The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-02-08

SMMS BRITAIN. snnSN-
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WV - AND THE BOER. wv


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Not since the days of Napoleon has
Britain been engaged'in war that has
aroused so much comment and ap
parently more vital Importance to the
Empire, than her present struggle in
South Africa She has the largest army
that perhaps ever left her shores, en-
gagged six thousand miles distant, now
commanded by her most famous fight
er Lord Roberts, of Kandahar. That
so large all army and so noted com
mander are engaged, must assure the
world that Britain is not only in
earnest, but that, against whatever
reverseS till this date she has received,
she intends to carry the issue to the
end. On the other hand the BOer
army (Which so far have carried the
honOrs of the war; is apparently the
best one that Britain has faced since
the days of Inkerman, Alma, and
Sebastopol
That the ultimate result of this war
will be the adoption of the Transvaal
as a British colony, no one seems to
dispute. No nation but must expect
reverses, and must be prepared for
such. The greatness of nation at
war lays in the quick recuperation
from defeat, returning with greater
strength to further and severer prose.
cution.
While this slaughter goes on, and so
much sympathy expressed for the vic
tOrious side, perhaps it would be we'll
to look at the history of both countries
and view impartially the facts, and
then arrive at the issue of this conflict.
Here are facts as we find them in
authentic records.
In 1901 the British discovered Cape
Colony and landed. The Portuguese
having held it by right of discovery for
100 years prior to that date.
In 1895 the Dutch discovered it, but
did not land.
In 1852 the Dutch came again, land
ing S6 people.
In 1856 some French Huguenots,
fleeing from the civil and religious
discord of France, Joined the Dutch
colonists-pOssibly this accounts for
the wonderful farmer, General Jonbert
In 1875 the British destroyed the
Dutch fleet and took possession of the
Cape.
In 1902 the British by treaty restored
the country to the Dutch.
In 1906 the British again came into
possession, as the fruits of conquest,
and in 1914 paid the Dutch S3O,OOO,OOO,
taking a quit claim forever.
In 1884 the British abolished the
Boer system of slavery, paying to the
owners on the basis of a valuation
similar to that obtained in the West
India Islands, S6,OOO,OOO. Some 10000
Beers bitterly opposed to an enlght-
ened and progressive civilization that
denied the right of man to hold
property in man, moved or trekked
across the Orange River to land occu-
pied by the Zulus, with whom they
had incessant warfare for the follow
ing thirteen years.
In 1848, the Beers we'll nigh exhaust
ed, asked Britain to come to their
rescue. Britain did so; restored peace
and order, thus permanently founding
the Orange Free State; then withdrew.
Some Beers still dissatisfied with any
government savouring of British ni
ative, again trekked across the Vaal
River, founding the Transvaal republic.
Up to 1875 the Beers of the Trans
vaal maintained constant warfare with
the native tribes, until becoming polit-
ically and financially demoralized,
they again petitioned Britain to come
to their assistance, the price agreed on
being Britain's control of the territory.