Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-02

The war in South Africa has taken an
unexpected turn. Gems. Dewet and De-
larey have apparently outwitted Lord
Kitchener in a movement as brilliantly
conceived as it was adroitly executed.
For several weeks Boer force has been
operating IN a circumseribed territory,
partly in the Transvaal and in the Or
ange Free State. The British generals
sent in pursuit have lost heavily, their
forces narrowly escaping capture on sew
eral occasions. But while Delarey and
Dewet were engaged in drawing the Brit
ish troops northwar,l from the Vaal riy-
er, a much larger force of Beers has
crossed the Orange river, invaded Cape
Colony and seized Colesburg, thus begin
ming lively campaign in the region in
which Natacre and French were held at
bay year ago. The danger to British
interests in this new Boer invasion OF
Cape Colony lies in the menace of a ris-
ing of the Dutch colonies. The Dutch
outnumber the English residents in the
eastern part of the colony and if they
should decide to cast their fortunes with
the Beers they could add thousands of
men TO Dewet and Delarey's army, to
say nothing of the assistance they could
give in money and provisions. There
is in England, beyond question, a grow
ing sentiment favorable to the Beers.
Public meetings, called to express sympa-
thy with the burghers, are no longer in
terfered with, and men openly proclaim
their hope of seeing independence restor-
ed to the South African republics.
-
1t is somewhat difficult to gain a com.
prehensiye view of English sentiment
relative to the amendments to the Hay
Pauncefote treaty and the proposal OF
the United States Senate to abrogate the
Clayton Bulwer treaty. Newspapers like
the Times and the Standard declare that
England will not accept mutilated
treaty On the other hand men like
Henry Labouchere, Sir Charles Dixie and
others noted for their Independence Of
thought, declare that England has no rea-
son to oppose the idea Of canal built
by American money, guarded by Ameri-
can guns and controlled by Anne. .ea. 1t
is entirely within the probabilities that
most of the English people are Indifferent
and that those who are interested are
divided in their opinions.
-:
The powers interested in China have
at last reached an agreement on the pre-
liminary terms to be demanded of the
Chinese government The points TO the
agreement have beer repeated so fire.
quently that the public is tolerably ia
milar with them. China must pay in
demnity and furnish sufficient safeguards
for the future. The Importance of the
agreement lies in the fact thar the pow
Ill at oil nd
il it is carried out China will emerge
from the crisis without loss of territory,
and with little loss of prestige. But it
will be years before the commerce lost
| in the last seven months Is regained.
-:
There is a trace of poetic justice in
| the news that Count Esterhazy, the
| French officer who, more than any other
one man, hanged the Dreyfus affair
around the neck Of the French govern
ment. Is starving in London Esterhazy
l,roved himself everything that was VI
Gus. He condemned a man to exile on
1 forged evidence lie stirred tie French
/ army to the verge of mHtiny. democrat
| ICED the courts, aud kept the government
! in a turmoil for years. His present con-
! dition is exciting little sympathy any
/ where ia the world
! -
President Kruger has apparently made
| little progress in his negotiations with
/ the powets. The meB with whom the
/ British government win have to negotiate
are men like Dewet Delarey and Botha.
| Dewet is to-day the foremost nan in the
/ Boer republics. lie is apparently born
/ leader, natural strategist and & daring
| raider. II the British are harassed into
negotiations for peace it viii be by De-
! wet. and he may yet accomplish in the
field what Kruger has failed to do in
/ Europe.
-.
The French ministry has At length COM
pleted its seIf-imposed task Of putting a
| auietus on the Dreyfus affair. The Cham
| Der Of Deputies, sitter one OF the NOS;
/ acrimonious debates in its recent history,
/ on Wednesday morning passed the am
nesty bill by a vote Of 1J6 10 >. Under
the amnesty bill al persons connected
with the DFeyfus affair are exempted
! sr..,, r-osPcufi1n