The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
Dir. GLADSTONE And THE TRANS
WAL.

Lord Salisbury, present British premier,
evidently has not high opinion of the late
Mr.. Gladstone's craftsmanship. In his re-
after stating that the present trouble in the
Transvaal dated back many years, Lord
Salisbury added ''It dates to those unfor-
tunate arrangements in 1881 and 1884, by
which deliberately permitted a commu-
nifty. previously hostile, to enjoy the un-
bounded, unlimited right Of accommodating
munitions of war against u.s." The "unfor-
tunate arrangements" alluded to were the
treaties of 1881 and 1884 concluded with the
Transvaal government while Mr.. Gladstone
was premier. The first one followed a short
war with the Beers, in which the British
were badly worsted, the disastrous battle of
Majuba Hill being one Of its features. In
this war President Kruger issued mani
festo in which he declared that the Beers
would have nothing less than absolute indie
pendence, and that Africa will be for the
Afrikander from the Zambesi to Martins
bay" The war was not popular one. even
in England, and Mr.. Gladstone yielded to
popular clamor and the moral sentiment
of the country by making a treaty which
recognized the neutrality-suspicious. of the
Beers, subject to the "suzerainty' Of the
Queen. In 1854, stin under the premiership
of Mr.. Gladstone, new treaty was made,
by which the suzerainty of the Queen was
pared down almost to the point of being
wiped out. and the independence of the
Beers was proportionately strengthened.
From British point of view Lord Sails
bury is right in saying that the present
trouble dates back to those treaties, and in
the light Of later events they certainly were
unfortunate arrangements" for Great Brit
ain. The traditional policy of Great Britain
is one of mperialism-extension of British
empire and authority. That was her estab
lished policy in 1881 and 1884 as much as it
is now. That being the case. it was Mr..
Gladstones duty as a British statesman,
temporarily at the head OF the government
and representing British interests, to assert
her rights and maintain and establish her
authority in Africa TO the fullest extent pos
sible. 1t would have been easier done then
than now President Kruger's declaration
that Africa will b. for the Afrikander from
the Zambesi to Martins bay was sufficient
notice Of the Boer policy. and should have
warned Mr.. Gladstone that IL the matter
was not fought to a finish then 1t would
have to be at some future time. Admitting
the correctness from British point of view
of the policy of Imperialism and the extern
sion of Anglo-Saxon government and civili-
cation, it was Mr.. Gladstone's duty to assert
and enforce this policy with all the power Of
the government. Instead of that he made
treaties which weakened British prestige in
Africa, and which have been prolific
source of later trouble. In making these
treaties he showed that he lacked either the
foresight or the courage of a statesman,
and perhaps both. He was not true to the
established policy of his country, and for the
sake of present popularity or applause he
deliberately planted the seeds of future
trouble, the fruits of which Great Britain is
II