New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
TIE ROERS AND THEIR FRIENDS.

The Roers speak bitterly against their former
friends That is a significant but by no means
unexpected item of the days news from Soulh
Africa Some of the surrendering burghers have
expressed contempt for some of the forelgn
mercenaries who fought on their side. Many OIL
their leaders are now speaking bitterly OF tnose
professed friends in Europe who encouraged
them with false hopes, and thus moved them 10
persist in the war long after it should nave peen
brought to an end. 1t may be recalled that MT
Kriiger evinced a similar spirit toward the Ger
man Emperor because. after sending him that
famous dispatch of congratulations upon the
suppression of the Jameson raid, he failed 10
make war upon Great Britain, in support Of the
Transvaal and Orange State. In that, no DOUBT
Mr. Kriiger betrayed a sad lack of judgment.
The German Emperor never gave him any rea-
son to look for intervention. The Boer Presi-
dent simply misinterpreted the message But
in these other cases the fault lay with the IN
iudicious friends in Europe, who not only held
out false hopes but told innumerable falsehoods,
for the encoura cement Of the Boers-or, per
hans not so much for that as for the annoyance
of Great Britain.
In this there is an impressive object lesson as
TO the evil of reckless or false speaking in inter-
national, or, indeed, in any public affairs. Com
munication is now so free and rapid among all
parts of the world that it is impossible TO conne
an utterance. That which is spoken for bun
combe is heard by all the world. We have no
doubt that many of those who said the things OF
which the Beers now complain knew they We're
untrue and did not wish the Beers to accept
them as true. They knew, for example. that
there was no prospect of European Intervention
in South Africa, and that there was not the re-
motest possibility Of Americas intervening in
Il,,4 +%,.a ba1 daily
statements that such Intervention was immi-
nent. Why? Probably for the sake of annoying
Great Britain That would have been an un-
worthy thing had the effect OF the falsehoods
STONED there But If went much further These
reports were promptly transmitted to South Al
rica and were actually believed by the Beers TO
be true Hence the unnecessary prolongauon or
the war and the natural and just resentment or
the misled burghers.
They were not true friends of the Beers VINO
thus fooled them with false hopes. Neither were
they true friends Of the Filipino insurgents who
played the same game upon them, in the first
place melting them to revolt and thus defeat the
ratification of the Peace Treaty, and later urging
them TO hold out stubbornly against the United
States, and thus aid in bringing the Democrats
| into power, who would forthwith grant them
| independence. It would be impossible to esu-
| mate the mischief such evil counsels have done
| In the case of the Filipinos. as in that Of the
Beers they were intrinsically and knowingly
false, and were put forward through malice and
spite. The disillusioning and the reckoning come
| at last. The Beers now rage against those who
| deluded them, and wish for a chance to wreak
| vengeance upon them upon the field Of battle
| Filipinos will concluded, some Of them have
| come-to the same frame Of mind. They realize
what should be to all the veriest Of truisms that
he is the best friend who speaks most truly. The
| lighthouse. on its harsh and rugged rock, may
seem less attractive than the gracefully floating
will-o' the-wisp. but It is a safer guide and a
| more faithful friend.