The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-12

generally understood by Cecil Rhodes
was not calculated to inspire tn1
Boers with much confidence IN the
good intentions Of England, partlc-
ularlv when this great outrage met
,vitb a punishment so grossly inadequate
as 10 suggest that the English govern
ment had no other regret than that the
raid was a failure. II might wei Dc
conceded that the Transvaal government
* AS WiberaI and as 'unprogresslve as
The Times supposes il 70 be, and yet II
seems 10 me e is a Tar cry from that sup
position TO the proposition that England
may overthrow the government by force
NAV carry fire and sword into the terri
torv OF a comparatively weak ana de-
fenseless people. ..,.
strength. but it is tyrannous to use II
like a giant"
ybcre seems no good reason for be-
Ieving that the motive OF this war IS the
propacation Of liberal ideas and the eN-
tension Of the blessings Of a higher CIVIL
cation Cecil Rhodes. possibly honest and
patriotlc but cool, calculating without
the restraints Of any sort or rehslous
conviction and dominated by the loea
OF English supremacy in South AFRICA
Chamberlain. in many respects man
eiusdem generis, and the London stock
iobbers. have had far more 70 do with
bringing on this war than any enllghten-
ed policy TO amcliorate the condition OF
the South African Republic Indeed IL
does not seem too much 10 say thaJ. the
motive for this, war may be expressed IN
three words: lust for gold. For such
, motive as this England has thrust aside
s.fF go nh
called HIGHER civilization should have
taught her. and has deliberately tTdmpled
under foot that Justice which one OF her
own greatest statesmen has said rs itself
the great standing policy Of civil society
In her appeal 10 brute force, she has
no claims on our sympathies-not that
wav lies the course Of true progress. She
has turned her face 20 the setting rather
than 20 the rising sun, and desregardins
She principles OF love. mercy and justice,
which Christianity enjoins, she Us ACTING
on the old medieval rule 1nat he may
take who can. and he may hold who has
the power"
Her conduct seems all the more inde-
feasible. because 81 was unnecessary. In
the opinion of many OF her own states
men. she is not only criminal but Is COM
hitting what we are told Is worse than
a crime. "a political blunder' The con-
dition of things in the Transvaal country
was such that British supremacy through
merciful agencies might reasonably have
been expected in the not distant future
wise and prudent craftsmanship would
have accomplished more than the harsh
measures of Mr.. Chamberlain. and the
concessions which President Kruger was
willing 20 grant might have been wisely
used 90 hasten the result. The Uitanders
In the Transvaal country outnumbered
the voting population among the Beers.
Had England accepted the concession to
reduce the term required for naturaliza-
ton 10 five years, and encouraged her
people 90 become citizens, She would i'm
4U human probability have obtained an.
and more than an that she can hope 10
win by "a horrible war The English and
the Beers mainly constitute the white
population not only Of the Transvaal Re
public. but Of Natal. Cape Colony and
other parts Of South Africa. Surely am
enlightened policy ought 10 suggest 90
England the duty of establishing har-
mony and unity between these two races.
rather than through war 10 inhame race
anlmOsities that may continue for gener-
ations. j. seems obvious that the English
government left no way open TO the Beers
for a peaceful and honorable solution OF
the matter in dispute. The only alterna-
tive was war or submission.
JOHN HUNTER.