The true Democrat., 1900-02-24

declaring that If the proDrleties whlc
should obtain in the treatment Q
official communications of neutral ma
tions had been so ruthelssly and fla
granay violated, Great Britain shoult
be called to account and the state d
partment should be made to explain
how it tolerated such a state o
things.
The charges of ex-Consul Maorun
are particularly interesting, however
from the standpoint OF an alleged ALI
ancs which he declares exists between
Great Britain and the United States.
This may have a very unfavorable
effect npol the Hay -Pauncefote treaty
which IS none too strong even now Its
ratification hangs on the balance, as
matters stand, and a denoument such
as the Macrum charges may prove, will
very materially influence public senti-
ment against it,
While the state department officials
were ayerse to discussing the published
statement of ex-ConsuI Macrum, il was
suthOritatively stated that a search of
the records faiIsd to show that Mr..
Macrum had ever reported to the de-
partmsnt that his Official mail was
being regularly tampere1 with by the
British authorities. It is said that be
did report in general way that both
Official and private mall intended for
American citizens did not reach him
punotually and asked that protest be
made on account Of this rather arbi-
trary proceeding. Tne department IN
Vestigated and learned that 10 unnec-
eSsary delay existed and does not credit
the statement that any correspondence,
official or otherwise, was opened, IN
,pected and delayed by the British au-
thorities.
Representative Wheeler Of Kentucky
las introduced in the house the follow |
ng resolution.
Whereas, ChaIres E. Macrum, late
onsul Of the government of the United
jtates at Pretoria, in the Transvaal re-
ublic, over his own signature, charges
when this--his mail-was finally for
7arded to me after Col. Stowe, the
lmerican consul general at Cape Town
ad secured its release | had the hu.
as the representative of the
.merican government of sitting in my
lice in Pretoria and looking upon en-
sloPes bearing the seal of the United
tates government, opened and sealed
ith a sticker notifying me that the
'ntents had been read by the censor
Durham and,
"Whereas, he further states IN the
me article, when I accepted my
st as consul I knew nothing of any
cret alliance between America and ;
reat Britaln;' therefore, be 1t
Resolved BY the House. That the
cretay of State is directed to inform 4
house of representatives if Charles =
acrum, consul OF the United States
vernment, informed the department l
1t his official mail had been open :"
and been read By the British CEN y
at Durham, and if SO what steps,
any, had been taken to secure re- "
'ss and apology from the British 81
7ernment.
Section 2. He is directed to in
m the house of representatives what pl
tn there is that secret agreement SS
SITS bewteen the republic of the 70
tied States and the empire of Great ID
tain I'll
me speaker referred the resolution ln
Inc foreign affairs committee. to'
Congressman Dinsmore of Arkansas, ia
ranking democratic member OF the Il
so committee on foreign affairs, in IL
liking of Macrum'H charges and the Sie
eeler resolution of inquiry, said: Az
/ think the Wheeler resolution is WI
timed. II the statements contain. WI
n ex-Consul Macrum's annouce- BIB
It be true, Great Britain has offered M
ave indisnity to a neutral power 0oA
1t is altogether remarkable in view
10 fact that British interests were few
g represented at the time by the bar
postmaster Assailants Discharged.
lmpa, Fla. Tho twelve men I
ged with whipping Postmaster Nc. bro
n at Peck last fall were discharged on
le United States court FriaaY! rec,
nof them waretriedof intimidati1 ia