The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-03-30

opinion concerning them, Some will
hold that they should have been ac-
cepted. and others that the Beers were
right in rejecting them. Each to his
own view. But it will Be well to ana
lyze the terms and to ascertain as far
as possible what were the points OBJ
iected to by the Boers.
Thu British commander offered to
bring back all prisoners Of war TO their
homes, including General Cronje, and to
grant fun amnesty to all belligerents,
apparently including Mr. Sieyn and
General De Wet Church property and
public trusts were 10 be held inviolable.
The Dutch language was 10 BE- Of
ficlally recognized at par with English,
The debts contracted by the Beers dur
ing the war, for carrying on the war,
We're TO be paid by the British. No
special war tax was to be levied upon
the burghers. but, on the contrary. they
were to be assisted with government
loans in rehabilitating their farms. and
were TO be permitted 10 retain their
rifles. 1t is not conceivable that the
Beers objected to any Of these condi-
tions, 1t may not be said that these
terms were too generous; but It can
scarcely be said that they were harsh.
The general opinion will be that they
were such as the Beers should, and
doubtless would. have accepted Not in
them. therefore, but in some OF the re-
naming propositions, are the Stumbling
blocks to be found.
The chief remaining terms offered by
Lord Kitchener are briefly to be sum-
One was that independence
should not be restored to the Boer
states, but that they should Be British
crown colonies, soon TO BE- invested with
governments, and ulti-
mately to become governing. An
other was that the amnesty should not
apply to British subjects in Natal and
Cape Colony who had rebelled or been
guilty of treason. but that these should
be left to be dealt with by the laws Of
he colonies. which. it may be added
are particularly lenient And the third
vas that ultimately. when representa-
i've governments were established in
he twn states, negroes might be ad-
nitted to the franchise. on suitable
qualifications. just as they were in cape
Colony, though never in such num-
'ers as to endanger white supremacy.
These are the stipulations TO which we
nay assume the Beers objected, and
'ather than accept which they decided
% continue the war.
On the last Of these points the judg-
nent Of the world will doubtless be
argely against the Boers. The twenti-
.th century is too late an era FOR sym
,athy with the old Bo=r doctrine that |
legroes have no souls and are never in |
NY circumstances to BE- admitted to |
quality with white men in either re-
gious or political affairs. There is a
eDort that the Beers also objected 10
h granting Of civil rights to He
rews as well as Christians If So the
Of the world will likewise be
Cainst them on that COUNTY On the
econl point, the granting Of amnesty |
D Cape rebels and traitors, it is not
asy to agree with the Beers. If the
ubjects or citizens Of any state rebel
gainst their own government 10 assist
n alien state which is waging war
gainst it, their government cannot in
elf-respect and with due regard to its
wn security, pardon them at the de-
land Of that alien and hostile state.
We are therefore led back 20 the first
oint. that Of Boer Independence. as
" orly one on which the Beers can
one for much sympathy. If General
otha refused Lord Kitchener's terms
ecause those terms did not include in
ependence for the Boer states. the
orld can understand his action and
IN largely sympa,hize with it. There
room for respect for men who con-
nue. to fight for their independence,
zen after the struggle is seen to be
homeless one. Toward men who were
shting to compel another state to null
y its own salutary laws or to prevent
cir fellow men from enjoying civil
;hts the sentiment Of the world would
t be sympathetic.