Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-17
WHAT THE WAR IS ABOUT,

was ABOUT, nor what good came OF IT.
That we are to reckon as an indication
not of the uselessness of the battle, but
of the Grass ignorance of Old Kaspar.
What Little Peterkins there may here
after be to ask like questions about
Great Britain's war with the Transvaal
we know not. But assuredly there can
be no need for even the stupidest Old
Kaspar to plead ignorance of its cause,
nor will there be, we fancy. any doubt
as to the good that will ultimately come
of 1t. We need not trouble ourselves
with its immediate provocation. 1t is
the Transvaal that has declared war. I
The Beers say the British have forced |
them to do so. OF that no convincing /
evidence is apparent. But back of such |
technicalities stand the great general
principles, the development and main
tenance of which have led to this final
crisis. 1t is by them that merits are to
be estimated and responsibilities fixed.
What are the Beers fighting for? They
say for their independence But is 1t
not for their Independence of treaty OBJ
legations and International law? AL |
most the last word spoken by Great
Britain in this unhappy quarrel was a
solemn renunciation and denial of all
intent to infringe upon the domestic
autonomy of the Transyaal and the
declaration of Willingness to stand upon
the conventions of 1881 and 1884. That
is the offer which the Beers have re-
fused. They are fighting for an abro-
cation of a solemn agreement and for
the right To conduct their government
in respect to alien settlers without re-
gard To the commonly accepted princi-
plies of justice among civilized races.
They are fighting To deny to the out
landers the protection OF the courts and
the rights of citizenship. They are
lighting 10 keep the American and Brit
ish settlers in the Transvaal forever
subject 10 that very taxation without
representation against which our fore
fathers revolted in 1875. They ignore the
fact that domestic government was
granted in 1881 not To the Doppers, not
to the burghers not to the Beers. but to
the ''inhabitantss of the Transvaal, and
they insist upon arrogating to minor
lily the powers and privileges which
justly belong to all, and upon treating
The majority. composed of British and
american settlers, as-in their presi-
dents own phrase white niggers. II
$ TO maintain their tindependence up
on such unjust and barbaric ground
that the Beers have gone TO war
And ii is against such an intolerable
state of affairs that the British govern
ment has set itself, even to the extent
of accepting war. We do not suppose
any rational man seriously believes in
| the .'Naboths vineyard" talk that has
| recently been current, to wit. that
1 Great Britain simply coyets the Trans
/ vaal land and gold. and has made up
| ner mind to seize them. That was a
! good enough campaign cry for perfervid
Angluphobe orators: but 1T was too con-
| trary To known facts and too repugnant
| to common sense to stand as serious
Indictment. Neither is there reason TO
| believe Great Britain sought to meddle
| With the domestic affairs of the Trans
| vaal beyond her right under the con-
/ ventions of 1881 and 1854. seeing that
! from first to last she has based her
| whole case upon those conventions. NO:
/ bur the British object is what was stat
ed the other day, with admirable lucid
! ity by Lord Rosebery than whom Eng
Hand contains no truer liberal and no
one who is less a jingo--as that OF res
| '.euing our fellow countrymen In the
i ,srransvaal from intoerabie conditions
,'of Subsection and injustice. ana oil Sc
lgtcurng equal rights for the white races
lin South Africa" SO Great Britain
l5will enter this war on the ground OF
protecting her own subjects wherever
they may be. a nation that does not
do that is unworthy To exist. lf the
+ lTransvaal government had fnihlled It's
Obligations under the conventions THIS
aifficulty would not have arisen Ihen
q 1.-The outlanders would have mad repre-
sentation in that government ana wouln
Ihave been able to take care of Them
4 selves and secure their own rights: they
lwould have become citizens OF the
lTransvaal and the British government
would have left them to work out theii
Town salvation. But by denying then
Iciti2enship and representation ana lhs
power of self help the IransNaal mas
compelled them TO look 10 Great Britain
for aid and redress, and has Justiflet
Great Britain in intervening IN theil
( behalf.
(, Suppose that British subjects settle II
France or Germany, and elect not e
become naturalized. but to reInaiI
!, li,ritlsh subjects, and that the govern
!, ment of France or Germany III treat
! them and Expresses them Is there an.
| sane man VINO VIII ttIis lii- ST. - -
! British government to intervene 10
!, their protection. and TO require. even
peril of war. that they shall be treate'
!, with the common justice which tn
treaties guarantee them? Well. TN
. Transyaal case is like that, exceptlnl
that the outianders have been kept on
! of citizenship not through choice, pu
q through compulsion. Are we to say tina
, Great Britain must submit TO conduc
on the part OF the Transvaal which sh
: would not and should not tolerate frof
France or Germany? Are We to con
cede 10 the Transvaal alone of all coun
} tries in the world exemption from IN
9 obligations and operation of inierna
n tional law?
This war then is about the rights
I, man; the Transvaal beginning it for Tn
denial and suppression of those rights
! and Great Britain accepting the cha
: lenge for the maintenance and vindica
:, = ton of them. And the good that wi
come of 1t at last will be the unques
toned and perpetual establishment {
!, those rights in all South Africa fe
- Briton, for Yankee and for Boer alike.
% HOWsg Thisl