The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-14
Terms Of Peace.

W
~ are being made by Presi-
= - dents Kruger and Steyn to
arrange a peace, the Lon
don correspondent of the New York
Herald recently wired to his paper: II
have had ample opportunities Of judging
the sentiment of the public at large
as to what the terms of peace must
be. All agree, from the crossing
sweeper to the millionaire. that. cost
wnat it may of time, lives or money,
no terms of peace can be granted
which do not absolutely make another
war like the present impossible; that
England must be paramount, the
ell to all whites alike. No conceiv-
able government could survive a sur
render to the Boer claim for recogni-
ton and independence. or accept any
thing short of unconditional surren-
der. On their part her majesty's ad-
visers have never contemplated the
possibility Of what would be a repeti-
tion of the Majuba convention. If the
Beers desire peace they can have it at
any moment on the conditions which
will guarantee perfect equality to all
white men and complete protection Of
the native races against i'll usage. The
application of this policy will involve
the complete disarmament of the
Beers"
Unless Great Britain should wish. in
the closing of the war. to confess to
the falsity Of the representations upon
which she entered into the war; terms
less than these naturally could not be
considered. The published text of the
correspondence which has passed be-
tween Lord Salisbury and the Afrikand-
erpresidents shows that England's hand
Is to the plough apd that there is
not to be another turning back. It
must be remembered that the Brit.
ish claim from the outset has
been that the Kruger government is
an antiquated machinery of oppres-
sion and disturbing influence upon
the orderly development of South
Africa, and that. being deaf to reform
under the power of peaceful protes.
and moral suasion, it had at last to be
reformed by force. The progress Of
the war has not modified this claim.
The British commander-in-chief has
repeatedly accused the Boer forces of
conducting war with as scan. regard
to the accepted rules of civilization as
it is alleged they had conducted their
political activities in time of peace;
and the last word from him was per-
sonal testimony as to dsrespect shown
by the Beers to the flag of surrende.
and authoritative notice to Kruger
and Steyn that repetition of this
treachery would compel the British to
modify their campaign into a war
without quarter. The reputation of
Lord Roberts is such that we cannot
credit him with having trumped up
this tale for political effect or of hav-
ing entered complaint without intoler-
able provocation.
Lord Salisbury's letter makes plain
the indefensible position assumed by
the Orange Free State and puts where
it clearly belongs the responsibility for
the beginning of this war. War hav-
ing been begun by the Beers, who in
vited it's dread consequences rather
than show fair play to the English
speaking people resident within their
borders. it is entirely proper that they
should abide the consequences until
they are willing to accept the victor's
terms. The course of our government
In Offering to be the Intermediary in
any correspondence which might aim
toward the re-establishment of peace
and in volunteering it's good offices.
within the limits OF it's ability as n
friendly neutral, toward the facili.a-
tion of peace negotiations, accords
with precedent, with policy and with
the prevalent view of our moral duty.
This prOffer having beer made, our
duty for the present ends.
Reports still come to us of parents
who unwisely permit children recently
convalescent from scarlet fever to
play with neighbors' children at great
risk of spreading the contagion. A re-
sponsibility of this magnitude should
not be taken except upon a physician's )
advice.