The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-23
A FRUITLEss ERRAND.

1t is no surprise that the President de-
clined to grant the request OF the Boer
euvoys to intervene in their behalf. IN
deed, we cannot understand why these
ENJOYS went to Washington to seek an
interview with the President.
we cannot see the sense OF their COM
ing to this country at all. From ther
published statements it is TO be gathered
that they understood that there was no
hone of influencing the administration to
take sides with the Boer republics against
England, but they seem to have II IN
mind TO appeal to the American people 10
take issue with their government, 10
force their government to abandon the
line of policy which it mas determined
that its international obligations require
of il. and in viola ton Of those obligations
to take an active part in benaif OF Inc
Beers against England. These gentlemen
must have a very poor opinion OF the IN
telligence of the American people TO nope
for ANYTHING of this sort. The American
people will differ among themselves upon
questions of policy, but when their con-
stituted authorities declare to them tha'
she laws of nations impose certain obllga-
lions upon this country as nation. the
good sense of our people excludes lhe
possibility Of any division among them
upon a question of whether we should or
should not measure up to our Obligations
under those laws. Whatever the sympa-
thies and feelings of the people may be-
they will make answer. to the Boer Ell
VOWS that their constituted authorities,
after due deIibera ton. have determined
that international law requires OF TINS
nation a certain course, and that being So
that they cannct listen to any appeals
that they should violate and repudiate
their obligations under that law.
And how absurd to suppose that this
government would interfere in this quar-
rel upon any considerations in its present
stage We offered our friendly offices to
England when her fortunes IN South
Africa were under dark cloud, anu
those friendly offices were promptly re-
iected even then. How can we suppose
that she would listen to any appeal from
rs now when she so plainly has almost
crushed all opposition to herr There Is
no possible intervention by us that could
be of any sort of value TO the Beers, eX-
cept a war by US upon England 10 Iofce
her to abandon her contest with them.
and we cannot believe that even a Boer
could be fool enough to suppose that we
would go to war with England for this
cause.
There never was one moment when we
had the slightest right to interfere in TINS
contest, Whatever may have been the
merits of the controversy between the
Roers and England before war began, yet
it is never to be forgotten that the boers
first drew the sword; they attacked Eng
land, they are aggressors. and England
clearly had right to defend herself
against their attack. Now. when war Is
o,ce commenced there can be no nterfer-
ance from the outside until he %ar Is
ended, He who draws the sword throws
away the scabbard, and as the Beers an-
pealed to the arbitrament OF the sWofo' SO
they must abide by the fate Which the
sword has in store for them.
In the current number of the Forum,
the we'll known newspaper writer, H. L.
West. has an interesting study os the
probabilities for the coming presidential
election, in which he argues tnat me
| overwhelming sympathy Of The American
| people for the Beers is going TO operate
| most disadyantageousiy for Mr. Mcl> 'nley
| in the coming election. We do not peiieVe
| that it Will lose him one thousand votes
| in the whole country. Whether the voter
| sympa thizes with the Beers or whether ne
| does not, he will say that the laws OF
nations required Mr.. Mckinley TO main
| tain the position that he has held, and
| that ne henors him rather than blames
| him for standing UP to his duty under
those laws without regard to his symna-
| thies and feelings. Our people may sym
| pathize with the Beers, but they can
! discriminate between duty and sentiment,
! and they are not going to condemn
| public servant for performing his duties
| when his sympa t,lies may have drawn
/ him in an opposite direction.