The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-08-11
THE BoER BUSINESS.
The Now York Herald Correspond
emit Deals Frankly With It.


lessly outnumbered. The exact ra-
ito between the two armies cannot
be known, but moderate estimate
is eight to one. The capitals Of both
republics have long been in our
hands, General Cronje, with his
whole force, is a prisoner at ST.
Helena. General Joubert is dead.
The Free State has been regularly
and otherwise annexed. President
Kruger and President Steyn are
fugitives. Yet the war goes on as il
nothing had happened.
We do not seem to be within
measurable distances Of peace. This
temporary check will be speedily re-
trieved, and sooner or later the
Beers will be reduced to submission.
But how sooni How latei What
then2
Sir Edward Grey, who supports
the Governments policy OF war, has
said that any fool can annex. A
protest against annexation is being
signed by large number of emf
nent and influential Euglshmen
who are anything but fools. 1t will
be disregarded. Nr. Chamberlain
has committed the Government 10
the absorption OF the republics in
this Empire.
Possibility of Conquest Questioned.
But the longer the war lasts the
more anxious about the future do
thoughtful ones become. Can a
people who prefer death to servi-
tude be ever really subduedl Can
they be coerced into anything more
than sombre acquiescence, and not
be prolonged an hour morei
These questions may be put aside,
but they will recur General Botha
and General De Wet are very able
strategists. General De Wet was
said come time ago by the military
critics in this country TO have been
surrounded. The operation must
have been imperfect, for instead of
surrendering he now threatens Lord
Roberts communications. Some
believe this surprise and capture OF
the British squadron is part OF a
movement for occupying Preto-
ria. However that may be, it is con-
elusive proof that the Boer leaders
have not given up the game, and
that those who thought the war
over when Lord Roberts marched
into Pretoria have been living in a
fools paradise. Tactics have been
changed, but the struggle seems as
interminable as ever. Those who
prophesied smooth sailing are abso-
lutely diseredited.
Rhodes sagacity at Fault.
Lady Randolph Churchill has
published in the Anglo-Saxon Re-
view an amusing message sent by
Colonel Frank Rhodes at the end OF
last year to his brother Cecil at
Kimberley. Happy Christmas to
your it runs. "How completely
you have misunderstood the situa
tiopW
1t was Cecil Rhodes who said
that the armed strength OF the
Boer republics was the greatest un
pricked bubble in the world. There
then was a greater-namely, thu
practical sagacity OF Mr.. Rhodes
But Mr.. Rhodes was not the only
man who deceived himself ant
others about the war. Mr.. Cham
berlain was firmly convinced tina
President Kruger would never fight
The Boer ultimatum took him ant
the government completely by sur
prise. Naturally they made tn
most OF it. 1t was very stronl
card for them 10 play.
1t was a terrible blunder on tn
part OF the two Presidents il the
wished TO carry with them the sym
pathies of reasonable Englishmer
for no reasonable Englishmar
|. whatever he might think OF Nj
Chamberlain's policy or Sir Alire,
Miners diplomacy, could deny tina
the invasion of British territorie
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