New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-27
A RUMOR ABOUT Mr.. MACRUM.


The latest and most extraordinary rumor, or
speculation, concerning Mr. Macrum, the former
Consul of the United States at Pretoria, is that
he is coming back TO this country as a diplo-
matte representative of the Transvaal Govern
ment In most cases such a theory might be
instantly dismissed as Enthusiastically impossible.
But Mr. Macrums manpuvres have been so
mysterious and extraordinary that nothing
seems to be impossible as an explanation of
them. 1t is true, there strong reasons for
doubling the latest theory chief among them
being that Mr. Macrum Is reported to have said
that he considers himself still to be in the Con
sular Service of the United States. Certainly
one would think that he must realize the i'm
possibility of being Minister of the Transvaal
and Consul of the United States at the same
time And yet in view of his amazing conduct,
such assumption concerning him may be I'M
warranted.
The theory that he has become diplomatic
agent of the Transvaal is based, of course, upon
the supposition that the Transvaal is anxious to
gain diplomatic recognition from the United
States. We may assume that 1t is thus anxious,
in view of the excited utterances and resolu-
lions upon the subject made by It's sympa-
thizers In Congress. But obviously the estab-
lshment of diplomatic relations at this time
would be no easy matter. Some time ago,
according to report, a citizen Of the United
States sought to pose the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the Transvaal, apparently in serene
Inconsistencies Of the fact that his United
States citizenship was in itself an insuperable
bar to any recognition of him In that capacity.
After the subsistence Of his fantastic preten-
sons there was talk to the effect that Mr..
White who had been the Transvaal agent in
London, was coming hther as Transvaal Min
lister. He has, indeed, come, and is at
Washington. But there is no intimation that he
possesses any such special credentials from the
Transvaal to the Washington Government as
would entitle him to diplomatic recognition,
even If the Transvaal itself were entitled to
recognition an independent government.
Mr. Macrum may, Of course, be provided with
such credentials. But that theory presupposes
several things. One is that by some extraOrdi-
nary exception to the constitution and laws of
the Transvaal Mr. Macrum has been in a few
months ''raiiroaded" into Boer citizenship,
which no other rotten eggs" could hope TO gain
within fourteen years, If ever 1t is, of course,
possible that such Is the case. Much be
done in a country where any article of the con-
stitution may be amended, suspended or abOl-
lshed in five minutes by Presidential order or
by vote of Parliament And it is within bounds
of credence that Mr.. Krtiger may thus have
advanced Mr.. Macrum to the thrty-third de-
gree in order to win, as he expected, diplO-
matte point But another thing equally presup-
posed is that Mr.. Macrum participated In this
arrangement while actually processing to serve
the United States. That is to say, while he was
a sworn officer of the United States he secretly
renowned his allegiance to this Nation and be-
came a citizen and an officer of another and
alien State. 1t is scarcely conceivable that
either he or Mr.. KrIger could imagine that such
conduct would make him persona grata to the
Government whose service he had thus de-
serted and betrayed.
If, then this theory should prove to be cor
rect, Mr. Macrum would have no cause for sur
prise or grievance if his Transvaal credentials
were rejected and he We're with more curt
ness than courtesy, hidden to go elsewhere
about his business. But we can scarcely consider
its correctness TO be within the limits of practi
cal possibility no matter how possible it, and all
else may be in theory. Certainly II is not to be
deemed probable. The President of the Trans
vaal is too astute to expect to curry favor with
this Government by getting one of Its officers to
turn renegade to 1t and then sending him hither
as his representative. The Macrum Mystery
must surely have some other solution than that.