Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-13
The Boers Want Peace.


Boston Transcript says that is now the
general opinion Of those well informed,
regardless Of their sympathies in the
South African war, that President
Kruger ana President Steyn are as
anxious to make peace in the first of
March as they were to make war, the
| first of October. Their proposal that
neace shall he made on the basis of the
| restoration of the state of things be-
| fore the war; including the indepen-
dence OF both republics, is one that
Great Britain is by no means prepared
! to entertain Indeed, THAT it should be
presented marks the colossal assurance
Of Kruger and Steyn- They made war
on Great Britain, forced the fighting,
invaded British territory, attacked
British troops and besieged British
towns. ana now that the tide Of war is
running strongly against them, they
ask that these things shall be regarded
as constituting a misunderstanding to
be cleared up by resumption Of ncgo-
tiations No government that would
retain the respect of its own people
could be expected to return any other
answer than one similar to Great
| Britain's. The theory is advanced
that Kruger and Steyn i'll making
these proposals have simply Seon
working for delay in military opera
tions: that they believe the onward
march of the British armies will be
checked while negotiations broken off
last autumn are resumed.
| 1t is more probable, however. that
the Beers realize th1c their state is
desperate, but do not appreciate the
temper Of Great Britain any more than
they did when they served notice ON
her not ~ send any more troops ~
| South Africa and gave her forty-eigit
! hours in which to answer This ultima
tum. They think now that Great
Britain has had enough Of fighting and
IL willing to settle the war On any
terms. They have already learned
their mistake. There IL only ono way
in which Great Britain can end The
WAR ana that ~ ~ u final triumph VI
her arns So complete as to leave me-
chance rrr further ORGANIZED resis-
lance The couc.ft which marks
Krugcr's course uow id proposing that
Great Britain should abandon the
,.,ir.,,,1. fill. ,,.fi.7, -7. ,,,, ,...,ts7d.1
inst w II .,,,..,rs assured If success
has marked til. course Of the Beers /
throughout. They believed that they
were going to run the British out Of
South Africa with It'll. trouble. III
that h.1t.f thy invaded the cane
| COLONY avd NgttI. ANA Hi that belief |
t1.v urd,rtu,'l Il scheme If strategy |
! which fnav v.ra numerically incarahle
of carving out. They have PLAYED a
desperate game ana lost. ana now they
! want t. draw the stakes. which are
dominion in South Africa.
x NM homes IF tba nners d.rri,n
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If fin. ,r,.,p.,.,,I r,t =, .-r.at deal r.r
tn.i~ n,.n roIiti,aI ,lv,nt:,r, An VIA
ar. aiming, to rut the administration
.jp !, hnIo" increases Il vas JUL
dcnccd. last week. when Senator
Mason of Illinois undcrtool to deliver
Eucr Grafton in support Of his reso-
buttons Of sympathy with the Trans
vaaI. ana was compelled ID 20 without
the public by the Senate passing into
executive session. Nj. Mason spoke
to the Senate and had his saw. but his
-
''l.''' - 49, II NO. ~ II