The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-13
LAST CARD OF THE BOERS.
VISIT OF THE DELEGATION TO
THIS COUNTRY so REGARDED.
London Confidently Looks for It's
War to End by June-No Conces-
sion on Appeal Question VIII BE
Made to Australian Confederation

LONDON, May R.-The Beers seem 10
be ON the eve Of playing their last card
and according to many keen observers IN
England II is being played not In south
Africa, but in the United States, through
the medium of the Boer delegates who
sailed for New York from Rotterdam last
week As the bulk of British opinion does
not contemplate for a moment that Mr.
Fischer and his companions will achieve
success 1t is only natural that serious
thought is now confidently devoted to
demonstrating the date when the war IN
the Transvaal will be ended. Most esti-
mates concur in agreeing that hostillties
will have ceased by June when President
Kruger learns that the last country ap-
pealed 10, namely, the United States, VIII
afford no help and that he has no alterna-
tive in the face of the overwhelming force
now VIGOROUSLY sweeping into his terri
tory but to sue for peace. What Great
Britain's answer to the request Will be
was Enthusiastically defined by Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain, the secretary of state Tor
the colonies, at Birmingham yesterday,
when he declared that the Boer republic
must become crown colony. whose initial
stage of organization will be controlled by
a military administration. By agreeing TO
these terms President Kruger must, OF
course, give up all for which he has been
fighting. But on the other hand, now that
terms have been SO emphatically enun-
ciated, they~lust either be granted or
England will Stand defeated
speedy End Looked For.
The latter alternative, however, does
not enter Engiand's category of possibili-
ties Her people are firmly convinced tnat
Lord Roberts will steadily advance, per-
haps with delays and losses of daredevil
units, and maybe without infiicting a
crushing defeat until he occupies the
Fr. I'd
believe, will be stopped only when Presi-
dent Kruger. learning OF the failure or
Fischer's mission, asks for peace.
That this will come sooner than pievlou7-
" expected Is the trend of popular opinion
today. A long siege of Pretoria has be-
come remote contingency sharp night
ing at Kroonstad and on the Vaal river,
series OF rear guard actions with constant
iy retreating forces. an organized develop
ment OF a hostile country and then by
June or perhaps earlier peace and oecupa-
ton. Such Is the average forecast OF tire
struggle In South Africa, May be IL is
altogether too optimistic, but the present
successes Of the British arms and the evil
dences Of their well defined pl9ps and ex-
celent organization forms much excIss for
optimism.
Australian Federation.
In comparison with what 10000 British
troops have been doing in South tf~,ca
during the week, the events in Fnglani
itself are perhaps unimportant. Yet they
TEEN with human interest and international
Importance First and foremost Is the
question OF Australian federation. Dele
gates from this great colony are cease
lessly speaking pleasant words TO London
audiences through the luxurious medium of
public dinners and luncheons. to say moth
ing of copious press interviews, but mean
while are fighting Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain tooth and nail in an endeavor
to maintain Australia's objection to raving
the English privy council as final count
of appeal for local cases. No compromise
has yet been reached and Mr.. Chamberlain
will shortly introduce the subject Of feder-
alton In the house OF commons. advocating
that the bill be passed as forwarded TO
Australia with the exception of an amend
ment granting the privy council the power
mentioned above.
Presumably the commons will follow the
governments lead. What Australia will DO
remains to be seen. The obliratior - T.
ordinatfng the highest colonial courts Ia
the privy council under which Canada now
abors, may wreck the whole schema OF
federation.
salisbury's Opposition to Prohibition
While imperial politics are Interesting,
home matters are equally so The Outlook
semi humorously sums up these matters
by reporting Lord Salisbury as sa ling:
Let us have rifle clubs everywhere and
let the young maidens fetch their fathers
dinner and beer"
This reference to beer is not half so IA.
cetlous as might appear. Lord Salisbury's
nnce measures in the house of lords on
Tuesday will probably afford a basis for
one or the strongest planks of the oppo-
sition platform at the next election. Con-
tronted by the united archbishops and
bishops, the premier spoke more frankly
upon the temperance question than al
most any leading man In English politics
ever dared to.
Saturday Review Bitter. as Usual.
The Saturday Review, Interpreting Lord
Salispurys recent generaiisrn regarding
hatred towards England and the necessity
OF arming the country as especially ap-
plicahle TO the United States, declared:
During the Cnban war there were
large number OF people in this country
who sympathized with Spain, but they
kent their feelings strictly TO themselves
Not discordant note was heard In our
press, and the British government pre-
vented combination OF European powers
that would have thrown the American gov
eminent on its back How does the Unit
ed States repay us2 We were treated to
all kinds OF intrigucs and to the Alaskan
boundary and the Nicaragua canal; and
row at least half the AmeriCn press and
nation loudly proclaim their sympathy
with the Beers and are organizing recep-
tons for their delegates. We shall have
20 defend our empire and must do II, az
Lord Salisbury says. with our right arm. +"
Does Not Represent Public Opinion.
This Is interesting comment, but II
neither represents the best informed nor
the popular opinion. Lord Salisbury had
no idea OF referring 10 American Boer
manifestations when speaking at the meet
ing OF the Primrose League. Moreover
these manifestations are popularity regard
cd ia England. thanks TO the cable dis
patches of English correspondents, as
nothing but temporary offervescence OF
political agitation IN a country on the
verge OF an election. and as such OF no
serious import
The Sneaker Attacks saii.bury
The speaker commenting upon Russian
railroad and territorial aggression in
china. declares that Lord Salisbury and
Mr. Chamberlain cannot protect British
interests real or Imaginary In any part
n the world and that the United States
have been the only guardians OF our In.
terests In china. while Lord Salisbury
has been a helpless looker.on.
Dispute ia Fotteries Trade,
The dispute in the potteries trade now