The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
The Infamy in South Africa.

AprODos Of the widely expressed opinion
in England 10 the effect that Lord Roberts
should be instructed 20 resort to the very
sternest measures against the rebels"
IN South Africa. a special dispatch from
Paris 10 the New York Sun gives an in
terestiag summary of French sentiment
IN the same connection. We quote the
dispatch In full:
Paris Oct. 2s-The Temps and Journal contrast
the feloclngz in London over the return Of the City
Of London Imperial Volunteers With the recent Boer
successes In South Africa The Journal asks Why Co
lonisl Secretary Chamberain leaves England on the
eve Of the triumphant return Of the volunteers and
declares that there must be some unknown reason
for hia action.
he Matin says that the annexation Of the
Trsnsvasl BY the british is Ineffective and Illegal
The country. it declares. has not been taken. and
the Boer soldiers are not rebels Annexation Is a
simple pretext for violating the laws Of civilized
warfare and for committing crimes Of every kind"
What the Matin says is Of chief i'm
portance. II IS a feature OF England's
policy 70 invade weak and friendless ter
ritories, annex their property. destroy
their liberties. and then brand all who re-
sist her piratical enterprise as rebels
or insurgents" This furnishes a pretext
for any cruelty that may be deemed
necessary. Proceeding upon such an i'm
pudent and wicked hypothesis. the British
authorities are burning farm houses, per
scouting women and children. devastating
whole provinces and districts, violating
every rule of civilized warfare, and re-
vivlng the most detestable practices Of
the Dark Ages. By the simple process Of
denouncing as rebels the South Africans
whom they cannot subdue, they license
themselves TO indulge in the most shock
ing forms Of barbarism. They proclaim a
and in the same breath belle their proc
lamaticn by admitting that tens of thou
sands of soldiers must be kept there 10
maintain even the insecure footing they
have attained. The finale of the war upon
the South African Tepublics-if. indeed.
that finale be yet in Sights as Infamous
and brutal as was its prelude. Conceived
in avarice, nursed in greed. prosecuted
with a sOrdid and abhorrent lust, 1t is
now maturing under the viiest and most
iHhuman auspices.
The fact remains. however, that the
British have not conquered the Beers;
that they are no nearer to a genuine sue
cess than they were in that hideous win
ter when Washington and his followers
starved and bled at Valley Forge Now,
as then, they resort to every possible ex-
pedient of savage cruelty. Now, as then.
they practice the worst ana ugliest forms
of persecution But the Beers are still
in the field. They still defend their lib
critics, as our foTefathers did theirs a CEN
fury and more ago, and they are entitled
to the sympathy and admiration of all
men who honor patriotism, courage. and
devotion.
Doubtless, the tragedy will move on to
its abominable conclusion In the days
of our struggle against British tyranny,
there was France to come. with gal
liant hearts and magnificent self-abnega-
ton, TO our rescue. To-day there is not
a government in the so-called Christian
v orld to lift hand for freedom in South
Africa. But the Boers-friendless, alone
beleaguered. and at bay-the Beers stand
in a heroic light before mankind, and
their destruction will taunt the conscience
and accuse the honor of humanity for
all time to come.