The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-27
rs ENGLAND's WILL MR.. McKINLEy's
Law?
(New York worldly

NNtW 1OIh NOIlusI
This the bath day of the war in South
Africa. For more than four months the
armies of the little republic have held
their outer line of defenses on British
soil solely because of the natural con-
formation of the country. They are
now falling back upon the first line of
home demonstrating back before a
British army which numbers not far
from 100000 men, including those hold
ing the lines Of communication.
The World has several times quoted
from that prophetic letter which Gen.
Joubert wrote to a friend in Berlin un
der date Of October q, 1S99-sixteen
1t will be remembered that Gen. Joubert
predicted, without boastfulness and
with acute reasoning power, precisely
what happened during the first three
months. Let us see what he said would
happen after the republics had exhaust
ed all the possibilities of an offensive
defensive campaign.
A war of defense, Of which we need
not think for considerable time would
present far greater advantages than an
offensive war. We are at home on the
highlands Of the Transvaal and the
Orange Free State. The British will
have to contest every step under in
conceivable difficulties, and must be
prepared at every moment to fight on
a-rn
guerilla war which the British will be
unable to endure.
The partial list of casualties sent
through by Roberts from his first Free
State ttle-feld-forty- officers
killed, wounded and Observation-Disclosures
that this home defense war has begun.
Does any one doubt that it would be a
war that will "stagger humanity"
war that will rouse every human in
stinct in civilized man?
When the last of the soldiers of the
republic shall have withdrawn from
British soil, a matter of few days ap-
parently, then will be the opportune
time for Mr.. Mckinley to make the
humane, friendly appeal in behalf of
civilization.
AS Joubert said, Uncomfortable
difficulties"- difficulties of climate,
food supply water supply, of military
operations of every kind--are now fac
ing the British. They might we'll wish
to pause. And they can pause without
any feeling of humiliation. The past
four months contain forecast, a warn
ing, a plea for peace with honor. AS
for the republics, they have wished for
mediation from the very outset, as
they ask nothing but the right to live
and to be free.
That Mr.. Mckinley realizes the ap-
proach Of an opportunity which he can
hardly refuse without modifying his fell
low-countrymen is evidenced by his
authorized statement issued last night
He refuses in anticipation. He let Eng
land and the European powers appeal
to him just before our war with Spain
began. All the precedents of interna-
eiOiidA usage are 1OI an appeal. Inc
articles adopted at The Hague Peace
Congress, and ratified by Great Britain
and the United States, expressly pro-
vided for such appeals without awaiting
the consent of the nations at war. and
declare that such appeals shall never
be considered an unfriendly act.
Yet Mr.. Mckinley refuses. He will
not speak, he says, until both parties
ask. And the republics have asked and
are eager for the appeal to be made,
Mr.. McKinley's statement means that
he will not speak until England asks.
Mr.. Mckinley therefore says: II am not
the servant of peace of civilization, Of
humanity. I am the servant of Eng
land. Until England bids me I will
not let my country plead the cause of
peace and progress. England's will in
this matter is my law"