New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-17
STANLEY ON THE WAR.
HIS CONDENSATION OF THE BRITISH
SENTIMENTAL POLICY"

SENTIMENTAL POLICY
Sir Henry NJ. Stanley, VI. P. has written to an
American friend letter which. in view OF the
present situation in South Africa, is Of more
than ordinary interest. 1t bears date Of Novem-
Der %, and is in part as follows
We are rot doing well in the Transvaal as
I expected. but everything proves TO me how
really necessary it that the evil humors
which had been gathering for the last nineteen
years should come to a head and be boldly dealt
with. 1t proves, also, how remiss we nave been
in thus delaying in considering the TransVaa
matters as serious. No people on earth are 50
averse to war as are. and so prone 10 ne
guided by goody goody sentiment Being rlch
prosperous and contented we seem TO forget
that all people are not so happy. and accordingly
fail to provide against other peoples discomfort
with US.
This sunny belief in the power OF sentiment
will certainly be our bane some day. from
sentiment we left our African frontiers unpIo-
tected: we left our garrisons In Natal open 10
an enemy that has been breathing nothing Dut
threats for ever SO long: from sentiment we LETT
the Afrikander Bund make its preparations.
diffuse its opinions and conspre 10 GUST US from
South Africa; from sentiment we allow Kruger
TO build his forts. arm his people win cannon cannon
and Mausers, and, naturally, When eVeIylnlHs
is ready for the crisis for which Kruger mas
been preparing. we profess to be surprised ina
Natal and Cape Colony have been INVADED an9
that the Beers are aDle 10 present su'h " "'N
front TO US. - ,,. -
The war itself and the small disasters we
have met are the penalties we pay TOT the %
lief we profess that all men can De peIsuauCuI
nv reason or sOOthed by sentiment. by all
means profess as loudly as you may the Ntly
best Of sentiments toward people win "hoiI
Won desire 10 he on amicable terms. but doh |
forget that human beings are not angeis or
children to be restrained by sentiment alohe.
II Won have interests, no amount or sentlnleHl
u mi nrotect them. especially when they lie 80
knowingly close 10 another race. That Is a
nsraphrase Of the old saying; Pray to COO put
keen your powder dry We nave prayed Doth
10 Cod and the Boer but in the most reprenerSS
HE fashion we have forgotten all ABOUT the
powder g.. , ,o,,,r,,a
10 he thus neglectful Of the commonest preca aL
tionsq Heaven only knows. In England we are
60 given to the cultivation OF beautlful phrases
and logic that 10 one Of the simple khu CdII
hope TO have simple truths listened 70 1o Gnr
newspaper leaders are written in such Johh-
sonian- iladstonese that plain people pass thenl
over az being grand but they are scar ar 'l
understood by the many. IN adnhlratioh al VI.
eound we have lost the sense. ana the ulreCI
simple English has no chance IN 'heSs ""'e''
days. ...orata Fancy
ten thousand English soldiers willing 70 ne ied
snvwhere remaining penned up in that hohoW
~ Tadvsmith by force or say even tWthly
thousand raw Boer militia FancF sen ,,tI
settled down there for weeks ana Nv. tbs
agoinst a contingency so obviously "a Una u
1vbfcb has happened, 1t is all OF piece WIN
that grand strategic genius when chose ser no" no,
low for the South African AIdetsho', W.. ''''
avan an intrenchment until II was TOO la'e.
But must not 20 on in this style or Will , oe
flIjng pages hope, as we all nope tnat bui',a
will be equal 10 our anticipauons- co ,,r
w. neede which are first Of all RELIEF or our
,rpocant colonies from the predatory Boers.
lam so confirmed in my belief ina! tls Tn ns
Iisb people are 80 given 70 sentiment, Titu , az
Iis 80 cod sense that I expect when Butler
as | hope to God he may-hrings order Tu IT,, %
disorder and KRUGER 10 his senses We shai,
the fruits OF costly struggle a"a az ,s,,aaI
first whine that comes out OF the lra"s'""'
Wait and see.