New-York tribune., 1901-01-03
TIE GREETING TO LORD ROBERTS.

Lord Roberts has returned TO England and is
being greeted with honors and distinctions
never before given TO a British subject To be
met at the steamer landing by son and daugh-
ter of the Queen, and TO be conducted by them
straight TO Her Majesty's presence by way OF
the path usually reserved for the Prince Of
Wales, were attentions equal TO any that would
have been shown 10 any King or Emperor In
the world. Not Wellington nor Nelson nor
Marlborough was welcomed Lord Roberts
has been and Will be- though two of them did
receive higher peerages and perhaps greater
pecuniary bounties-things which were cheaper
in those days than now. And yet Lord Roberts
has come home from nothing but 'Gittle war;
with third class Power, and a war which he did
not bring TO triumphant close but which still
drags on painfully. expensiyely and ominously.
WHY then, these unexampled honors?
Despite the fact that the Boer war was and
is with third rate Power, our London corre-
spondent did not exaggerate the case when he
said the other day that Lord Roberts went out
20 Africa year ago TO protect the British
Empire from the greatest danger that had
menaced IL since Yorktown. We need not ex-
cept even the menace which Nelson destroyed
an Trafalgar. To vindicate this view of the
case we have TO recall only the circumstances
OF the outbreak Of the Boer war. The two Boer
States had leagued themselves together not
merely for defence against British aggression,
but as their leaders frankly declared and
boasted, 10 drive the British out of South Africa
and 10 make Cape Colony, Natal and all the con-
tinent south of the Zambesi a Dutch confedera-
tion- II was widely declared. and memories Of
she German Emperors dispatch on the Jameson
raid gave apparent color TO ii. that Germany
France, Russia and other Continental Powers
were in sympathy with the Beers and might
probably array themselves on their side for
spoliation Of the modern Carthage" 1t was
moreover, perfectly apparent that if Great Brit
ain showed herself unable TO hold her colonies
IN South Africa the bonds uniting her with
other and greater colonies would quickly be
looseDed or wholly broken. In the last three
months of 1899 it was not only the rights of the
Outlanders, but British possession of Cape Col
ony, Of Australia and Of Canadian fact, the
existence OF the British Empire-that was at
stake.
That was the situation year ago. II was
increasingly ominous down TO the date of Lord
Roberts's arrival upon the scene. Then, with
astonishing celebrity, the situation changed. The
tide Of battle was rolled back Beleaguered
towns were relieved. Boer armies were van
quished and captured. The British flag was
raised over the Boer capitals. The Powers of
Continental Europe discovered that they had.
after all, no interest in the matter And the
British colonies around the world were bound
TO the mother country with ties Of blood, shed
in common imperial cause. more potent than
ever before existed. That was the service which
Lord Roberts performed for the British Empire
If 10 this we add his long and singularly use.
ful and successful career in other wars. and also
as peaceful administrator his exalted per.
sonal character, and-3 circumstance which
must have appealed with especial force TO the
Queen-the fact that be lost his only son in
this war and himself went OUT TO take supreme
control Of The campaign while suffering the first