New-York tribune., 1900-05-31
PRETORIA-AND THE END.

Yesterday Johannesburg To-day Pretoria.
So rapid is the elimination of incidents at the
close Of the Transvaal war. There appears to
be- at the hour when these lines are written
sufficient reason for believing that the British
army has taken possession OF the Iransvaal
capital that the Transvaal President is a fugi-
tive, and that the British Commander In Chief
is at this moment debating the conditions
can scarcely say terms-of peace. Before these
lines reach our readers complete official con-
flrmation of this news. already confidently as
serted may be at hand. In any case there is
scarcely shadow of human possibility that it
will ne long delayed The fate Of Johannes
burg too clearly foretod the fate of Pretoria
and Of the whole Transvaal
The fall of Pretoria must end the war, as
war. We said yesterday that the fall Of
johannesburg should do so. The two incidents,
coming almost simultaneously, leave no decent
pretext for continuance Of the struggle No
man. not even the most rabid Anglophobe. can
nationally expect the Beers TO retrieve such
losses and win the war. Nor can any with
the least shadow of reason look for foreign
intervention in the Beers behalf. In such cir
cumstances, and with their capital seized and
their Government scattered in flight, Beers who
persisted in hostilities would come dangerously
near degenerating into brigandage. That is
about all war is when waged without organiZa-
ton. And when waged without expectation Of
success merely for the sake of useless reprisals
war verges closely upon mere murder. We can
not believe the Beers will resort to such tactics.
They have hitherto fought vaantly. and for
the most part according TO the principles which
govern civilized nations; though it can scarcely
escape notice that the pugnacity Of the Trans
vaalers has greatly waned since the war was
trop ha TranSyaal
SOIL No end of their struggle could be more
fitting than a manly confession OF defeat and
acceptance Of its results.
1t cannot properly be deemed too partial an
utterance to express satisfaction with the news
and hope that it may prove to be correct
That is not to exult in the discontinue of the
Beers but merely to rejoice in the ending Of a
| conflict the result of which has long been as
certain as anything in worldly affairs can easily
be. 1t is to be glad that there is to be no more
bloodshed, prolongation of the sufferings that
| have been imposed upon the South African
States both British and Boer. The truest
| friends of the Beers and those who have most
| strongly desired their triumph, must agree with
| us that IL the British conquest and is
inevitable the sooner it is accomplished the
| better. 1t is neither good good
| morals to fight against the inevitable just for
the sake Of fighting and doing all possible harm.
! And we are inclined TO think that the vast
majority, even Of Boer sympathizers, will fur
| ther agree that British success has for some
| time been completely assured.
The end is at hand. Now let the best be
made Of 1t. And if both Briton and Boer enter
upon the duties of peace with as much practical
| desire for concilaton as there was bitterness in
the entry upon war that best may prove to be
! very good indeed.