New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-03
THE TERMS OF PEACE.

II was remarked IN these columns yesterday
that in South Africa the British had won
peace not devoid of honor. The terms Of that
peace now disclosed in detail. indicate that
they have won peace with high honor. 1t has
all along been expected that they would deal
generously with the conquered Beers. yet there
will be much surprise of a most pleasing kind
at the liberality of the concessions made by
Lord Miner and Lord Kitchener. There is no
room 10 say that the Beers would have got
better terms had they yielded year ago. The
present terms are probably the best that have
been possible at any time since Mr.. Kriiger's
declaration Of was made If they thus
exceed expectation in generosity, that is prob
ably because the situation in the two colonies
is more hopeful than the world in general has
known-that is to say, there is a stronger in
cIination among the Beers TO accept British
sovereignty Loyalty and make the best OF the
new state OF affairs. Evidently to men Of such
a disposition better terms can he given than to
those who sullenly yield under protest and pro-
pose TO continue in peace the hostility they have
been forced to abandon upon the field OF battle
The first item of the agreement confirms the
confident prediction hitherto made that there is
70 be no repetition of Gladstone's unhappy
Naiuba business. Flatly, unequivocally and
absolutely the sovereignty Of the two BOer
States passes to the British crown. That is, Of
course the one supreme consideration. 1t was
against that that Mr. Krger and his comrades
/ declared their intention to fight to the bitter
! end. NO terms short of absolute indepen-
/ dence," was their repeated war cry. 1t was for
/ that that the British Government contended
when Lord Salisbury declared that mot yes
rye of independence" 10 be left to the Boer
States On that supreme point the Beers have
Internationally surrendered to the British
Their two States now and henceforth as
much parts of the British Empire as is the
town of Windsor itself The second, third and
fourth items mean simply that all the Beers of
those States save those who have committed
crimes. are 10 receive amnesty. Those who
now surrender are to go back TO their farms.
Those who were formerly captured are to be
brought back from exile and restored to their
farms They will lose no property, no liberty
no civil rights Only those who have violated
the laws of war will be tried by court martial
The fifth item enables the Beers TO retain their
loved ''taal" their national dialect, taught in
schools and lawfully recognized in courts. The
sixth permits the possession of arms by all who
need them for protection against the natives.
The seventh gives pledge of self-government
at the earliest possible moment, and the eighth
which is of very great Importance from the
Beers point OF view, defers the question of
negro suffrage to be settled only when self
Government is established. 1t is conceivable
that that concession was the one which per
shaded the Beers TO surrender, for there is
nothing they have feared and fought against
more than the elevation of the negroes to citi-
J zanship. The ninth item not only frees the
Beers from danger of special taxation TO pay
for the war but also gives them an indemnity
of S15 900 900 to pay for their losses in the war
the victor paying instead of exacting an indem-
nifty Finally the rebels in Cape Colony and
Natal are 10 be dealt with according TO the
laws of those colonies, excepting that the death
penalty will not be inflicted Upon this point
too. the Beers have fully yielded, since little
time back they were declaring they would never
Weld until entire amnesty was granted to all the
rebels
These terms are as we have said. much more
liberal than they have been expected TO be. 1t
IL gratifying that the British Government has
been able TO make them so, and it is fine
promise OF lasting peace and increasing pros
. perity. We hear much at times about being
good losers IN a game In the grim game of
war it is far easier TO be good loser than
good winner 1t is easier TO surrender grace
fully than to accept surrender generously. In
this case both vanquished and victor have done
their best. The Beers have yielded with honor
after a struggle which commanded the admira-
! ton even of their opponents. The British have
granted 10 them-we cannot say they have i'm
posed upon theu-terms whose generosity must
command the admiration of the world. Con
spicuously and preeminently the terms are cal
culated not only to end the war but also TO
facilitate the elimination of its wounds and
scars. 1t is a settlement that makes for con-
citation and for friendship between the races
which have hitherto been antagonistic. 1t is
1ull OF high promise for the. future Of South