New-York tribune., 1902-08-22
heavenly mysteries why. oh why, do they on
earth talk such egregious nonsense?
THE ROER GENERALS.

The three Boer generals now in Europe are
heroes of a unique episode Nowhere in the
history of the world is there to be found any
thing like a parallel TO the manner In when
they have been received, both in England ana
on the Continent. In the British terms OF peace
some saw partial resemblance to the gener-
osity of Grant at Appomattox. But lmmedl-
atey after Appomattox Lee and Johnston and
Wheeler did not visit Washington and New
York TO shake hands with the President and TO
be entertained as welcome and honored guests
by representative men of the North. Nor is
there elsewhere TO be found precedent for the
visit Of the Beers to England and for the spirit
shown by both guests and hosts. It was anus
ing to observe the glee with which some IN
veterate Anglophobes on the Continent hailed
the decIination of the Beers to be received by
the King on the day first set, A crushing rebuf
and rebuke for perfdous Albion, they called
it The truth was. of course, that instead OF
rebuke it was a compliment, for the Beers de-
clfned only because they had not then clothes
which they considered fine enough to wear be-
fore the King and they merely postponed their
reception by him until such time as they could
procure fitting raiment.
There was no false note in the English visit
Upon the part Of the Beers there was no truck
ling no subserviency, no humiliation. and Oh
the part OF the British there was no patronizing
and no exultatfon. The King and the generals
met as men should meet, in a manner proving
again that
there is neither East nor West. Border,
nor Breed, Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face.
though they from the ends OF the
earth
Just such spirit was indeed often shown on
both sides during the war, showing that there
was no real hatred on either side. Such
spirit is auspicious of good faith and loyal CO.
operation in healing the wounds inflicted oy
the war and in establishing in South Africa a
lasting peace benefcent to both parties to 'the
late unpleasantness.
Nor is the visit of the Beers to the Continent
less noteworthy or less admirable. They are
received with all possible cordiality and honor
by those who. by q harmless fiction, are re-
garded as their racial brethren-for of the three
only one if indeed one IS Of Dutch descent.
There is no chding of them for their visit TO
England or for their 0utspoken and aggressive
declarations of loyalty to the British Crown; or
none save in one now negligible quarter. Mr.
Kriiger's unhappy attempt to keep them away
from England and his reported disapproval of
their acceptance of the terms of peace are
wholly ignored by them, and will be regarded
by the rational public with regret. as nothing
more than a manifestation Of the infrmities of
a mind possessing many noble traits The
tributes paid 10 the Boer heroes are worthily
paid. the more so since there is IN them no
rancorous attempt to repudate the good faith
of their reacemaking and of their new allie
glance. When in turn the three generals come
to America as it is pleasingly announced they
Will do, they will be greeted here with un-
feigGed cordiality and enthusiasm as men who
fought nobIy that which they believed 10 be
good fight, and who are now nobiy striving
TO pluck for their Fatberland profit in peace ont
Of the very Jaws Of defeat in war.