The Delta independent., 1902-06-13

ccoe tuem. tie 80td they would insist
that they flag. the "vierkleur." should
be retained. He spoke Of their recent
successes. in particular his own over
Von Donop's convoy. and the capture
OF Lord Methuen. II took on the
latter occasion over 857 Of Lord
Methuen's column prisoners. including
wounded" he observed. why, 1
could hold out in the Western Trans
vaai for two years more" added the
Boer general. who is. l fear. suffering
from that sad complaint. q "swelled
head" But to a man who has lived
upon the weld among a very homely.
untraveled people such boastfulness
10. under the circumstances. surely
pardonabie. Delarey is 4 man among
and over bis Boer compatriots. He
10 honest and downright In his deal.
ings. and was SO before the war-a
Boer whose word was his bond. He
further hotiy declared that II he
fought he would night, ~ in the past,
~ an honorable foe. and would do
nothing to forfeit the good name Of
himself and his burghers. Lord Kitch.
ener. VINO surely IL . diplomatist ~
well ~ q soldier-and he has had
varied experience in both capacities.
At least In Egypt-received the dele
gates 1t HIS resfdence.
The Transvaalers. with but one or
two isolated exceptions. were for
immediate cessation OF hostilities,
even 10 leaving the Free StAters to
themselves- In the end believe Il
has come to this-they are to have
the dubious honor OF being the last
to come in and to give up the further
useless. wanton spilling OF human
blood. Steyn. who 10. fear. breaking
up physically. voted for continuing
the struggle. but his influence counts
for little beside that Of the pugnacious,
plump. swart. saturnine Christian De
Wet. who is the real burgher master
OF sae Free State. Delarcy's was
practically the only bellicose voice
raised for war to the bitter end from
the Transvaai. Mr.. Reitx. the state
secretary. need not be too seriously
considered. But let this Justice be
done to Gen. Delarey. who deserves
the need OF honest mems praise: tie
said: 'If the commanders or burghers
accept the English nag ! will abide
by their verdict and come In. for
have done my duty. II not, I will die
in the neid. lighting for the old gov
ernment and the old nag" At last
the voices Of the burgher women-or.
NJ least. = majority Of them-are now
sor peace. and that has not been with.
out its influence for settlement In the
deliberations.
To get to the back Of any mans
mind is not usually an easy task. It
is almost m impossible one when the
stolid. taciturn, selfsufncient Boer
Is the subject Of the operation. l
would not be dealing fairly by you
and your readers II did not state
that there are those among the Beers
now demanding settlement and peace
who seek to and would use these
means to conspire for the abrogation
OF all the conditions mat they are to-
oay 30 anxious to sign. But the sense
of fairness. the pride OF keeping their
piixhted word. will. l believe. weigh
with the vast majority. and the
peace" will be = lasting peace II the
terms do not assign away the VIC
tors manifest rights. Better, In mer.
cy's name, to night to finish" than
tolerate such a settlement, for bitter.
ness and contention carried into civil
life are more deadly to nationhood
than war In the field between men.
The future danger. II not guarded
against. will come from the former evil
element in south Africa. intriguing