The Princeton union., 1900-12-20
THE PRINCETON UNIoN IURsDAY, DEoRMBER 20, 1900
Europe and the Boer Republics.

Europe and the Boer Republics.
1f It was the purpose OF President
Kruger s errand to Europe to enlist the
active support Of the continental pow
ers In behalf Of the South African re-
publics, It is apparent that the mission
has failed. When the aged Boer exile
visited France, he was received with
all the fervor and enthusiasm that
could have been extended to the chief
representative Of IN allied state where
there existed bonds Of race, religion
and close political interests. N Neither
of these elements, however, figured in
the reception, While Mr., Kruger Is
Teutonic Protestant, Puritan alien to
the French in blood, religion, language
and tradition the warmth Of the vel
come was such as to give the old Boer
chief good ground for hope that his
mission, at least In SO far as France
was concerned, would be highly sue
cessful. It may be said that the pro
Boer demonstra rations were only expires.
sions Of the prevailing anti British sen
timent, but we cannot fairly impugn
the motives Of nation which freely
gave her sons to aid in the establish
ment Of republican institutions in
i America, which took up arms II Aus
/ tria in behalf Of Italy and which was
almost persuaded to fight for the re
establishment of Poland.
Cheered and enc ncouraged by his recep-
tion in France, the old patriot turned.
4 expectantly toward his cousins and co.
religionists on the Rhine. Here he met
such arebuff as to almost completely
8 destroy his hope of European aid. eli.
ther moral or active. While no doubt
1 there is much sympathy for Mr. Kru-
4 ger and his cause among the German
& people, the German emperor rather
4 curtly refused him audience. Francis
. Joseph Of Austria has followed Kaiser
Williams lead, and without doubt Vic
tor Emmanuel of Italy should occasion
J arise would take similar action, thus
arraying the triple alliance against the
!, possibility Of intervention in South At
! rica. Nothing Of course could be ex.
= pected from Russia, as she has no in:
), terests to serve in that quarter of the
!, globe and no sympathy to waste on re
:. publics, though upon occasion she has
s been very kindly disposed toward The
!. United States, and France could ill af
!. ford single handed to undertake th,
: task, even if she were inclined so to do
= OF ehabilitating the distressed Dutcl
s republics.
q Naturally Mr.. Kruger is warmly wei
!. coined at The Hague, where he was re
81 eeived=a few days ago with demonstra
~ tions of regard and approval no les
= enthusiastic than those which greete
q him in France. Much as the soYereig
- and people Of the Netherlands ma
( sympathize with their kindred in Sout
q. Africa, manifestly Holland has neithe
In the power nor prestige to render thel
,fs material aid. President Kruger an
60 his heroic people have, therefore, littI
r.e to hope for in Europe.
lt. The picture of the simple hearted, d
n yout old patriot in exile, hoping again
t. hope, as he watches from afar the pas
ce ing. in the poignant struggle of q deaf
no throe Of his beloved Transyaal and b
he sister, the Orange Free State, is not
it pleasant one, yet the aged exile ms
nt find some grains Of comfort in the re
Is, objection of the high esteem Of t
re strange people who made him WELDON
on the banks of the Seine and t
% marks of affection shown by his ki
ar dred on the Zuyder Zee. #
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