New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-15
any reasonable concession can make peace tney
owe It to themselves and the country to do so.
MR.. WEBSTER DAVIS AGAIN.

Mr. Webster Davis is to the fore again,
through the medium of some of the most inter-
esting accusations ever made concerning an OH
Ger or ex-Oficer of the Government Ihese accu-
sations are made by n Mr.. Thielkuhl, VINO was
formerly a subordinate of Mr. Davis In the lhte-
rior Department when the latter was Assistant
Secretary They are to the effect that Mr. Davis
used him as n catspaw in violating the heu'rai-
ity laws of the United States in advertising lor
and forwarding to South Africa men VINO were
TO serve in the Boer army Mr.. Davis. 1t is rep
resented, was careful not to let himseir appear
in the matter lest it should "injue him win
the Administration" but made Mr.. Thieikuhl
bear all the brunt of suspicion; and them as MS
superior officer in the Department, when the
latter's conduct was called into question, went
through the farce of pretended investigation
and whitewashed him. In return TOT MS ser
vices Mr.. Thielkuhl says he was TO receive
share in the Kimberley diamond mines "heh
the triumphant Beers succeeded III wrestling
them from Great Britain. He says further'
that 1t was in connection with this precious
scheme that Mr.. Davis went on his eXraorul-
nary tour to South Africa at the expense OF the
United States, expecting to receive large sum
of money from Mr. Kriiger for his services but
that since he started on that trip he has quite
ignored his unfortunate tool. Mr.. Thielkuhl, who
not only has failed thus far to receive title deeds
to anv corner lots in the diamond mines, but has
also lost his place in the Government service.
That is Mr. Thielkuhl's story 1t will be in
teresting to hear what Mr.. Davis has to say in
reply if that emotional and famboyant orator
condescends to make reply. An admring world
was given to understand that Mr. Davis's In
terest in the Boer cause was purely unSelfsh, in
spired by simple love of freedom, and exercised
at actual pecuniary loss to himself, and that he
voluntarily resigned his place in the Interior
Department in order to be free to express his
sympathy with the Beers and to do what he
could in his humble but earnest and devoted
way, to aid them in their struggle against
tyranny Quite a different aspect is put upon
the case by the declaration that while yet
responsible officer of this Government he was
conspirng for the fragrant violation of its neu
trality laws and that for his unselfSh services
to the cause of Boer liberation he had the eX
pectation of being we'll paid that he was
able to offer diamond mines as the wages of
his understrappers.
Of course, Mr.. Thielkuhl's story may be
grossly unjust to Mr. Davis. 1t may be base
and calumnious fabrication, inspired by Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain. of Birmingham and paid
for by Mr.. Cecil Rhodes, of Kimberley, for the
purpose of injurng the reputation of Paul Krti-
ger and his gallant and chivarOus champion,
Mr.. Webster Davis II so. ana II Mr.. Davis
deems it worth while 20 prove it so, we shall
hasten with great JOY to give that gratifying
aspect of the case the blClty it deserves. For
some such sequel to Mr.. Thielkuhl's charges
we shall eagerly look. 1t would be a real loss
TO our faith in human nature to be persuaded
| that Mr.. Daviss rhetorical attacks upon the
Administration and upon the Republican party
had no better a basis than pecuniary disappont-
| ment 1t would be a dreadful calamity to be
deprived of the fond conviction that Mr.. Davis
is the,mah of the finest sentiments in the world
since the untimely demise of the late lamented
| Mr. Joseph Surface.