with the
| Beers are appalling. The English army f.
eager to ayenge the disgrace Of Majuha Hill
| The medal seekers OF the English regiments
| hail with delight the prospect Ct victorious
campaign in South Africa. The navy en-
| ters upon its work OF guarding the coast
| and conveying the transports with profes-
| sional enthusiasm The trained ability oi
the British forces will be manifested in
| this latest inland campaign, with all the
| adiuncts of modern warfare. But there are
! peculiar difficulties and obstacles to be sur
| mounted. which may defer the hour Of vie
| tory and make the struggle one long t. b;
| remembered for its obstinacy and prCpor-
| tlonal bloodshed. The difficulties, delays
| and expenses OF a foreign campaign in
crease in ratio vastly greater than the
square OF the distance.
EngIand's Vast Military Problems
No other war affecting the destiny OF Z
great power was as quickly to be concluded
as our struggle with Spain for the domina'
tion OF the Caribbean. The reason IL founC
in the trifing distance. 1t was in oul
power to throw regiment by regiment ont
Cuban shores by twenty-four hour trips
Supplies and reinforcoments were ayaiab.'
to any extent and with the least delay
The removal OF the wounded, the trans e
OF diseased troops, and the policing OF th'
narrow Cuban channel were matters pre-
sentlng minimum dim uties as TO time anc
expense. Spain at distance OF 5000 mile
| was powerless to succor its Cuban forces
J or to repair the loss OF even drawn battle
How vastly more difficult are the military
problems OF England with regard to sue
cessful conquest OF the South African re-
public voyage Of 1000 miles, averaging
thirty days Of transit under the most favor
able conditions, and tho transportation o
huge quantities OF munitions, animals and
material 10 the immediate theater OF war
involves the maximum OF risk, delay and
expense. Every obstacle OF climate, inferior
roads, strange diseases and natural confu-
sion will increase the labcrs OF the British