Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-14
WEDNESDAY,
in this war shall suffer no harm what

in this war shall suffer no harm what
ever in person or property.
"On these conditions, but on these
conditions alone, are we now, as in the
past, DESTROYS of seeing peace re-estab-
lished in South Africa, while, If her
Majesty's government is determined
to destroy the independence of the re-
publics there is nothing left to us and
to our people, but to persevere to the
end in the course already begun. In
spite of the overwhelming pre-emi-
hence of the British empire we are
confident that that God who lighted
the unextinguishable fire of love of
freedom in the hearts of ourselves
and of our fathers will not forsake us
and will accomplish His work in us
and in GU; descendants. We hesitated
to make this declaration earlier to
your excellency as we feared that as
long as the advantage was always
on our side and as long as our forces
held defensive positions far within
Her Majesty's colonies such declar-
alton might hurt the feelings and
honor of the British people. But now
1Alot tAO IA Cotl6O VI tnO LII itioh OA1pii Y
may be considered to be assured by
the capture of one of our forces by
Her Majesty's troops and that we have
thereby been forced to evacuate other
positions which our forces had occu-
pied that difficulty is over and we can
no longer hesitate to clearly inform
your government and people in the
sight of the whole civilized world,
why we are fighting and on what con-
ditions we are ready to restore peace"
The Marquis of Salisbury to the pres
idents of the South African republic
and the Orange Free State:
Foreign Office, March Ill have
the honor to acknowledge your honors
telegram dated March 5 from Bloem-
fontein, of which the purport is prin-
cipally to demand that her majesty's
government shall recognize the incon-
testable independence of the South
African Republic and Free State as
sovereign international states and to
offer on those terms to bring the war
to conclusion.
In the beginning of October last
peace existed between her majesty and
the two republics under conventions
which then were in existence. A dis
cussion had been proceeding for some
months between her majesty's govern
ment and the South African republic,
of which the object was to obtain re-
dress for certain very serious griev-
ances under which the British resi-
dents in South Africa were suffering.
In the course of these negotiations, the
South African republic, had, to the
knowledge of her majesty's govern
ment, made considerable ornaments,
and the latter had consequently taken
steps to provide corresponding REIN
forcements for the British in Cape
Town and Natal.
'No infringements of the rights
guaranteed by the conventions had, up
to that point, taken place on the Brit
ish side. Suddenly, at two days no.
tice, the South African republic, af-
ter issuing an insulting ultimatum.
declared war upon Her Majesty; and
the Orange Free State, with whom
there had not even been any discus
sion, took a similar step. Her Ma
jestys dominions were Immediately
invaded by the two republics. Siege
was laid to three towns within the
British frontier, a large portion of
two colonies was Overrun, with great
destruction of property and life, and
the republics claimed to treat the in
habitants of extensive portions OF
Her Majesty's dominions as if those
dominionS had been annexed to one
or the other of them. In anticipation
of these operations, the South African
republic had been accommodating for
many years past military stores on an
enormous scale, which, by their char
acter, could only have been intended
for use against Great Britain.
Your honors make some observa-
lions of negative character upon the
object with which these preparations
were mcse. l don't think it necessary
to discuss the questions you have
raised. But the result of these prepa-
rations, carried on with great secrecy,
has been that the British empire has
been compelled to confront an invasion
which has entailed upon the empire
costly war and the loss of thousands
of precious lives. This great calamity
has been the penalty Great Britain
has suffered for having of recent
years acquiesced to the existence of
two republics. In view of the use to
which the two republics have put the
position which has given them and the
calamities their unprovoked attacks
have inflicted on Her Majesty's domin-
ions, Her Majesty's government can
only answer your Honors' telegram by
saying that they are not prepared to
assent to the independence either of
the South African republic or the
Orange Free State"
The kilograms from Presidents Kru-
ger and Steyn, to the Marquis of Sails
bury, were read in both Houses of Par
lament to-day and the concluding
paragraph of the British Premier's re-
ply, saying Her Majesty's government
is not prepared to assent to the indie
pendence either of the South African
republic of the Orange Free State,
elected prolonged cheers.
WERE PROBABLY POLYGAMISTS
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