The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-21
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1900.
orr INTEREST IN ENGLAND.

,r-r,,er in I,eslie's Weekly discusses
rho onos,ion as TO whether or not the
limited States ought 10 desire Boer sue
cess lie points out that me rcal peru
~ the British Empire from failures IN
South Africa lies within the Empire ltseii,
for the reason that the whole worm ana
Significance of British clhzenshlp Is IL
stake. HE reminds us that prior TO the
outbreak of the war there We're twenty
thousand Australians in the ITansNaai
who anpealcd 10 the British government
time and again for relief from the oppres-
sion of Boer law. The Imperial Govern
ment insisted upon the recognition OF the
rights of those subjects in the ITansvaal;
negotiations failed: President Kruger DC
c,ar.d war and the issue. says this writer,
is now being decided. as TO whether or
not England is able 10 obtain by force
what she had earlier sought to secure by
diplomacy. il not, what follows! lie
answers: 1.-The most obvious AID lnme-
date consequences would be felt IN South
Africa. where England would lose all her
colonies. With Natal, Cape Colony, Gthode-
ISaSl1OlaIO anu S''i.'SAiI
dated into Dutch South Africa, British
influence south OF the ZaInbesi would dis
appear AS to other consequences less
Immediate but more serious, he says lhal
while Canada, Australia, New zealand
and other British colonies, down TO the
smallest, have shown themselves eager TO
lend their aid in way, the tine loyalty
which had rallied them TO the call carries
with it for England an imperative respon-
sibility that she proved herself capable
OF leadership in word" he ADDS,
..thc British Empire is a great copartner-
shin and If the senior partner should
prove incapable OF performing the duties
belonging 10 that position, then the other
partners would Immediately seek new as
sociates, or set un in business for thelu-
Selves
And so the process of disinteEraton'
once lc,un would end in reducing TIL
British It.npire to a position OF Ineffective
ness among the nations of the earth. baA
some may ask. what have Americans TO
do with that? For our part we 1hlhk IL
would be the greatest calamity that coulo
nossiply betall The United States of all
things, from u foreign point of view, that
might happen. Great Britain Is our
natural ally. She is bone OF our bone and
flesh of our flesh. The English people and
the American people represent the great
Aliglo-Saxon race and the great principles
Tor which that race has always Stood
at a Ily
Britain was the only friend abroad that
we had. and but Tor her friendly and
timely. interference, there is hardly
Doubt that Spain woulo have received at
least substantial assistance from two or
more foreign powers. II has been argued
In reply to this that Great Britain took
our part in that crisis because 1t VA TO
her interest 10 do so. So much the better
An international friendship which exists
+ hy reason OF blood ties and community of
interests is friendship that will endure.
England is d good friend, a strong friend
and a friend that can be trusted 1t
would be reci1iessness for the people of
this country to scorn such friendship, or
even discourage it, and ii the British EN-
pire should disintegratc and fall. we
should have TO hold our own and maintain
our principles and the American idea
singly and alone against the combined
movers of Europe
These are facts which all thoughtful
people must recognize. and hence i, is
surprising beyond expression 10 US. that
so many OF the American people have
shown a disposition 10 rejoice and be glad
at every reverse that British arms has
suffered in South Africa We say nothing
az 10 the causes which led to this war.
The war is on. and Great Britain is fight
Ing for her very existence as q great
nation. II she should fail in South Africa.
NTH the direful consequences above out
lined, the rejoicing OF hilarious Americans
would soon be turned into mourning.
=-----=---==-
WELL DONE.
We ero grained 10 learn that the