The record-union., 1899-09-14


nullifying conditions. In this connec-
ton the British Government assumes
that the new members of the Raad will
be allowed to speak their own language
and adds that the acceptances of these
sion and would, in all probability, rem
der unnecessary any further interven,
ton of her majesty's Government to
Secure redress for grievances which the
Uitlanders themselves would be able
to bring to the notice of the Executive
Council and Volksraad.
Her majesty's Government is in
creasingly impressed with the danger
of further delay in relieving the strain
which has already caused SO much in,
jury to the interests of South Africa,
and they earnestly press for an imme,
date reply to the present PROPOSAL If
acceded TO they will be ready to make
immediate arrangements for a further
conference between the President and
the High Commissioner to settle all de-
tails of the proposed tribunal of arbi-
tration and the questions referred to
in my note of August Both, which are
neither Uitlander grievances nor ques-
tionS of the Interpretation of the con-
vention, but which might be readily
settled by friendly communication be-
tween the representatives of the two
Governments. If, however, as some
anxiously hope, this will not be the
case, the reply of the TransvaaI snouId
be negative. am to state that her ma
jesty'S Government must reserve TO
themselves the right to consider the
situation de novo and to formulate
their own proposals for final settle
ment."
The exact franchise proposals which
Mr.. Chamberlain says Great Britain is
still prepared to accept with the court
of inquiry proviso are five years fran>
chise, share for the Uitlanders in
the election of the President and equal
rights and increased representation for
the gold fields to the extent of eight
new seats. These We're presented by
President Kruger on August 18th, and
later were Withdrawn.
COCHRAN'S PLEA FOR BOERS.
NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-Ex-C Congress
man w. Bourke Cochran has written
the following open letter to President
Mckinley about the Transvaal:
You will, I am sure, excuse this in
vasion of your holiday when I explain
that its object is to invoke the exer-
else of power which Providence seems
to have placed in your hands with
special reference to a danger now
threatening the peace of the world 1t
can hardly be questioned that a proffer
of friendly mediation by you would
suffice to delay, if not prevent, the
threatened invasion of the Transvaal.
If this Government be justified in ex-
ercising military force to restore order
at the other side of the globe, surely
it should exert every moral force to
preserve order at half the distance. A
recourse to arms, which might result
in kindling a fearfully destructive con-
fagration throughout Christendom on
such questions as those at issue be-
tween Great Britain and the Boer re-
public, would be an injury to civilized
society which all the forces of civiliza-
ton should combine to resist The as
sertion at the point of the bayonet by
one Power of a right to control or
prescribe the conditions governing the
electoral franchise in another country,
admittedly independent, would be an
act of criminal aggression the enorm-
ity of which has been described in
clear, vigorous and scathing terms by
the present English Colonial Secretary.
You cannot be Indifferent to the fact
that when Mr. Chamberlain denounced
as indefensible any suggestion Of in
terfence by the British Government in
the purely domestic affairs of the
Transvaal the relations between this
country and England were strained
over the Venezuelan boundary, while
now that these relations have become
cordial the same statesman feels en-
boldened to trample upon his profes
sions, if not to violate his principles.
AN Anglo-American alliance can
hardly be a force for the maintenance
of justice and the spread of civiliza-
ton, as it's advocates contend, if Eng
lands foreign policy be marked by re-
spect for justice while the two coun-
tries are estranged and by wanton acts
of aggression while their relations are
cordial. 1t is not extravagant or un-
reasonable to insist that any country
seeking alliance with the United States
must show some semblance of regard
for the moral law, at least during the
period of courtship.
IF there be other and sounder rea-
sons than those assigned by the press
for the attitude of the British Govern
ment in South Africa, it's position will
be strengthened by a disclosure Of
them. A friendly but urgent tender OF
your good offices would undoubtedly
evoke full and complete statement
of the grounds on which the peace and
integrity of the Transvaal are threat
ened. Such a statement would be q
powerful obstacle to hostilities, for it
would enable the civilized world to
form a judgment on the merits of the
controversy and in all probability that
judgment would impose itself upon both
disputants. Public opinion is a force
which in these days no nation can dis
regard. Allow me to add that these
suggestions are offered solely from a
regard for the welfare of humanity
and the true glory of our flag, which
/ hope viii remain forever inseparable' -
SENTENCE COMMITTED.