Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-03-10
NEUTRALITY.


The interview accorded TO the Boer
Commissioners at Washington, ana
had both in the White House and the
State Department on the 9th instant,
was short and very chilly. The rep
resentatives were given short shrift
in the few minutes allotted to them
and were told with emphasis that this
government could and would do moth
ing for them No intimation was gwen
to them of any sympathy with their
cause. nor was there a suggestion OF
n disposition on our part TO help them,
or to use our good offices In the way OF
ayerting the complete destruction or
the independence of the two republics,
now impending, or OF resculng the
feeble remnant Of their people from
the determination which the British
War Office seems to have determined
upon. The conference had a distinct
air of unfriendliness, and was so evi-
IDENTIFY irksome to our officials that 1t
was terminated in the briefest time
within which frosty reception could
do its work.
The representatives of the Transvaal
have been given to understand also
that the shipments Of horses to the
British armies now ravaging their
country would not be interfered with
by our government, and this was put
upon the ground, as reported In the
newspapers, that horses are not con
traband of war, and hence that it Is
not our duty as n neutral power to
Z hinder the traffic.
The last British blue book contains
information upon this subject which
would arouse anxious inquiry in any
heart less calloused than that of John
Hay, as to the responsibility resting
upon us as government and n people
for the dreary tragedy of humanity,
so long drawn out In South Africa,
and now about to close. 1t appears
that the horses required to furnish
mounts" for Lord Kitchener have
reached the astounding number OF
10000 each month. II is certain thu,
since the war began more than l80,,
900 horses and mules have perished
on the British side. OF these not loss
than $4,000, and probably far more
have been shipped from New Orleans
q professedly neutral harbor. Without
the use Of this neutral market, 1t IL
within bounds to say that Great Br
tain never could subdue either tn,
Transvaal or the Orange Free State
1t follows therefore, that the United
States Is morally responsible, II 1t hat
the right to prevent these shipments
for the subjugaton of two republics
now about completed, and for thu
cruel policy of starvation and disease
which in the later months Of the strug
gle has been so relentlessly enforced
That these immense cargoes OF
horses were being sent to South Africa
for agricultural, or any other peace
full, purpose, Is not pretended. Tha
all of them are directly destined 70,
the British armies In tho field is knowl
TO us all. and to no one better thar
John Hay That their purchase ant
shipment have been made under tn,
supervision of the British War Office
has not been concealed from any one
So that unless with those facts an
parent, our government was disabled
from permitting these supplies to G,
forward to their military destination
for known and avowed military pur
poses, we are not guiltless OF blood
and that in no stinted measure.
Mr.. Hay says that horses. shippe,
under such circumstances. are not con
traband OF war, and that hence h
stands charged with no duty Of OF
etructiDg the traffic.
Let us examine this proposition 70
moment
ON May 18th, 1861. Great Britain
she was not Our good friend an
ally" then, nor was there state,
mems understanding" between us
issued her proclamation giving TO Ie
ferson Davis's government beligerer
rights. We thought IL an unfrlendl
and Injurious act at the time, an
promised To remember II; but let ths
pass. This manifesto forbade an
breaches Of the neutrality laws on Ii