The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-06-05
THE BoER COMMISSIONERS.


story that comes to us day by day of
the progress of the Boer commissioners
to this country. Pathetic, because II
ever there was mission utterly hope
less this is the one, and pathetic also
because this progress, begun on the
dock ut New York to end in failure
+ somewhere. is the last resort of a
brave people crushed in a valiant strug
gle against superior force.
Whatever may be thought of the mer-
its of the South African war, no one
questions the sincerity of the Boer peo-
pie. Their ideas of liberty may be
crude, but they are fighting for liberty
to the death.
If it We're possible for the United
States to do anything for these people,
Americans would approve almost unan-
imously, the doing of it.
But whatever may have been the
question at issue in the earlier days of
the war, the point now in contest is the
independence of the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal. The Beers are
fighting to the last against conquest,
while Great Britain openly declares
that the independence of the Dutch
republics is a menace to her interests
in South Africa and can no longer be
tolerated.
The fate to which the Beers may
seem destined is not II servile one.
They are to be treated as other British
colonials are treated, and they will be
given the full protection of law to
property and person. 1t is asserted
even, upon good authority, that the
conditions of the Boer citizen will be
better as British subject that as a
republican. However that may be, 1t
Is evident that short of the indepen-
dence of the republics, which is desired
by the Beers with all the Intensity
born of generations of life in the will
derness and repeated removals in the
face of British encroachment, there is
nothing that the United States can ask
for short of independence which the
British people are not already inclined
TO give to the Beers. The Beers
themselves ask nothing outside of that
independence which the British posi-
lively refuse to concede.
But upon the abrogation of the in
dependence of the Boer republics Great
Britain will insist. and nothing short of
physical force will induce her to abate
i IA ns.,l,t
of folly for the United States to make
in behalf. of the Transyaal any such
demand as we might feel bound to
make for our own interests if South
American state were similarly situated.
That Great Britain would resist such a
demand even at cost of war, cannot be
doubted. and in that war she would
have the entire sympathy If not the
actual cooperation of the European
powers.
The mission of the Boer ENJOYS is
hopeless one and the sooner they real
ize this the better it will be for all con-
ate time. The supposed eXigencies of
party politics will play larger part in
the treatment given to them by the
public than will the consideration of
national interests or the strict equities
of international relations. The enthus-
iastic receptions given TO them in Ho-
boken and elsewhere are a part of the
scheme to make the Republican admin
istration appear as the friend of ty-
ranny and the Indifferent witness of
the subjugation of a liberty-loving race.
On the other hand it is being asserted
with every appearance of falsity that
the ENJOYS have received assurances
from Mr.. Bryan that if he is elected
President he will interfere in their be-
half
We are sorry TO see brave and honor
able men made the sport of party poll
tics in this fashion. They deserve bet
ter things of the American nation. 1t
is cruel to encourage hopes that cannot
be realized. 1t is undignified to use
grave international matters as make
weights in domestic election.
The Boer ENJOYS will soon or late find
the hollowness of the promises now be
ing made to them and that the most
officious welcome comes from those
who expect to work them rather than
work for them. The sooner they find
this out the better it will be for them
and for us.-Colorado Springs Gazette.
pEpitpt traN pooSpECrS I'M