Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-05
ENo OF THE soER WAR.

The announcement that the Beers have
at last surrendered is received with little
surprise.
This result has been foreseen as newt
able ever since the war began, and for
several weeks negotiations as to the con-
ditions Of peace have been going on.
The terms that were finally agreed upon
are more liberal than It was generally ex-
pected that Great Britain would grant,
much more liberal than the British cabinet
is said TO have announced as it's ultima
tum more than a year ago and again at a
more recent date.
1t appears that the unconditional sur
render, which was long so emphatically
demanded by Premier Salisbury and Lord
Roberts, supreme military commander of
British forces I'm South Africa, was not in
sisted upon at the last.
The otheE point upon which the Beers
made theirelnost stubborn stand was that
they would never agree to the pro-
miscuous Punishment Of their South Afri-
can neighbors I'm South Africa who Joined
in the struggle for independence.
It was not proposed by Great Britain
to impose these harsh terms on the Beers
or the Free Staters. but upon those Brit
ish subjects who rebelled and helped the
Beers.
1t does not seem likely that there will be
many OF the participants in the war ban
ished. or punished in any other way.
Great Britain is anxious to have peace
restored as early and as completely as
possible, and will probably pursue a
placatory policy.
One of the most creditable concessions
granted by Great Britain is the lean to
the Beers of large sum, believed to be
about S5O.OOO.OOO which will enable them
to rebuild their ruined homes and do much
toward restocking their desolated farms.
This loan is to be made on such easy terms
that its recipients can readily comply with
them. Without some such assistance a
large proportion Of these patriotic people
would have found the problem of self-sup-
port very hard.
The war which has thus ended has been
one Of the most remarkable in history.
The prediction OF President Kruger that
Great Britain could subjugate the Beers
only at a cost OF blood and treasure that
would astound humanity was verified even
more fully, perhaps, than he himself ex-
pected. The direct expenditure of money
by Great Britain on account of this con-
fict exceeded a billion dollars. The more
terrible loss was the death in battle and
in hospitals Of more than 5000 British SOL
diers and the wounding of more than twice
as many more, the majority Of whom will
probably be invaded for life.
The Beers never had any very great f.
nancial resources to draw upon. They
could not have raised more than $4,000 men
to contend with the force Of nearly half a
million who were enlisted by Great Brit
ain, first and last, for this war.
The Boer loss Of life was heavy, Of
course, but not comparable with that
which they inflicted upon their enemies.
We doubt IL in all the annals Of war so
much damage was ever wrought by a
numerically small army upon an over
whelmingly larger one.
The two republics who lose their national
existence and pass under the dominion Of
Great Britain as the result of this conflict
extended over territory remarkably rich
in natural resources and capable Of vast
development
With just and liberal government they
will repair the ravages Of war in a few
years and ultimately become one Of the
richest regions of the world