New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-21
The SOUTH IFRICAN REPUBLiC.

The SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
Without doubt, the rebellion Of the Boer
Republic is an embarrassment to the CLAD
stone Government. For a Government I'M
troubled by any conscience or sense of justice
in its foreign relations, devoted to sham and
glitter, and reckless OF what is real and sub
stantial. the work Of indicating British arms
and honor would be simple indeed. few
regiments of well-disciplined and we'll
equipped British cavalry might easily sweep
the "pOor. stout, bIgoted. surly, liberty
loving Dutch farmers" from their homes,
which would henceforth be included IN
British territory; the Beers would once more
"trel:k,n leaving their little improvements to
be possessed by swarming British settlers |;
and to reach the climax of glory Victoria
might be crowned Empress OF South Africa.
But to achievements of this sort the present
Liberal Government and the great mass OF
liberty-loving Englishmen are not inclined.
1t has come to be well understood In
England that for many years the Dutch
natiOnalities in Africa have been shame
fully abused and the British Government
has been grossly imposed upon by Colonial
contractors and other designing intrlguers who,
desiring both war and annexation, have indus
triously illuminated the Dutch and misled
the remote Home Government INTO sanction
ing acts which, when thoroughly understood,
might well las The Pail Mall Gazette sayS
"make every Englishman Indignant
But the Transyaal, OF South African Re-
public, for many years recognized by the
Queen in solemn treaty as sister
nil
defence of its independence, has In adj
ditiOn been so unlucky as to gain
sundry small successes at the outset. Of
course, every essentially vulgar mind and heart
is convinced that the stain upon British honor
must be wiped away. And how can this be
accomplished except by more or less severely
beating and injuring these independent and
impudent farmersP After some exemplary
castigatiOn, when it can be no longer said that
Britons have Che worst of it, perhaps the
farmers can be let alone without any sacrifice
of British dignity.
The Liberal leaders are fully aware that this
feeling in England is strong enough to COM
pel respect. cit is impossible" telegrapbs the
Colonial Secretary to the Cape Governor,
"to consider an arrangement to confer free
" institutions on Cne DOerS uuJll Iuo uuIhUIlty
"of the Crown is vindicated." But is it not
in order to inquire whether the Crowns
authority to annex the Republic against the
will of the peOple-an authority seriously
questioned by the better opinion in England
should not first be vindicated in reason and by
facts after satisfactory investigation Was not
an insult to the true dignity of the Queen, when
her Government was deceived and practised
upon by adventures, and thereby betrayed
into the preparation of a national crime in
the capture of the Boer cOuntryf In the eyes
of upright men, not only in England, but the
world over, can that ihdignity be effaced in
any other way than by an utter uDdOing of
the WrOngP 1t is for the Gladstone Govern
ment to elect between the transient applause
which it will win from an unjust triumph
over feeble but patriotic people, and the
permanent honor and advantage which always
come from the fair and honest, not TO say
the liberal treatment of q struggling Republic.
1t certainly would not be matter to be de-
plored if Great Britain could be induced to
furnish q practical illustration OF its belief
that it is righteousness which eXalts a nation,