The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-03-16

esty'S authority in South Africa and
of setting UP an administration oyer
all OF South Africa independent of her
majesty's government, we consider it
our duty TO solemnly declare that this
war was undertaken solely as de-
fensiye measure to maintain the threat
ened Independence of the South Afri-
can Republic, and is only continued liz
order to secure and maintain the in
conteStable independence OF both re-
publics as sovereign International states
and to obtain the assurance that those
OF her majesty's subjects who have
taken part with us III this war shall
suffer no harm whatever in person or
property
Ion these conditions-but on these
conditions alone-are we n0waS in the
past, DESTROYS of seeing peace re-
established in South Africa; while if
her majesty's government is deter
ined to destroy the independence OF
the republics 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-
eminence of the British empire we are
confident that that God who lighted
l1iC u1iCA lILIS tllSIidDIC 1LC VI AONC vi
freedom in the hearts of ourselves and
of our fathers will not forsake US and
will accomplish His work in us and in
our descendants.
"We hesitated to make this declara-
ton 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
q declaration might hurt the feelings
and honor of the British people. But
now that the prestige of the British
empire may be considered to be as
sured by the capture Of one Of Oh"
forces by her majesty's troops, and
that we have thereby been forced to
eyacuate other positions which our
forces had occupied, that difficulty is
over, and we can no longer hesitate to
clearly inform your government and
people in the sight Of the whole civil
lied world, why we are fighting and on.
what conditions we are ready to re-
store peace"
SALISBURY RECITES HISTORY
But VIII Not Assent to the Demand of the
Boer President.
In reply to the foregoing Premier
Salisbury sent the following:
Foreign Office, March Ill have
the honor to acknowledge your honors'
telegram, dated March ), from Bloem-
fontein, of which the purport is prin-
cipally to demand that her majestys
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 q 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
naent and the South African Repub-
Iic, of which the object was to obtain
redress 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 maiesty's govern
ment, made considerable ornaments,
and the latter had consequently taken
oACD " JA Wv INlS tOi ICO DOIiNtlII3 tSII-
forcements of the British garrisons at
Cape Town and in Natal
mo infringement Of the rights guar
anteed by the conventions had, up to
that point, taken place on the British
side, Suddenly, at two days notice,
the South African republic after is
suing an insulting ultimatum, declared
war upon her majesty; and the Orange
Free State, with whom there had nos
even been any discussion, took q SINH
lar step. Her majesty's d0minions
We're Immediately invaded by the two
republics. Siege was laid to three
towns within the British frontier, a
large portion Of two colonies was
0yerrun with great destruction of prop
erty and life, ard the republics claimed
to treat the inhabitants of extensive
portions of her majesty's dominions SIS
if those dominiOns had been annexed
to one or the other Of them.
I'm anticipation Of these operations
the South African republic had been
accommodating for many years past
military stores OH an enormous scale,
which by their character could only
have been intended for use against
Great Britain. Your hOnors make some
OOSSI ' dJIOllS Oh negative character
upon the object with which these
preparations were made. I do not
think it necessary to discuss the ques-
tons you have raised. But the result
Of these preparations, carried Oh with
great secrecy, has been that the British
empire has been compelled to confront
an invasion which has entailed upon
the empire a costly war and the loss
Of thousands OF precious lives.
'NThis great calamity has been the
penalty Great Britain has suffered for
having of recent years acquiesced in
the existence of two republics In
view OF the uses to which the two re-
publics lave put the position which
was given them, and the calamities
their unproyoked attacks have infict-
ed on her majasty's domini0ns, her
majesty's government can only an
sWer your bonors' telegram by saying
1o4