The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-01-04
How Can the President Sleep.

How Can the President Sleep:
The British losses in killed and
wounded in South Africa had been near
ly 5000 before the disastrous repulse suf-
fered by Gen. Butler on Friday. Among
the slain are an appalling number Of
officers, of the very flower of British
chivalry and courage.
The Boer losses are not reported, but
are known to be heavy.
There is mourning for the dead and
tile agony of apprehension for the i'm
periled soldiers from the palace to the
hat in England and in all the vast and
desolate veldts of the African republics,
whose "embattled farmers have fred
in defense of their homes and their free
dom and the new shots "heard around
the world"
The terrible warning of President
Kruger in his message to The World on
Oct. II is already justified:
"The republics are determined that il
they must belong to England price
will have to be paid which will stagger
humanity
But this was only the last word of the
grim defender of Transvaal freedom,
spoken after his offer to arbitrate had
Keen rejected by Secretary Chamberlain
and his plea for mediation mad been lg-
nortd by President Mckinley.
On Sept. IL President Kruger cabled to
The World, which at once repeated the
message to the English secretary, that
'1he South African republic wishes
arbitration. We prefer that the presi-
dent of the United States or the presi-
cent of the republic of Switzerland Shall
appoint the fifth member of the court
CT arbitration, the other four failing to
aglee on person to serve"
And on Oct. 5, while England was
fastening troops for the subjugation of
his country, President Kruger again
ca5led to the American people through
The World that he was s'in favor of
arbitration and would welcome mclia-
ton by the United States"
On the 26th of October a delegation 0:
citizens presented to President Mckinley
the great peace petition, procured
hlough the efforts Of The World, and
signed by the largest number of eminent
and representative Americans of all Sec
tions, parties and creeds ever un1teu In
such plea. They asked s.e r7esloent
to "offer the friendly services of the
United States in mediation" to stop the
war, under article Of the plan adopted
by the peace congress at The Hague,
and signed by the delegates of Great
Britain and the United States, as fol-
lows:
''The right of Offering their good Of
fees belongs to powers not connected
with the conflict, even during the course
of hostilities, which act can never lie
regarded as an unfriendly act"
President Mckinley said in reply that
chose peace sentiments have my SYM
pathy-my most sincere sympathy" He
declared himself profoundly impressed"
by petition of "such an influential and
representative character" and assured
the delegation that "your petition and
what you have said to me will receive
my most earnest consideration"
Since these words were spoken ter
ribly destructive war has ragged in South
Africa-"staggering humanity" in Great
Britain at least, and shocking civiliza-
ton everywhere What has the presi-
dent done to show his horror of war
his most sincere sympathy" with
peace?
Not one word or act.
Two months ago he might have avert
ed this conflict. 1t is never too late to
stop war-especially when its results
become doubtful. To accept friendly
mediation or impartial arbitration now
would hurt the pride of England. But
cannot a nation that is summoned by
its queen to a day of humiliation before
God afford to humble its pride before
men? The terrible price which it is
paying for a problematical paramountcy
in South Africa is far above any advant-
age to be gained even by success.
President Mckinley can never know
until he has tried whether the proffer. of
our good Offices" in mediation will be
accepted. He has the warrant Of inter-
national practices and Of The Hague
conference for making the attempt to
end this war. How can he further rec
oncile HIS conscience to inaction? How
can he sleep at night with the burden on
his soul Of war that he might have