Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-03
prAcE LN NnnrH AERIcA-

The ending OF the war In South Africa.
which for more than two and half years
has commanded a large share Of the
worlds attention and interest, will bring
a universal sense of relief. However
much the friends of human liberty
may deplore the fact that the heroic
Beers were unable to maintain their In
dependence, all have long realized that
the triumph Of the British was in
evitable and that to continue the con
flct would simply mean the ultimate
complete extirpatlon Of the burghers. 1t
has been one Of the most costly and
destructive wars of modern times, char
terlzed by a courage and fortitude on
the part Of the Beers of which there
are few parallels in history, as well as
by military ability and skill that has
surprised the world.
With an army ten times larger than
that Of the Beers, equipped with every
appliance Of modern warfare, the war
has cost Great Britain in money more
than f1,0OO, 0 1000, and tens of thousand
u ilNtb. II hdO tABO CVbt ~ hEhA ny II
a commercial way and laid upon the
shoulders Of it's people a burden of tax
alton that will Cypress them for a gen.
Grafton. 1t has to a great extent desolated
the scene OF conflict and II will take
years to restore what has been de-
stroyed. The widows and orphans Of
the Beers who gave their lives in de-
tense Of their country must become a
charge upon the British government, at
least until the conditions In South
Africa are very greatly improved. For
England there is no glory, no gain Of
prestige in the conquest Of the Beers.
1t was overwhelming numbers and re-
sources, nor the skill Of It's generals or
the bravery of Its soldiers, that won.
So far as military prestige is concerned
the Beers are far In advance. No Brit
ish commander In South Africa has
shown the ability in strategy OF Cronje,
Botha, Dewet and Delarey and greater
bravery has never been shown than
that Of the burghers. They have neces-
sarily carried on during most of the
time a desultory warfare. striking where
opportunity offered, but they have con-
Quoted 1t with extraordinary skill and
always in accord with the rules of civil
lied warfare. They have been subdued,
but they lay down their arms with
honor, admired by. the civilized world,
including the conquerers. fp.+.
The British government, there is abun-
dant indication, was not less DESTROYS
than the Beers to end the struggle. There
seems to be no doubt that King Edward
exerted a potent influence In behalf Of
peace. The terms show that the policy
which the government announced more
than a year ago, and Lord Salisbury re-
Gently reasserted was modified. 1t is
most reasonable. to assume that this was
done at the instance OF the king. At
all events, there was not an uncondi-
tional surrender, Some concessions
asked by the Beers were granted. On
the whole the terms of peace must be
regarded as fairly liberal The provi-
slon,to be made for restocking the Boer
farms, the return Of exiled prisoners
without loss of property, the substitu-
ton of self-government for military
rule as soon as possible, are generous
conditions which were not to have been
expected in view Of the repeatedly pro-
claimed policy Of the government. 1t
will be to the interest of Great Britain
to faithfully carry them out and to push
the work of reconstracting It's newly &C
quired South African territory as rap
idly as possible,