The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-01


The collapse Of the war In South
Africa has come with startling swift
ness and completeness. The inevitable
has been In sight for some weeks past.
but expectation fastened upon long
and desperate struggle In the dinicui'
country about and beyond the Wall
river. Pretoria was capable OF making
! stout reslstance. Fortified as II was.
the Beers, fighting as they fought In
the earlier campaigns In Natal. might
have held out even against overwhelm-
Ing odds for days or weeks and made
the final act OF the war It's bloodiest
record. They have chosen the wiser
part Of accepting certain defeat with
out Ne fearful price
Unless made desperate by unspeak-
able wrongs. or In terror OF tate
scarcely less tolerable than death
awaiting them, a whole people Will not
immediate itself for a principle. 1t IL
asking too much Of human nature. Ever
since the British army began Its terrible
advance, sweeping the country with
m,shty arc az Irresistible as a wall OF
living name. the Boers have looked fate
IN the face. BY the most desperate
vslor they could not hope to conquer.
only TO postpone the sure event That
delay they must purchase by the Of
fering OF their lives. their fortunes and
the future of their families The choice
which they have made does not reflect
upon valor that they have proved so
gioriousiy. 1t is a sorrowful but not
humiiiating part. II Is the election Of
wisdom.
Might has prevailed There is no need
now to stir again the controversy over
the issues that precipitated this most
unhappy conflict. We may render To
the vanauished the tribute that all the
world pays gladly To love Of independ
enoe and Ia intrepid courage. These
little states have made such resist
aEce as even their enemies respect and
praise. and history vii, match II with
the famous deeds OF ancient DAYS. In
that they have been forced to submit to
the rule OF another power. and must re-
main colonies ~ the empire. with their
sreat dream OF separate nationality
shattered forever. they win have and
d. have the sympathy OF millions.
Fate has brought 10 them. however.
nothing which they as freeman need to
dread, Their conqueror Ia, next TO the
Unised States. the treest and falreSt ma
tlon IN the world No pains and pen
aities We may boIleye. VIII be visited
upon them that DO violence O. honor.
They viii have 10 bear heavy burdens
OF taxation. always the price " unsuc-
eesstul resistance But they will not
become vass5is. nor will the liberties 81
common citizenship be taken away from
them They Will stand on the same
fQ0iing as the Eugishman An tn, So
euritles aud privileges that are covered
~ NAFN fAHktlNN NAA VIII W AufNH bFtk
rlga,S are guaranteed, aud equality be
fore the law viii be givcr 60 them as n
is to thc people og Australia, of Canada.
Of every colony ~ the empire Remem
betjug the restrictions of their former
government. the measure ~ the lnai-
Niduars liberty will b., except for the
name OF the imperial authority above
him. greater than u was before
knowledge II these two facts the im-
possibility ~ continued resistance. the
amellorailons al surrender has ended
the South African war almost blood
isssly In its last STAGES The men in the
ranks, who had proved their logged
courage and their splendid tactics
against the best troops and the ablest
generals Of Great Britain. could not be
brought TO face the enemy again AMI
fling away their lives bootless sacri-
ice. Even their leaders. We may ne.
Lave. were 10th TO lead them 20 a
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