Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-12-30
South African Republics viii
Be Subjugated, Leaving
Dutch Hostile.
British Imperialists Do Not Pos
sess Capacity to Solve the
Problems to Follow.
SMALL GROUP CAUSED CRIMINAL WAR

Justin Mccarthy, M. p, the famous
statesman, historian and novelist, has
given to the World the following signed
statement on England dilemma:
While attempting to review the nature
of the task England has undertaken in
South Africa 1 may say 1 shall do my
best to regard the subject from the point
of view of an unprejudiced outsider.
think the English Government made a
profound mistake when it allowed itself
to be drawn into such war. l feel con-
vlnced that if the heart, the conscience
and the intelligence of the English peo-
pie in general could have been aroused
in good time to the real character and
policy of the small group of men who are
pressing the war, it would never have
taken place.
About the ultimate success of the
British arms in South Africa there can
be no manner of doubt. Nothing but a
combination of the great powers against
England could prevent her ultimate
success. Such a combination is not
likely to take place. How to get out of
the difficulties certain to arise when the
war is over is a problem which will test
the greatest British craftsmanship, and
which, for myself, am convinced Brit
ish craftsmanship will not be able to
accomplish.
The fight has been from the first for
complete sovereignty on the one side and
independence on the other. The Beers
had been making preparations because
they knew there were men in England
who would never be satisfied until Eng
land Obtained absolute dominion over
South Astice.> sSane Of these wafs.
inspired by the reviving passion for
imperialism and by the almost mechani-
cal reaction against the noble, peaceful,
conscientious policy of Gladstone some,
again, were inspired by the more ignoble
passion for the ownership of the gold
fields. The preparations of the Beers
gave plausible excuse for the policy of
the war party in this country, and thus
the two parties to the quarrel day by day
were stimulating each other. The Eng
lish Government would have done wise
and noble act if it had offered to refer
the whole matter to arbitration and had
rendered such an offer as the first fruits
of the Peace Convention held at The
Hague. But that was not in the humor
of the men who were pushing things for
ward on this side, and the result is
prospect of almost illimitable strife.
OF course 1 do not mean that the strife
between England and the South African
republics will be illimitable. The Eng
lish War Office will pull itself together
somehow before very long and make an
end of the resistance offered by the
Transvaal republic and the Orange Free
State; but what comes them Whatever
may be the formal conditions of peace,
we may take it for granted there will be
an end of even nominal independence of
the South African republics. The Dutch
are majority of Cape Colony, and it is
not likely their allegiance to England's
sovereignty will be strength ened by the
subjugation of their kinsmen.
The man who believes the imperialist
party in England, be it Tory or Liberal,
will leave to these republics any sub
stance of internal independence, is too
credulous person for the atmosphere of
modern politics. Therefore this war will,
according to my conviction, bequeath to
England a new enemy in the Dutch
descended population of South Africa.
What population sprung from such an
cestry may do history will tell to future
generations. Perhaps Motley's rise of
the Dutch Republic" may give to anxious
students of the present day some help to
forecast the possibilities of the years to
come.