New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-02
PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

II is neace. That is the news from South
Africa. That is the announcement which Mr.
Ralfour will make 10 the British House of Com
mons to-day. The details are as yet unreVeaied
to the public. They are doubtless reserved Ior
official report TO Parliament. For them we
must wait a few hours longer. The one great
fact which is assured in our dispatches OF thls
morning is that peace has actually been made
That means much TO the British nation ana TO
the British Empire the world around. 1t means
much also TO every nation which can adapt TO
itself-as which does not wish TO do:-the words
of Terence. and saw Il am nation, and what
ever concerns mankind concerns me-" War is
an abhorrent thing, and in the ending of 1t
humane men everywhere must rejoice. Even
those whose sympathies were with the beaten
party. and who wished to see that party victor
instead of vanquished. must feel unreasonable
relief at the ending of costly struggle the out
come of which has long been obvious and in
evitable.
The detailed terms of peace are not yet dis
closed. 1t has long been practically certain,
however. what their general principles must De,
and confident expectation is confirmed by one
significant word in Lord Kitchener's brief bull
letin That is the word surrender He does
not speak of peace, though, OF course, sur
render means peace. 1t is terms of surrender
which the Boer leaders have signed. That can
mean only the surrender of the Beers, their
yielding TO British sovereignty, and that means
their acceptance Of the general principles OF
settlement upon which the British Government
has all along insisted, and which Lord Sails
bury only the other day assured the world had
not been abandoned or abated. We may as
sumo therefore that the Boer leaders accede TO
the incorporation of the two States into the
British Empire. Beyond that we may hope the
terms of surrender, Of incorporation and of adj
ministration will prove to be such as will make
for satisfaction on the Boer side as well as on
the British 1t should be possible TO make all
but the most blindly irreconcilable Doppers feel
in course of time, and short time at that. that
there has been no loss of liberty or of right TO
the pursuits of happiness in the change OF
sovereignty Thousands of Frenchmen in
Canada have long felt that So have thousands
of Dutchmen and Frenchmen in Cape Colony.
The world will hope TO see the same generous
| Cancellation effected in the TransyaaI and
| Orange River colonies.
The war which thus ends has been tedious
| one. 1t has been short in comparison with
many wars in history. though long in contrast
with original expectation. 1t has been no 'holi-
day march to Pretoria" and if it has not quite
| staggered humanity" as of its authors
| threatened il has caused humanity grave con-
| Germ. It has blighted some military regulations.
| But it has also added honor to some and has
| increased the number of names upon which the
world may love to dwell. Upon the side of the
| vanQuished we shall not forget, nor forget to
| honor, the ckivarous Joubert, the indomitabe
| Cronje and the resourceful De Wet. Upon the
| British side White at Ladysmith and Baden
| Powell at Mafeking may take rank with the
defenders of Londonderry and Lucknow, while
| the work done by Lord Roberts and Lord
| Kitchener will be remembered with admiration.
| Nor will the world forget the picture Of the
| gallant but unfortunate Methuen paying tribute
| TO the virtues of his foeman, the gallant but
| fortunate Tillehois- Mareuil The Boer warriors
| have surrendered their arms but not their
| honor. The British have won peace not devoid
| of honor. Each side has through this
| very war 10 regard the other with more respect
| than ever before. The world may well hope
| that each will do so, and that thus may be as
sured in South Africa more enduring and a
more benefcent peace than has been known be-
| fore in that much troubled land.
1t is peace. Upon that fact, and upon what
that fact implies. may f1ttingly congratulate
our sister nation across the sea. The borders of
the British Empire are enlarged. The power Of
| the British Empire for strengthening itself and
for advancing the welfare of civilization is in
creased. The King will presently assume his
crown amid universal peace throughout his
world encircling dominions. 1t is a great day
| for England and for the British Empire. 1t is
not unduIy optimistic 10 hope 1t may prove q
| day of blessing for all the world.
|