The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-15
THURSDAY. MARCH Is. 1900.
PRESIDENT KRUGEH's APPEAL
FOR PEACE.

IT world be a very credulous man IN
deed WHO could believe that President
Kr,lger's appeal to England for peace is
really sincere. For him to come for
ward at this stage Of the game and ask
for peace upon the terms of the recos-;
milton by England of the two Soulh
African republics is such an extreme
proposition as ITO carry insincerity upon
dts face We are not expressing any
opinion as to whether England should or
should not recognize the independence of
these republics. We are only dealing
with the case as Ut actually is. and to
expect her now. after the bloody war
she has had to fight, to release all OF lis
Beneficial consequences, Us TO expect from
her an amount OF for'bearance that no
Power has ever yet shown in the history
of the world.
1t is hard 10 understand President.
Kruger's dispatch TO Lord Salisbury
otherwise than as a grandstand play TO
influence The sympathiesr of the world in
behalf of the Transvaal.
Take the following passage from it,sfor
instance. lie says:
We hestated ITO make this declaration
earlier 10 your Exceuency, as we feared
that as long as the advantage was al
ways on our side, and as long as our
forces held defensive positions far within
her Majesty's Colonies. sucl, n declara-,
ton lnistht hurt The feelings and honor OF
the GSTitish people. hut now that the
prestige OF TIE British empire may be
considered to be assured by the capture
OF one of our forces by her A1a1esty's
troops, and that VIC have thereby been
forced to eracuate other positions which
OUT forces had occupied. that difficulty
is over. and I'VE can no longer hesitate
TO clearly inform your government anu
people, in the sight Of the whole c1.Slized
world. why we are fighting and on what
conditions we are. ready 30 restore peace.
Who believes in the sincerity of that
statement II Kruger had believed has
appeal for recognition would have been
needed. the fact tina. his forces were
VICTORIOUS and far advanced in her Ma
jesty,s do1ninions would not have at.
fected him for one moment. Regard for
British pride would not have had the
slightest effect upon him. The world NJll
believe. therefore, that he did not make
his appeal at that stage of the affair
because his SUCCESSES had brought him
to the conclusion that he would he able
TO battle the English and would finally
come out OF the melee victorious We
arc giving no opinion. whatever upon the
merits of this quarrel nor upon the ques-
lion whether England should or Should
not grant the terms Kruger asks for.
We are only commenting upon the case
as dts glarinE facts present it.
We arc glad that our government has
nut itself into communication with the
British government upon the subject of
oeace in South Africa in the manner
adopted by 1t. To have volunteered me-
diatson between the parties would have
been breach OF our duty towards Eng
Hand under the laws OF nations, and would
have been an impertinent act, as ofen-
slye TO her as anything could be. But
when President kruger appeals to us TO
intervene there is no reason whatever
why we may not transmit that appeal to
rhe lNiglish Government and ask 1t
whether II would be agreeable to that
government for us TO offer our friendly
services Kruger's appeal 20 us Is "a
groundwork upon which we can build
an Inquiry OF England. but our friendly
oficcs must cease the moment England
copies declining our friendly overtures.
This Isa,t DIS the fight OF England and the
TransYaal. and all other Powers must!
bold hands on unidl both the beliigerents
declare their willingness to have media
tisn.
/ THE lion TIA DE.
Ever since activity In the iron trade
sst in. doubling Thomases have been