New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-22
PAIL KREEGER IN EEROPE.

MT. KRUGER is, in phrase of diplomatic slang
Saving his face" He has been beaten-or his
soldiers HAVEN battle. He has been driven
from lis capital. if not from his country, having
r.. fsed his determination TO await his enemies
the porch of his own home He is in one
sense fugitive upon the earth. ruler without
a realm and man without a country. Yet not
such is the part which he proposes to play in
Europe. He comes with something of the
majesty of a travelling sovereign and with at
least the ostensible purpose of diplomat. He
denies being fugitive. He begs no asylum.
He comes as a free man and an unconquered
Chief OF State to negotiate, If 1t may be, with
his fellow Presidents and monarchs. His efforts
at negotiation may fail; he may, indeed, expect
no more than failure. But at least he must
have the credit of the attempt. He will have
saved his face"
It is indeed. not supposable that he will
succeed in enlisting practical aid for the lost
cause of the Transvaal. Had any Power been
willing 10 give such aid, it would have done it
long ago. Intervention in medals res would
have been far easier and more effective than an
attempt TO undo an accomplished fact. But no
Power interviewed. Germany, whose Emperors
message at the time of the Jameson raid gave
the Beers so much encouragement, long ago
passed by on the other side, first telling Mr..
KRUGER that he would best yield TO the British
demands and afterward declaring that the
British conquest Of the Transvaal was to be
approved. France has expressed much sympathy
with the Beers, but her Government now forbids
any political demonstrations over Mr. KRUGER
and makes it clear that it will have for him
nothing but polite words. Russia has turned q
totally deaf ear to the cry Of the Beers. And
beyond these. what Power is there that could
take up the cause if it would? 1t is doubtful If
~ t. 4l11A
possibly Belgium, which is just now passing
through Of the most acute attacks of
Anglophobia on record in the annals of inter
national pathology. But Belgium is not only
minor Power, but also a neutral guaranteed
State, not to be taken into account in such
affairs
This eliminating errand of Mr.. Krtiger's long
and eventful career is therefore doomed in
advance to failure, though it may serve the
purpose of concluding his record with dignity
1t is yet too soon to pass final judgment upon
his character and his work A Judgment made
at the present time would not be unfavorable to
him. Made hereafter, when passions have
cooled and perspective has heightened it will
doubtless be yet more favorable. For this
sturdy, phlegmatic old Dopper, with all his
narrowness OF vision, obstinacy and opposition
| to progress. has, after all. been a man among
men, and has stood head and shoulders above
| the majority of those by whom he has been
surrounded. He has made, no doubt, grieyous
blunders which, made by a lesser man, would
| have meant instant and hopeless ruin Such
| blunders were his vindictiveness toward the
! National League and the Outlanders after the
raid, his Orange State alliance and his refusal
to grant any real reforms on the Rand. That
he could do these things and yet hold his nIaca
undsturbed is proof Of great merits on the other
side of the account.
Nor will he be in his failure and defeat attn
gether devoid of a certain grim consolation He
threatened to make Great Britain pay "a price
that would stagger humanity" Well. he comes
TO Europe in time to see the British taxnaver
making wry faces at the war loan of
S5O0000O00, and 10 Great Britain admit
ting her one time rival. Germany, to an equal
share in the Yangtse Valley, which was once
her own exclusive sphere of influence" II
may be that these things do not quite stageer
humanity. But they are high prices to nav for