The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-03-21
THE CASE OF THE BOERS.

1t is remarkable that some of the
leading papers OF the United States are
tacitly in favor of the Intervention of
this government In the Boer war;
though what would excuse it, that
would not also justify the Intervention
of the British in the Philippine war,
we do not know.
We Americans are easily led away
by sympathy for people struggling to
be free unless they happen to be re-
sistng us, but the time has come for
a wider view. The earth should belong
70 those who can get the most out of
it FOR the common good, and for that
reason this paper has long wanted to
see the vast resources of South Ameri-
"a opened up by the powers best fitted
to civilize and develop that continent.
If the Monroe doctrine Is In the way,
then abolish the Monroe doctrine,
which is now merely dog-in-the-
manger policy, unworthy of a great and
courageous State.
The Beers live in a land which Is
| undcrlaid with enormous riches in the
form, OF gold; and this gold is essential
to the we'll being and stability of the
worlds commercial intercourse. The
world loses so much gold by abrasion
| and the minis are deprived of so much
by the arts. that 1t Is Indispensable to
find and develop new supplies. Real
money was becoming dangerously
scarce I'm the United States, and the
reign of an irresponsible currency was
! threatened, when the Klondke finds
were made. We go further back and
| say that, but for the timely discovery
and enormous yield OF gold in Califor-
mia, northern finances in the Civil War
might have been destroyed in the Sec
ond year of the conflict. What gold
was found in the Transvaal lightened
strain in Europe, and AS much as
possible of the residue was needed to
meet the demands of n vastly acceler-
ated commerce. 1t was the duty of the
Beers, as citizens of the world, to as
sist In transferring the riches of their
auriferous reefs to the channels of the
worlds trade. In doing so they would
themselves have gained great wealth
while comforting wealth on others.
But the Beers grew captious and sui
len. They permitted subjects of Great
Britain-their suZerain pOwer-and 9TH
er foreigners, To invest vast sums in
| Transvaal mining enterprises, but
when the investments Were made they
harassed ana sought to control them
Che product of gold at once lessened
and panic succeeded good times. Then
the Beers put on other sCICws. 1t was
their evident purpose, not only to ruin
foreign holdings in the mines and pre-
vent further search for the precious
metals, but to eviCt the foreigners
| themselves, and taboo mining as a pur-
suit. The trend of their ambition was
toward a Chinese wall about their old
pastoral community. To be an isolated
| state, To have all the available wealth
of the land in nocks and herds; to keep
| foreigners out by means of unjust laws
and by diminishing the country's at
/ fractions to them-these We're the pol
| icies to which the Beers. led by old
| Paul Kruger were more or less openly
committed.
/ The time is past when any people can
! live in Robinson Crusoe fashion, con-
| trolling a part of the earth's service
which is needed by the rest of man
/ kind. While Japan was trying to do SO,
/ the Americans Numbered at her temple
gates, demanding entrance. The civil
| lied powers are now hammering away
at the Chinese Empire; Africa is being
/ forced open. Covetous eyes are turning
/ towards South America. OF the new
/ commercial policy: The world for the
1 worlds inhabitants" the powers are
showing a more than gradual accept.
ance, Give us the open door" That
is the demand even of our own cOun-
try.
The Beers wanted to shut their door,
and Great Britain, which had suzerain
rights there, insisted upon opening II
and has done so. 1t is to our interest
10 keep IL open. We may admire the
spirit of the burghers in their defense,
as We admired that Of the Indians who
got in our own way once upon a time,
and of the Filipinos, who are in our
way now. But Intervention is a widely
different matter. Saying nothing Of the
trouble IL might give us, 1t would be
shutting the door, and helping the
Beers segregate one of the treasure
houses of the world. Commercially
speaking, We cannot afford that. 1t Is
TO our interest To see the most, not the
least made of the splendid empire
which the Beers have numbered so lone
as herders OF cattle and hunters OF
game.
Let us hope that the ree-times-and
out rule may apply to the Pearl Har