The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-03

she calls rebels? has become very
important question.
They may be divided into four
classes-the ringleaders, those taken
in arms. those who make voluntary
surrender otherwise than on the field
of battle, and those who creep back
to their farms without going through
any formality.
The persons coming under the first
| TWO categories, those who have melted
| a district to rise or have plundered the
| farms OF loyal farmers or have commit
| ted diShonOrabie acts of war, may be
neid to deserve severe treatment
whether surrendering or taken in arms
| for insurrecton has led to all kinds OF
misery and destruction. Moreover, ii
may seem most desirable to distin-
guish between this class and the other
But those who wish to make their
peace, whether formally or not, may
be sternly directed to remain on their
farms, working at their ordinary busi-
ness, until the Queens pleasure shall
be made known to them.
This policy, | understand, is practi-
cally adopted in Cape Colony, but in
Natal. where there is great loyalist
majority, who feel very bitterly toward
their neighbors, who have assisted to
bring evils upon the land" more Sc
we're treatment is apparently desired d.
cannot help thinking that this
would be IA mistake because for one
surrendering rebel handcuffed and put
in jail ten desperate men will resolve
to fight to the bitter end with the
Beers.
The British should not try for their
pound of flesh, but only to bring about
a speedy and permanent peace.
A proclamation tending to encour-
age deSertions from the Republican
armies similar TO that issued by Lord
Roberts might be effective here. Many
Natal Dutch farmers are anXious.y
watching the treatment those who sur
render receive, unmoved alike by loyal
passions or impractical sentiment.
The British Government must eStab-
lish a uniform system of treating the
unfortunate, misguided people, and !
plead for system in which mercy al
ready treads close upon the heels of
justice. The British have by no means
a monopoly of right in this quarrel.
Their African record does not entitle
them to judge harshly, and whatever
the right and wrong the only goal
should be happy, contented South
Africa.
An Interesting Trial.
NEW YORK, March ga dispatch
to the Herald from Brussels says:
A criminal case which will attract
the greatest interest in England and in
all countries where the struggle be-
tween Great Britain and the Beers is
exciting attention will be heard on
June l1th before the Brussels Tribunal
Correctionnel.
1t is a trial which will put to the
test the accusation of corruption
brought by the British Government
against the Boer officials in general
and President Kruger in particular.
The parties concerned are the Well
known financiers, the Barons Open
helm of the firm of Oppenheim Freres;
Louis and Henry Warrant, Belgian
barristers; NJ. Braconier. wealthy
Belgian capitalist. and another Belgian,
NJ. Terwange, all OF whom were asso-
ciated some years ago as lessees of
the Transvaal Railway. which was to
connect Komati Port with Selati.
They had for this purpose formed n
company styled the Companagie
Franco-B Beige de Chemin de Ter du
Nord de la Repnbliqne Sud Africaine,
having its seat at Brussels.
They are to be tried on the charge
brought against them by DR.. Leyds, on
behalf of the Transvaal Government,