The sun., 1900-11-22
What Will Kruger DO?

| Wn6V VIII AEuSCE DV'
OF Mr.. KRtoERs purpose in visiting
Europe at this time no indication has yet
been given by the ex-President himself.
or by DR.. LRYDs. the diplomatic repre-
sentative Of the Transvaal. 1s he caress-
ing the vain hope OF securing the mediation
Of any European Government OF OF the
United States? Or has he In mind the
desperate course pursued hy THEAns.
rocLEs and by NAPOLEON: and. by way
OF emphasizing an appeal to Queen VIC
ToRIA. does he mean to place himself In tho
hands Of the British people by landing
voluntarily on British soili
IL IS undeniable that there are strong
grounds for Mr.. KRtGER's appeal to the
compassion Of civilized mankind. The
struggle OF tho South African Republic
and the Orange Free State against Great
Britain was as truly war for independence
az was the contest that began at Lexing-
ton. IL !s true that in the Transvaal the
| franchise was subject TO restrictions that
constituted a serious grievance in the
eyes OF a large part OF the white popula-
ton. In the American Colonies. also. a
| considerable part OF the whites had TO
| complain OF similar disabilities, II Is fur
ther charged that the Beers have treated
the Kafirs. or native persons OF color.
with severity that made the status Of the
! latter scarcely distinguishable in some
particulars from that Of involuntary servi-
| tude In the Thirteen Colonies at tho
| outbreak OF our Revolutionary War. as
| we'll as afterward, hundreds OF thousands
Of blacks we're held in slavery pure and
simple. II Is certain. therefore. that the
free burshers OF the South African Re-
public and the Orange Free State deserve
the pity and good will Of liberty-loving
Europeans as much to-day as our American
forefathers deserved to arouse such senti-
ments on the part Of genero's-minded
Frenchmsn a century and quarter ago.
Neither can II be disputed that the Beers.
now threatened with political eYacement.
IL not with physical annihilation. deserve
and ought 70 command the sympathy OF
enlightened Europeans and Americans no
less thoroughly than the Poles deserved
and commanded It.. from the time when
their freedom was extinguished by the
third partition Of their country up TO the
date OF their latest uprising against Russian
domination. 1t Is a mere quibble to say
that the question OF Boer independence Is
res odjudico'd. England had no more
riobt to proclaim the annexation OF the
Orange Free State and the Transvaal after
the CAPTURE Of Bloemfonte!n and Pretoria
than she would have had TO announce the
subiugation OF her Thirteen Colonies after
the capture Of New York and Philadelphia.
The Boer forces still in the field under Gen.
DE WET and Gen. BoTHA are no worse of
at this moment than was the remnant Of
the Continental Army under WASHINGTON
at Valley Forge.
IL must, at the same time be acknowl.
edged that compassion seldom plays
potent part in International politics. or
all the European Powers. the Bourbon
Governments OF France and Spain alone
interposed on behalf of the American COM
batants for liberty. and there IA reason to
believe that they were impelled In no small
measure by traditional jealousy OF Eng
land. France had the loss OF Canada
and Spain the loss OF Gibraltar TO avengc.
lot a single European nation has ever
lifted a hand for the deliverance Of the
Poles: even NAPOLEON. who might have
rescued them. perAdiously declined 10 do
so. The Christian Powers even shrank
from overt interposition TO shield the
Greeks from massacre at the hands Of the
Ottoman forces under the command Of
IBRAHrM Pasha. and the famous Battle o'
Eavarino, which. practically. gave liberty
70 Greece. must be described As an accident.
KossuTH was received with enthusiasm
In Great Britain and the United States:
nevertheless, his visit had no International
results Unsurpassed was the ardor with
which the British people welcomed CARL
rALpI at t,me when he was the repulsed
invader Of the Papal States. and an exile
from the Kingdom ~ Italy, The British
Government. however. quickly put n stop
to the demonstrations. At the present
coniunct,ire there Is no reason TO expect
that the popular acclamations with which
Mr.. KRtGER will be greeted IN France.
Belgium and Holland acclamatons that
may be- echoed In Germany. Austria and
Russia-will be transmitted into any diplo-
mato representations on behalf Of the
cause which he personifcs. The close
interrelations Of the Christian Powers,
brought about by their joint interests
in China. render it impossible that any
European Government should now wish 10
afiront England hy u proiIcr Of mediation.
which. "a H. knows. would be construed
IA an unfriendly act. All this will he made
perfectly clear Ia ex-Preeident KRrGFR
Immediately after his arrival II II Is not
already known 10 him.
Must he then look upon his mission 10
Europe IA entirely futile? Is there at the
end Of the nineteenth century no august
and benefcent tribunal n which a sup
plant nation may appeal through the
mouth of its Chief Magistrate? Why
should he not carry out ihe intention.
sometimes ascribed to him. Of addressing
his petition directly to Queen VICTORIA
herself. and. through her TO the British