Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-12-05

~~~~>~~~~->@~N~-~~~~~N
The one central figure in European pol
tiles last week is Paul KrG. ger, president
of the Transvaal republic. He is an I'M
couth, almost unlettered, Boer, bent with
age. He is the president of a republic
that has been beaten into the earth by
the iron heel Of a British army 100000
strong and commanded by the greatest
military leader of the old world. The
Boer army is scattered. Sixteen thou
sand Bocr soldiers are prisoners at st.
Helena, in Ceylon, or in Cape Town. The
rest, broken up into guerrilla bands, are
being driven from shelter to shelter in
the Transvaal or the Orange Free State.
The Boer women and children have been
driven from their farms to the smaller
towns and from the smaller towns to the
larger cities. There is nothing left Of
the Boer republic but the name and Pres
Eent Kruger. What will Europe do with
Kruger? Is he an element of danger to
England! These are questions being ask,
ed by thinking men in England as web
as on the continent. Apparently Kruger's
only hope for assistance lies in tn.
French people, and President Loubet an
his premier, Waldeck Rousseau, are eyl
IDENTIFY determined that even the volatil.
ism of the French people shall not sway
the government hairs breadth from an
attitude absolutely correct toward Great
Britain. But IL the French excess of en-.
thusiasm for Kruger can be turned into
Q political channel and the Waldeck,
Rousseau ministry be overturned, the SID
pation might take on an altogether diff
ferent aspect. 1t is fairer to assume thas
Kruger is making final effort to secure.
through diplomacy, that pressure on Eng
land that may compel the British gov
eminent, from motives of selfinteres.
alone. to grant at least autonomy to the
Boer races.
The Chinese situation is far from re-
Assuring. Negotiations for a peaceful sct
Element are in deadlock, and the ,risis
which is likely to reopen hostilities and
bring about the partition of the Chinese
empire is evidently near at hand. Stated
briefly, majority of the powers, led by
Germany, is demanding more than China
can pay. The minority, made up of the
United States, Russia ard rance, favors
\ demand for only what China is able 10
gay and no more. As n result, the press
sf London and Berlin, especially
of Berlin. is filed with indig
nant criticism for the policy of the
United States. There is at least &c,
grounds for the suspicion that German
and England, backed by the smaller pow
ers Of Austria and Italy. are deliberately
forcing the issue Of dismemberment.
China cannot DELAY a crisis much longer.
The demands of The powers already made
must soon be complied with or rejected
Rejection, of course, means war, and
war means ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
49,
Englaud's proposal 10 adopt the harsh
reconcentrado methods made hateful to
humanity by Wpyler in the closing years
Of the Cuban revolution lend renewed in
terest to the desgltory campaign in South
Africa. Lord Kitchener, we are told. il
to re-enact the Weylcr tragedy. The
women and children are 10 be gathered
into the larger towns and the men are TO
be made prisoners wherever found I his
means that England. weary Of the fruit
less campaigning against small bands Of
Boer soldiers. has determined 70 make
Of the TranSyaal a wilderness. The re-
concentrate policy mcans land Of desc
lated homes L tells eloqucntly Of The
stubborn patriotism of the B0er race.
And i means setback Of haif a century
In the development Of the TransTaal.
rl.-R.- -. - . ffyn