The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-24
Circulation Statement.
kruger,s ROYAL ProEress.

The popular demonstrations which are
marking President Kruger's progress
through France and which remind one Of
the reception of Mr.. Bryan lately by the
masses wherever he appeared. have ceased
10 be merely friendly and sympathetic and
regrettably are taking On political aspect
10 which the distinguished exile himself
has been imprudent enough to contribute.
Just before leaving Marseilies Mr.. Kruger
said a few words in public thanking the
people OF the city for their cordially, and
expressing the hope that the public de-
moastratfons which still awaited him al
other places would be followed BY actions
which would sustain the Boer cause.
At Marseilles, it will be remembered,
there was a noticeable absence Of anti
English feeling, as far as outward appear
Rucss went The Unnannerly behavior Of
few Eaglishmen in a hotel which Mr.. Kru-
ger vas driven past seems to have been
advertised to the mole nation. without
loss ola moment; for the incident was
known wherever the special train stopped
yesterday. and everywhere the welcoming
thousands shouted: "A bas les AnglaisI''
Perhaps that sort Of thing might mean
y
Here, at least, We know that it is posi-
Bile for the populace to go wild with de-
light over a public man. to mob him
with affection, and q few days later. to
turn their backs upon him with complete
Indifference. But the Anglo-Saxons of
The Southern States. and the Yankee,
Teutonic, Hun, and Latin populations of
the North and East are not French. The
same phenomenon counts for one thing
here and quite another in France In
deed, the French people at this minute
are quite capable of Iashing themselves
into such fury OF AngIophobia that de-
struction of the present ministry may re-
suIt. II is even feared, as We learn from
cur dispatches today, that it may be
come impossible for President Loubet to
secure any ministry not committed to a
policy of Intervention in behalf of the
Beers. Perhaps this is an extreme, or at
least, premature view, but it is not
unsupported by the conditions Of the
hour
n Mr.. Kruger intends t. fan the fame
b. such indiscreet speeches as his fare
well TO MarseiIIes. he viii easily be able
10 create trouble for his foe, but probably
not as much as he is likely to make fer
himself incidentally. 1t is hardly to be
expected that the British Government
would silently tolerate an extension of
the popular Boer movement beyond the
confines Of France. And it may be pre-
dicted with confidence that, if the ex-
President should abuse foreign hospitality
by exciting the inhabitants of States on
friendly terms with Great Britain against
that Power, he would find his opportunt-
ties and privileges considerably ours allied
after crossing the French frontier
There is no doubt that the present
French Government deprecates a break
with England, and would go TO any reason
able length 10 prevent such a calamity
But II is also true that the military eIe-
ment and the city mobs in the Republic
are thirsting for war. and it is perhaps
a fact that the army and the masses gen
orally believe their neighbors across the
channel to be an easy prey. since the
revelation in South Africa Of defective
British war organization, and so on.
Just how far this lingo clement can
force the hand of the French nation is
a question; but it is quite conceivable
thar 1t might find itself in control, in the
event Of any great popular excitement
such as the Kruger demonstration might
develop, though it may not In any
event, the situation is not without its
menace TO the peace Of Europe and the
world