The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-25
GREAT BR,TArN.s CAUSE OF WAR.

GREAT BRITAIN's CAUSE OF WAR.
1t is not discreditable to the American
people that there should be among them
considerable difference of opinion as to the
merits of the British-Boer war, with a
cCnsequent difference of sympathy as be-
.ween the combatants. This simply argues
.sTerent points of view and independence
opinion. But the merits of the case
tation of facts. A very common assertion
by noisy Boer sympathizers, including
enemies of President Mckinley. who are
trying to make political capital out of the
situation. is that Great Britain has no
casus belli, that on her part 1t is an unpro-
voked and causeless war. Those who
make this assertion allow their pre-
JUDGES to obscure their memories. The fact
IS Great Britain has the best cause of
var that any nation can possibly have.
namely an intolerable insult followed by
an invasion of British territory, which she
was bound to repel and punish. Great
Britain not only did not begin the present
war. but there is every reason to believe
plomacy. Whether her diplomacy was wise
or not is another question. The diplomatic
fencing might have been prolonged inde-
finitely, ending no one knows how, but the
Beers ended it by a studied insult to Great
Britain, followed by an immediate resort
to arms and aggressive movements. They
began the war, and Great Britain's cause
of war is that she had to repel it. though
as events have shown, with much less
preparation for it than the Beers. AS
nothing can be gained by disappearing
the truth of history it is worth while to
recall the facts. After several years of
friction caused by Boer mistreatment of
the outlanders and a long period of dip
to gain points which the other would not
yield, but which still left the question of
war quite remote, President Kruger
finally. on last Oct. 10. sent an ultimatum
embracing the following demands:
That all troops on the borders of this
That all reinforcements of troops which
have arrived in South Africa since June
l.. 1899. shall be removed within reason
able time.
That British troops now on the high
seas shall not be landed in any part of
South Africa
AS Great Britain has extensive posses
sions in South Africa entirely indepen-
dent of the South African Republic, this
demand was insulting and intolerable An
answer was demanded by o'clock D. m,
Oct. IL. The British government sent a
short but dignified reply expressing re-
greet at the ''peremptory demands" and
saying 1.-The conditions demanded by the
government of the South African Republic
are such as her Majesty's government deem
it impossible to discuss" Lord Salisbury
in speech at the opening of Parliament
said The Boer government was pleased
to dispense with any explanation on our
part respecting the causes or justification
of the war. 1t has done what no provo
cation part could have justified
1t has done what the strongest nation has
never in its strength done to any opponent
1t had challenged. 1t issued a defiance so
audacious that 1 could scarcely depict it,
without using words unsuited for this
assembly, and by doing they liberated
this country from the necessity of ex-
planning to the people of England why we
are a. war. But for this, no one could
have predicted that we would ever be at
war" The Beers followed up their uiti-
matum with an immediate invasion of
British soil. They entered Natal Oct. IL,
and during the few days following they
poured into that territory with great
rapidity. A collision occurred between
Boer troops and a British patrol on the
18th Of October. even before the British
reply to the Boer ultimatum had been re-
ceived. The mobilization of Boer troops
and the investment of Kimberley. MAIZE
king. etc., followed in quick succession.
Great Britain's cause of war is that she
was attacked in the midst of a diplomatic
negotiation of which Lord Salisbury said:
There had been very grave questions
between us; but, up to the time of the ul-
timatum, the modes we had suggested of
settling them were successful and the
spirit in which we were met was encour-
agingn