Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-01
HOW HISTORY RErEATs ITSELF.
Lust of Power and Obstinacy the Peril
Af


Leslies Weekly
Has England learned anything from ad-
versity? This query will arise as a consc-
quence of Premier Salisbury's ostentatious
refusal to offer the Beers anything better
than an immediate and unconditional sur
render. The tone of the head Of the Brit
ish ministry of 1900 will recall that OF his
predecessor OF 1875. Lord Salisbury's
words to the struggling Dutch in South
Africa have striking resemblance in tone
and tenor to those of Lord North a century
and quarter ago. VIII the ultimate out
come be the same now as IL was then?
This latter question finds a point and a
significance in the recent victories which
the Beers have been gaining over the Brit
ish, Notwithstanding the fact that the Brit
ish, too. have won some fights.
Samuel Adams. Patrick Henry and a
coterie in Boston, Williamsburg (then the
capital of Virginia) and a few other places
wanted separation from Great Britain from
the days of the stamp act, back in 1865.
Washington, Franklin. Otis, John Adams
and most of the other colonists, however,
were against sepf ration. even when Lexing
ton put The patriots in arms. All that
Washington and the majority OF his COM
patriots sought at the outset was the tra-
taxation except that voted by bodies in
which they were represented-that is in
the Americans case. by their own colonial
legislatures. II was fifteen months after
the battle OF Lexington, and thirteen after
Bunker Hill. that the continental congress
declared for the independence OF the coll
onles.
The autocratic conduct OF George III
and his prime minister forced the colonists
to cut loose from Great Britain and set
up government for themselves. The Ian
guage Of Queen Victorla's first minister of
today recalls the temper which governed
England's rulers in that age OF madness
and stupidity in the first half of her grand
fathers reign. Probably the Beers will be
subjugated in the end, but the war which
some OF the British generals predicted
would close in three months has now been
under way fifteen months, and the termina-
tion is not In sight An expenditure of
$50 900. then deemed ample, was pro-
vided for by the British Parliament at the
beginning OF the war. The present outlook
Is that the expenditure will reach 5000, ,000 =
600. Meanwhile the British have recently
suffered several defeats more sweeping and
disastrous than they have met since Mont
calm annihilated Abercrombie at Ticon-
deroga In 1858, or since Washington and
Rochambeau overwhelmed CORVALLIS at
Yorktown in 1881.
Perhaps separation and independence by
the Americans would have come ultimately,
even II there had been an Alfred and a
Gladstone in the places of George III and
Lord North. for the interests and aspira-
tions OF the Americans would necessarily
diverge farther and farther from those of
the British as time passed. II is signifi-
cant, however that British writer's and
statesmen OF today ascribe the separation
TO the blindness and obstinacy of the king
and his prime minister. The London Times
on the day after the centennial celebration
OF the battle OF Lexington, in 1875, declared
that II the British empire OF 1775 had re-
mained intact until then its CAPITAL would
be in New York or some other point in
America, and the Times on that account
rejoiced in the separation. Ex-Premier
fosebery. few weeks ago. who regrets
the separation. drew a glowing picture of
the transfer OF the British empires capital
TO this side OF the Atlantic. which would
have taken place long before this time IL
the disruption had not come.
In that case England and its American
subjects would have such a preponderance
IN population, resources and power that
they would be the arbiter Of the worlds
destinies. Let England's statesmen OF to-
day beware lest in their blindness and
arrogance they ultimately create a United
States Of Africa.