The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-22

republic, we cannot see why there is so
much interest taken in their welfare at
Washington. The sole reason for dis
patching Howison and his companions
to South Africa at this perilous time is
to show that the two "Anglo-Saxon ma
tons" will join together against the
Beers and their allies, and to notify the
Emperor of Germany that the interests
OF both English-speaking nations in the
dark continent are identical. Paul
Kruger must have anticipated the inter-
ference of John Hay in the Transvaal
trouble, for he automatically forward
ed an address OF 5000 Uitlanders to the
state department TO convince the admin
istration that he had the good will and
support of these foreigners in any
emergency that may arise. Among the
names Of the Uitlanders who expressed
themselves as satisfied with the Boer
government are many Americans.
The presence OF Admiral Howison in
Pretoria is not required by any Amer
lean interest. 1t is most likely that he is
there in Englands interest, and if he is,
it is shame for this administration to
east its influence against the little repub-
lie in favor OF monarchy. But what
else could have been expected from an
administration that has trampled upon
the Constitution OF the United States
and the Declaration Of Independence?
England is determined to make war
on Paul Kruger in spite of every con-
cession he may make to the Uitlanders.
Joe Chamberlain cares but little for
British subjects in South Africa, but he
cares great deal about destroying the
Boer republic The British subjects in
the Transvaal are like the British sub
jects everywhere else. They will not re-
nounce their allegiance to the Queen
of England, and yet they expect to en-
JOY the rights and privileges OF citizens
of the countries in which they Temporal
rily sojourn. The aliens in the United
States cannot vote until they become
naturalized in accordance with the laws
of the country. Why should aliens or
Uitlanders in the Transvaal be permit
ted to vote until they comply with the
laws of naturalization?
The Dublin Freeman states the case
clearly when it says that if Paul Kruger
yields to the demands of Sir Alfred
Miner he will practically hand over his
country to foreigners In the course Of
a leading article it says:
This little game is disguised under
a demand for the franchise, but it really
means the grabbing OF the whole coun-
try by the interlopers who are not per-
manently settled in the Transvaal at all,
and who are not satisfied with the op-
portunities of wealth which it affords
them, but must needs grab the reins Of
government as we'll. President Kruger
is a greater fool than we take him for
If he yields to the clamor of this party
He has made proposals on the franchise
question which indicate that he is pre-
pared to give. free rights to all who
have by length of residence given
proof of their intention to settle in the
country, and not be merely birds of
passage. He.declines to allow the gen
uine electors tq be out-voted by shift
ing population If the alternative to
surrender is war, it would appear that
the Beers might as we'll have, so to
speak, the value of their money off Brit
ish skulls. If they are to lose their free
dom, they might find some consolation
in the fact of making good fight for
it, and past experiences, Majuba Hill
and Krugersdorp, for example, show
that they are capable of making a good
fight. Let England, who is at present
playing hypocritical part in the Peace
Conference, with the word "Arbitra-
ton" on her lips, and the Dum-Dum
bullet in her pouch, face the scorn of
Europei by undertaking this ubiquitous
war if she chooses to do so. Let her
face the shame of the contrast which is
afforded by the fact that she refuses to
the Dutch of British Guiana much lesser
rights of citizenship than those which
she demands for the Outlanders at the
bayonet point. No doubt in the end
the Boer government will probably
go down before British arms. But
there may be Beers in Cape Town
nevertheless before the end comes.
WERE THEY PROMISED INDEPENDENCE