The San Francisco call., 1899-12-21
AUCTION SALES.
INTERVENTION PREcEDENTS.

lNCE the stout resistance OF the Beers, though
using only one-third OF their military resources,
- there IS a growing feeling that England vii.
gain hy accepting Intervention now, before things get
worse O.: course the British feeling OF conquest is
stubborn and the prize OF . wholly British South
Africa IS large one The empire pleads the preser-
walton ci rs interests by building the Cape Cairo
railroad on its own SOIL and that plea makes an i'm
preston upon the worlds commercial instincts. But
England has dircgarded similar pleas made by others
The Tar .iglt % Bonaparte detected the ultimate
policy a Russia and he dreaded the development OF
power thar would follow the appearance OF Russia
in an open seaport. Alter Moscow he said that Eng
land would some day regret his failure 10 confne
Russia % winter frozen waters. When the last
Russo-Tu-iish war ended in the Ottoman defeat
after the Balkan campaign and Constantinope was
az the mercy oi Adam Zad, the bear" England Sc
cured concert OF the powers, rescued Turkey and
drove Russia back upon the ice. The commercial
and political interests OF Russia required that she
should realize the fruits OF her victory that she
should have the Sea OF Marnora and equal rights in
the Meicrranean. But as this was opposed to Brit
ish policy was denied by the treaty OF Berlin and
England defeated Russia without fighting her Then
Russia resumed that laborious pressure eastward
which has ended by her cmergence in Manchuria and
the possession oi coast that makes upon open
water Now granting that England can whip the
Boers finally. concert Of the Continental powers has
exactly the same preext FOR intervention between her
and the fruits OF her victory that she had for curbing
Russia. Any access OF her power in Africa is the
strengthening OF her power everywhere, and as her
presence everywhere is menace to her rivals it is
difficult 70 find grounds for objection to final con
cert which VIII insist that she must deny herself the
enjoyment OF her South African prey.
The sentiment OF the world is with the Beers for
variety OF reasons. The American people support
them because we should stand with unbroken front
against the destruction OF republics by nonarchies
Other nations support them because OF opposition 10
the general policy OF Great Britain and il will be
attributed 10 cowardice il the world permits the for
cble annexation OF the two republics This being all
admitted the frendest act toward Great Britain will
be such timely intervention will prevent fruitless
conquest and the whole issue between her and
the republics 10 diplomatic discussion and ultimate
arbitration It may be said with force that the Mon
roe doctrine restrains the United States from inter
ference But thirst for conquest has so frac
tured that doctrine that plead It against an effort
10 save republican government in South Africa would
excite derision. We say without hesitation, though
il may be merely on the plane Of sehshness that the
administration at Washington would make good
stroke in domestic politics if it would cancel
the bad effect OF Mr. Choate's too hamboyant ora
tory by offering just such intervention. Il might
make no friends for the President in England but
il would add greatly TO the list in America
We have other seli-interests TO plead Recent
events in the financial world are hashlight on the
fiscal situation. The monetary difficulties Of England
put upon New York a stress that was eased only bv
the pouring OF S7I,ooo,ooo into Wall street Berlin
felt the jar, and hardly bourse in Europe escaped
II these bad signs in the financial sky by an
eight weeks war the effect OF a protracted cam
pagn may well rouse the most somber antcipations.
The interests of the financial and commercial world
require peace, not war. Therefore England has not
herself alone 10 consider but think OF the wider
interests OF mankind.
Nahmud Pasha. one OF the numerous sons-in-laU