Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-10-08
THE GRO WNING DISASTER
OF ZULULAND.

DtCn tlluS VIII ii dSSuI-
ance that it will never be repeated. 1t
was known in London recently that the
Zulu King was in British hands. He
was taken on the 2Sth of August by a
detachment of dragons under COM
mand of Major Marter The capture
of Cetewayo, more completely than
that of Napoleon III. at Sedan, ends
the war. For the Zulu monarch was
not only the chief warrior of his ma
ton, but its master spirit in tactics
and policy. His star has now no
doubt set forever, and his picturesque
figure with its cloak of leopard skin,
his crimson sash and eagle plumes will
brave the field no more
The war has lasted only eight
months, but it has been an eventful
one 1t has been what was so much
talked of here now nearly twenty years
ago, but not entirely realized-"s "short,
sharp and decisive.' The terrible bat
tie of Isandula was fougt on the 21st
of January, and was most disastrous
to the English arms. When the news
arrived in New York the EUening
Post predicted as a sure result of the
Zulu victory the utter overthrow of
the Zulu power. 1t required no great
wisdom to make such a prophecy
Precedent and experience warranted
none other. But considering the pro-
digious disparity of the belligerent
forces then confronting each other, and
the vast difficulties of the transport
service for an invader, the Zulu col
lapse has been wonderfully sudden.
When to these considerations are added
the splendid fighting qualities of the
Zulus, the uncommon ability with which,
for the most part, they were handled,
and the extensive areas covered in the
campaign, it is impossible to deny that
the English should be credited with a
brilliant achievement.
In strictness the English had no
business in Zululand at all-no more,
and recollecting conterminous terri
torial qualifications, not so much bust
ness as we have in the hunting
grounds of our Western Indian tribes.
But once there the English. attitude
and demands have been just and
humane. They asked that the indis-
criminate infiction of the death pen
atty should be modified among the
Zulus and that Cetewayo should intro
duce trial by jury. He at first re-
fused, then consented, and finally broke
in act the compact he had made in
words. In July of last year a body
Of his troops invaded Natal, seized
some refugee women who bad fled
from Zululand, took them back home
again and executed them. The Eng
lish authorities demanded the sur
render of the leaders of this invading
force. The Zulu king refused, and war
was the consequence. The battle Of
Isandula made Cetewayo and his war
riors believe themselves invincible. 1t
also compelled the English to make
the war conclusive. A large part of
the British force was annihilated on
that fatal day, and the commander,
Lord Chelmsford, was obliged to flee
precipitately across the Tugela River.
The outcry that followed this dis
aster was bitter and persistent. A
demand for the removal of Lord
Chelmsford arose and was hotlypressed
bv several Of the most influential
Of the London journals. The Queen,
however, stood the firm friend Of that
officer, whose gratitude TO his royal
protector should be unbounded; for
she not only stood between him and
disgrace, but enabled him to redeem
himself handsomely afterward by win
ming the decisive battle of Ulundi.
This was done at some risk and some
cost. While the home Government
refused under royal pressure to remove
Lord Chelmsford they took the quail
fed step, with certain limitations as
regards time, Of superseding him. We
may be excused for recalling that on
the tidings reaching New York of the
defeat of Isandula the EUening Post
at once suggested and foreshadowed
the sending to the seat Of war Of Sir
Garnet WoIseley. This step was soon
after taken, and Sir Garnet followed
heavy reinforcements to the Cape. BY
making a smart push for Ulundi and
throwing his army into a position
to fight four times its number Of the
enemy, Lord Chelmsford was able to
anticipate his practical supercession as
director Of the campaign and to gain
the victory that at once redeemed his
personal credit and the honor of the
British arms
The conflict thus ended will prac-
tically bring a new and extensive tract
Of the earth under civilized laws
Whatever the rights Of the quarrel at
the outset, the end thus compassed
must be called a good one. Not many
generations ago men were hanged in
England for stealing loaves Of bread,
and for offences not less trivial capital
punishment has been repeatedly in
hicted by Cetewayo up to the present
time The notifications for which the
British went to war will now be en-
forced, and consequent ameliorating
influence will extend among other
savage tribes further north and toward
the interior Of Africa. If we regard
the overthrow Of the Zulus as the act
Of an aggressive and superior power,
whose only right in South Africa is
the right Of the stronger, what has
been done must certainly appear to be
a piece Of rank injustice but if we
regard it as step unavoidable at some
time and in some way in the regenera-
ton Of continent and for extending
over it in due season the blessings OF
Christian civilization, the verdict Of
necessity must be a far different one.
The death Of the young heir to the
Bonapartes is often spoken Of as a
most useless and therefore doubly la
mentable sacrifice, and if his blood is
reckoned to have been poured out in
the first cause we name the stigmatiza-
ton may he accurate enough ; while
Al