Amador ledger., 1902-02-07
The SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.


The strenuous efforts that are being
made to secure the friendly Offices of
other nations to bring the war in
South Africa to a. close, indicate
the Beers have about reached the
limit of their resistance That they
have put up gallant fight against
the might of the British empire must
be conceded by all. In a conflict
between two nations, the sympathy
of outsiders is usually enlisted, often
regardless of the merits of the con-
troversy, in behalf of the weaker
side. There is no doubt that the
Beers have now, as they have had
from the start, the moral support of
the masses in both Europe and
America in their struggle for indie
pendence. While the independence
of the two republics was not in issue
prior to the clash of arms, the firing
of the first gun Immediately raised
that issue. The Beers understood
that victory for them meant the ex-
tension of Africander sway over the
whole of South Africa, while defeat
meant the wiping of the two repub-
lies from the list of nations. The sud-
den wealth that came to the Trans
vaal as the result of the discovery
OF the greatest gold-bearing reefs in
the world, made the ruling class
ambitious. Dreams of supremacy
took possession of them. Success
having crowned their efforts in two
or three minor clashes with British
troops, they believed they were able,
on their own veldt and kopjes at
least, to withstand the whole might
of the empire. But they were mis-
taken. They risked their all in the
terrible game of war, and lost. Their
country is devasted, their homes are
in ruins, and most of their people are
in captivity. A few rowing bands of
desperate men still make show of
resistance, but the end of even this
kind of senseless warfare is evidently
not far off. The few fighting men
still in the field realize this, and
hence the efforts of sympathizers out
side the theatre of war to bring
the conflict to an end. Great Brit
ain is more than anxious to close the
war. Considering the forces arrayed
against each other, it is the most
costly war of history. It has proved
beyond question that the pace of
war between civilized people in these
days is too costly for the wealthiest
nations to maintain for any length
of time. But too much blood and
treasure have been poured out to
admit of peace except on stable
and lasting basis. Concession-na-
turally interpreted as Indicative of
weakness-has been the bane of
South Africa from the standpoint t
of British diplomacy. The vascil-
lating policy of years ago is respon-
sible for the present life and death
struggle. Peace at any price" is
not now the watchword. When peace e
comes it must definitely settle the
race probe n in South Africa. Nor
is it probable that the war will trans
NIT to posterity a legacy Of undying
hatred between Boer and Briton.
When the question of paramount toy
is removed, the two races will no
doubt work harmoniously in the
development of one of the richest
mineral regions of the globe. The
sacrifices which have been made on
either side will create respect one for
the other. Both sides want peace,
but while this is true, it is also clear
that the British government is more
concerned that the terms of peace
shall be such that the terrible bap-
tism of blood through which the
dark continent has passed shall not
have been in vain.