The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-10-26
THE HANGING OF THE BoEEs.


General Kitchener, in carrying out
his program Of brutal intimidation, has
hanged COmmandant Lottier, whose
command consisted almost wholly of
Cape Colony Dutch, who had taken
UP arms in behalf of the Boer cause
The execution of this Bocr officer is
intended to brighten the Cape Dutch
from helping the men of their race who
are fighting against English domino.
ton in South Africa. 1t Is the first of
series of hanging matches which will
follow in quick succession If the Beers
themselves do not put stop to them
says Father Lambert in the Freemans
Journal.
General Botha and the other Boer
commanders i'm the field should see to
it that Commandant Lotticr be the last
officer in the Bocr army to suffer an
ignominious death in the event of his
being captured by the enemy. They
owe it to the Dutch volunteers in Cape
Colony that they be protected from the
brutal ferocity OF the English enemy,
and as an earnest of their determine
ton in this respect they should not let
the death Of Lottier go unrevenged.
The lex talionis, or the law of retalia.
ton, would Justify them in stringing
up the next English officer who falls
into their hands. The higher the rank
and social position of such officer, the
better. If some curled darling of LON
don society should be made to share
Lottfer's fate, the English public would
be made to realize that the Beers, in
self-defense, can play Mt the hanging
game as well rs the English.
The Beers would find ample iustifica-
ton I'm numerous presidents furnished
IN former wars. Take, for instance
the precedent supplied by the Confcd-
crates at the beginning Of our Civil
war. Some Confederates had been
captured. and it was proposed by the
authorities in Washington to hang
them. The Comederatcs very prompt
ay took measures to protect them by
telling off a certain number of Union
officers, among whom was Colonel Cor
coram, of the SiXty-ninth New York,
who were to be shot the moment it
was known i'm Richmond that the Con-
fedcrate prisoners had been put to
death. This action of the Confederate
government had the desired effect The
Confederate prisoners lives were
saved, and the war, till its close. was
conducted OH civilized principles.
1t is incumbent upon the Beers to
initiate the example set by the Con-
federates. They are contendlng with
an enemy in whom sentiments Of hui
mainly are extinguished as completely
as they ever were in the breast Of the
most savage Kaffir. Kitchener, with
out twinge Of conscience, would hang
every Boer officer who might be so UNI
fortunate as to fall into his hands.
English public opinion would justify
him in doing this IL it was thought
that these hangings would help ever
so little the British cause in South AT
RIGA, which is now in such desperate
straits.
1t must be brought home to the Eng
lish that the life Of a Boer officer is as
precious and is as much under the pro,
lection of the rules Of civilized war.
fare as is the life of an English officer
If the Beers do not teach the English
this lesson Commandant Lottier will
not he the last Boer officer to fall a
victim to England's barbarous meth
DDS of warfare. If the English govern
ment will persist in, holding by sucf
methods There is nothing left for thu
Beers to do but meet England on hel