The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-07

\N/ serious opinions OF our
fellow-citizens of Irisl,
descent are voiced by w.
Bourke Cochran when, at the Emmet
anniversary In New York, after a
speech Of sympathy for the Beers. he
went on to say:
This government Of ours Is not with
out responsibility for the Boer war. 1t
claims to be neutral. But this country
has not been neutral. There has been
difficulty between this nation and Eng
land over the Alaskan boundary. do
not say that we ought to have taken
advantage of other complications In
which our opponent was involved to push
those claims unreasOnably. but l do say
that those claims ought not to have been
postponed to give Great Britain a bet
ter chance. Yet they have been so post
poned because Of the complications In
South Africa. Had the administration
performed its plain duty TO the people. It
would have enforced those claims and
the Canadian troops wouldn't have been
fighting In South Africa to-day, helping to
put down liberty. for they would have
had their hands full right at home and
that African war would never have been
begun. But the moment that war
seemed a probability a modus vivendi
was entered into between this country
and England; that is, England was to
choose her own time, not for conceding
our demands. but for resisting them. In
return for this concession we received no
advantage. 1t was all in England IA
vor.
"At the banquet last night President
Mckinley said that there was no alliance
between this country and England. Well,
I'm inclined to believe him. Laughter.
1t isn't an alliance: it's surrender
wild cheers.1 It's surrender of our
policy to England. I challenge any sup
porter of the administration to show one
thing in regard to this Boer war that the
United States government could do in
EnGlands favor that hasn't been done.
The surrender on the Alaskan boundary,
the recall of our consul at Pretoria be-
cause his mail was opened by the British
authorities, and the appointment of a
boy son of the secretary of state. who
received his final instructions in the for
eign office at London; all these things
have made other nations believe that We
are in alliance with England.
$50. in fear. all those nations that
might have interfered for the sake of hu-
manity and fairness have held back
Some may say that the president might
have done even more for England; that
he might have sent our navy over
there to aid the British. But na-
vies are of no avail against the Boers
They might say that the president could
have sent an army there, but that
would have involved his calling for VOL
unteers and have given to the people of
this nation chance to show where they
stand In the matter Of this unholy war. a
chance that must now be postponed until
next November. If the Lord God of
Battles and of Justice will uphold the
Roers so that they may Withstand their
enemies for eight months longer this ma
tion will show Enthusiastically its senti.
ments. IGreat cheering.l That our
course. the course Of the administration,
should be such as to lead Europe to be-
lieve that we are supporting England Is
itself disloyalty to the people. and 1t
will be avenged when the opportunity
comes for freemen to speak,"
It will be noticed that Mr.. Cochran
includes in this "outburst Of magnifi-
cent oratory" two statements which are
not only without foundation but which
he must have known were false. The
statement that Consul Macrum was re
called from Pretoria because his mail
was opened by the British authorities,
like the statement that Secretary Hays
son received his final instructions at
the British foreign Office. is unsupport-
ed either bv fact or fiction. Macrum
himself admits that he was recalled be-
cause he had repeatedly asked to be
permitted to come home. Young Hays
visit to the British foreign office was
simply the customary official call which
representatives of one nation make
upon representatives Of another when
passing through the other nations
capital. Besides. it must have been
known to Mr.. Cochran and to those of
his audience who read the papers that
young Hay was to look after British
interests in Pretoria just as the British
consuls in Cuba looked after American
interests after our own consuls had
been withdrawn pending the war with
kan boundary dispute was postponed
as an accommodation to Great Britain
so that she could mass her strength
In South Africa. the fact Is clear to all
who have taken the pains to inquire
into the matter that this postponement
can affair offered a prospect Of war.
In the campaign Of 1896 Mr.. Cochran
exhibited great energy in declaimins
in behalf Of Major McKinley's election.
We are not among those who took
tremendous stock In that performance,
for Cochran, like Bryan, impressed US
as being speaker who cared more fo1
applause than principles and who stood
ready to champion any cause at any
time when offered satisfactory induce.
ments. The justice of this opinion
seems vindicated by the alacrity with
which the orator Of whom Richard
Croker once said that he had left
Tammany for the good Of Tammany'
now turns his back upon the admins
tration he helped to install, and Joins
with bumptious eagerness the motley
opposition.
With the Puerto Rico debate in pros.
pect, doubtless many members Of the
senate envy the New Haven girl who Il
enjoying a trance Of six weeks dura.
| tiOn.
One tenth of the population Of Cuba
is now in regular and willing attend
ance at the public schools. This Is the
| real freeing OF the island.
| In India. owing to famine. l,S74, 4,00t
persons are in charity's charge. The
gospel that India needs is the gospe
of bread and butter.
"Sapho" has finally been suppressed