The Grit-advocate., 1900-06-01
HE DEPLORES GREED OF THE
BRITISH EMPIRE.
Aistory. He Says, shows No Mors
Memorable Fight Than the Ppsssna
Wsr-ssys Victory Over Bosrs WIN
H . Moral Defeat

posltlon IN Ox1ord University In order
that he might live in Canada, has re-
Gently returned from a European trip
and has given his views on the Boer
war.
None Of my English friends" he
says. has ever doubted what would
be the issue Of a war in which the en-
tire forces of the British Empire were
opposed to those of population not
half as large as the population of Liv-
erpool. The Beers have put into the
field decrepitude and childhood. They
have no reserves. We shall win, and,
having won, we shall, too, probably.
reap in the judgment of posterity
measure of the same glory which we
reaped by the burning of Joan OF Arc.
We shall be fortunate If we escape the
guilt of opening an era of unscrupu-
lous rapacity and violence which might
throw back for century the progress
OF moral civilization.
"A civilian can have nothing to say
about this dispute as to the conduct OF
our generals. The generals were dis
tinguished men. The British soldier
has shown his wonted valor. Canadian
and Australian have fought gallantly
at his side. Our military administra-
tion seems also to have really done
well and put into the field with strik-
ing rapidity an unexpected amount of
force. But besides the difficulties of
the country, we have encountered in
our enemy moral force on which we
did not reckon and which escaped the
discernment Of Cecil Rhodes. We have
encouraged in its greatest intensity
that enthusiastic patriotism which
turns the sluggard's blood to fame.
Can history show more memorable
fight for independence than that made
by the Boer? Does 1t yield to that
made by Switzerland against Austria
and Burgundy, or that made by the
Tyrolese under Hofer? The Boer gets
no pay; no comforts and luxuries are
provided for him by fashionable soci-
ETY.; he can look forward to no medals
or pensions; he voluntarily endures the
utmost hardships Of war; his disci-
pline, though unforced, seems never
to fail. Boys of sixteen-a correspond
ent at the Cape tells me even at four
teen-take the rifle from the hand Of
the mother, who remains to pray Tor
them in her lonely home, and stand be-
side their grandsires to face the mur-
derous artillery of modern war. A
newspaper correspondent the other day
saw a boy Of sixteen lying mangled
on the field. and saying: 1T does not
hurt much; only am SO thirsty
Rude, narrow minded, fanatical in
their religion, these men may be; 80
were the old Scotch Calvnists; so
have been some of the noblest wild
stocks of humanity; but surely they
are not unworthy to guard nation.
"Ax on shoulder the Beers twice
went out to make for themselves
home in the wilderness where they
might live their own life. Who had a
right to take it from them? Her Brit
annie majesty did NOT create Africa.
There is too much truth in the saying
that this is the second jameson raid.
It makes me sad to think into what
hands my country has fallen
Sacred Fires of India
The sacred fires OF India have not
all been extinguished. The most an
cient which still exists was conse-
Grated twelve centuries ago in COM
memoration of the voyage made by
the Parsees when they emigrated from
Persia to India The fire is FED nve
Dfimes every two hours with sandal
wood and other fragrant Materials
combined with very dry fuel.