The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-22

1t is only within q few days that
the American public has been in
formed of the barbarous conduct of
the British government in South
Africa. Even now the information is
general and vague. But of the diaboli-
cal character of this conduct there is
no longer room for question, says The
Public of Chicago. The cruel treat
ment of the American patriots by
George Ill, in the last century was
almost benevolent in comparison with
the treatment of the Beers by the tory
government of Great Britain to-day.
1t began with the demand of Lord
Salisbury for unconditional surrender
Not willing to make terms of peace
when the Beers offered the olive
branch, he insisted upon the extinc
ton of their republics. And when they
refused submission to this inperious
demand, declaring that they would
fight till the last man had gone down,
he copied the methods of Spain in
determination. In February Lord Rob
erts, commanding in South Africa,
had issued proclamation announcing
the entry of the British into the Or
angc Free State, warning the inhabi-
tants to desiSt from further hostility
toward Great Britain promising i'm
munity to those who had taken up
arms pursuant to the orders of the
government. provided they resumed
their ordinary occupations, and threat
cning all who might oppose his com
mand or give aid or encouragement to
their own people with military punish
mcnt. His next step was to offer to
all who had not taken prominent
part against the British, safe conduct
to their homes provided they would
lay down their arms and take the
British oath of allegiance. That was
in March. Thus far Lord Roberts had
done no more, possibly, than by Il
stretch of military authority he might
have done in any country he had in
vadcd; though 1t is safe to assume
that il he had invaded France or Ger
many he would not have intimatcd Il
purpose to punish Frcnchmcn or Ger
mans for having fought under their
own flag or for refusing to take an
oath of allegiance to Great Britain.
But in May lie took q long stride In
the direction of that policy which JUS
titles President Kruger in describing
the British as barbarlans. Under or
proclaimed to the inhabitants Of the
| Transvaal that If wanton damage
were done to property, not only would
the actual perpetrators Of such acts,
and all directly implicated in them be
liable to the most severe punishment
in person and property, but "the prop
erty of all persons, whether in author
| ity or otherwise, who have permitted,
or who have not done their utmost to
prevent, such wanton damage, will be
liable to be confiscatcd and de-
strOyed."
In June still more drastic measures
were taken. Lord Roberts then issued
a proclamation making what he called
"principnl residents" personally liable
for all damage to railways, telcgraphs
and public buildings in their rcspec-
tive towns and districts. He also al-
thoriZcd the selection from time to
time from each district of Il principal
resident" to ride upon railroad trains
through districts where attacks were
anticipated upon the railroad by Boer
raiders, thus compelling unoffcndng
non -combatants to expose themselves
to death. Moreover, wherever Bocr
raiders did damage. the houses and
farms in the vicinity were to be de-
stroycd and the ncighboring residents
to be dealt with under martial law.
Pursuant to those prOclamatlOnS DtlSl-
ness men who have never taken part
in the war. directly or indirectly, have
been forced by British military officers
to ride back and forth upon endan-
gcrcd railway trains, and the families
of farmers in the region of Dc Vets
attacks upon British lines of cOmmu-
nication--pcOplc who were not respon-
siblc for his raids and could not have
stopped them If they would-havc
been driven off their farms, theI1
homes being given TO the flames.
This cruel policy became more cruc
still as the hope Of conquering tht
Beers died down, and for months the
floodgates of British barbarity have
been opened wide. On the 9th OF
July a British army captain, acting