The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-06-07
The End of the War.

IF reports are to be credited, the war
in South Africa is already over. Even
if the news is premature it is only
matter of very short time before the
surrender of the Beers must take
place. It is the old story of might
triumphant. Notwithstanding their
unconquerab1e valor and unquench-
able love of independence, the Beers
are compelled to capitulate 10 1nsur-
mountab1e odds and unlimited re-
sources. They do so, however, only
when surrender is all there is left and
after a struggle that challenges the
worlds admiration. When the war
was declared the ma jestic British lion
was going to take 1eisurely stroll
into South Africa, take Xmas dinner
in the Executive mansion at Pretoria,
and return to his lair with the South
African Republics pinnedGto the lapel
OF his coat. But the task proved quite
unlike what was expected. The strug-
gle continued through 231 days, and
cost the British Empire more than
billion dollars besides the ipca1cu1able
loss of nearly 10000 men. Against
the little army of $4,000 Beers 1t had
to throw into the field quarter of
million troops. It summoned to service
it's most slki11fu1 generals. In fact, in
stead of subjugating the Boer Repub-
lies by a dress parade into South At
RIGA as it boasted, the British Empire
was forced to make strenuous exer-
ton. 1t accomplished it's purpose, but
not without a mighty effort and a
serious shock to it's nervous system.
Now thac the British Empire has
won it's cause, what is to be the result?
However ardent1y one may have be-
1ieved the British wrong in their
course of action, and however sincerely
he may have contended for the right
of the Boer to enjoy his independence
untrame1ed and without interference
from outside, one cannot believe that
the Boer, or the world at large, will be
any the worse for the change in the
status of affairs in South Africa. Wha
ever else may be said of Great Britain
it cannot be affirmed that whenever, in
the past 100 years, she has extended
her dominion it has been opposed to
the interests of civilization, or to the
detriment, morally, mentally, or
materially of those Immediately con-
cerned. We regret the loss, after so
heroic a struggle in it's defense, of the
independence Of the South African
Republics; we believe that the spirit
that prompted and carried to it's per-
feet completion, the overthrow of these
republics was both unwarranted and
uniustifab1e, but we do not believe
that under the new regime the Beers
will enjoy any less of civil liberty than
under their republican form of gov
eminent. In accordance with Lord
Sa1isbury's statement, "Not a shred of
their former independence shall re-
MAIN, their present systems will,
probably, all be abolished. They will
be developed along new lines. One of
the numerous forms of British colonial
government will be put upon them,
best adapted to their needs. Owing to
certain wise and conservative acts on
the part of President Kruger and the
manifest sentiment of the people of all
nations it is more than likely that the
most generous terms possible will be
granted to the vanquished. But, after
ali, these considerations cannot console
people for the loss of independence.
They only sa1ve the conscience of the
British government and satisfy the
philosopher of manifest destiny.