Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-31
SUFFERING OF THEIR PEOPLE
II was This Which rmnc1,ed rhcn
for Help. and Not Any smnlI De


for Help. and Not Any smnlI De-
sire to reflect en- England.
Copyright by The Press Publishing Com
7any. Special cable to the Dispatch.)
LONDON. October 2a-The Boer Cen
rails. Bo;ha, DeWet. and Deiarey, have
s,cadfastly refused TO speak or write
for publication since their arrival in
Europe. but General Botl,a. as chief OF
Or the mission, has now given to the world
he following dignifed and pathetic
5aal statement OF their position and
policy, re says: Swords may be
.aadily beaten into 9!oushs!lares. but It is
iot SO easy 10 turn them into fine pens,
FOR IS the rough language of the soldier
fa1msrs suitable medium for diplomatic
discussions with Europe; my comrades
ana myself felt this keenly from the out
set. and would much rather have strivcn
humble way 10 make history than
-, ullre It. That is 10 say, we would
fgs5Iv have co-operatei with our new
government. and helped 10 smooth away
races Of bitterness left by the war and
as foundation for The well-bcing CT
-t.s, Africa That was our fervent de-
ere from the first ii rot drawing up
,3aulLcstos and appeals, Yet we took the
ls5tEr course instead Of the former. and
o. very aims We're r2isstated and con-
darnod The British people have no rca-
sn o doubt our sincerity. II we need
tasiiZacaH on that score, il is rendered by
-sssrrcre- and other representatives of the
Isgts' army who had dealings with Us
vr-r Nc gave our VOID. Since then we
re kept Il. We called on our. people to
mic in ard lay down their arms. How
iaarr rl5li.1a pounds were saved The
British nat:o1 by that surrender. il is
nj LEess now TO rae-on up. We have ac
csptcd the terms Kitchener was authoriz-
ii to offer US; we never sought to have
item modified.
sG.G15T HELP FOR THEIR PEOPLE
N.le-t We sought for was not the nlod-
fcatsan Of the terms of the peace treaty.
Uat The immediate help Of which our peo-
PIE are in sore need.
The farms and agriculture. which made
South African countries all they were.
70 larges exist Cattle and implements
Without which work cannot be resumed,
a-e gore. No1ul desolation, which the
WIZ brought in its train, is Widespread
r. hear such things is rot the same as
~ see thcu eglboz:c2 in suffering women.
easing children ard strong men, power
ess. midst the ruins and ashes to help
.ithag. Having come 10 plead their cause.
which seems 10 speak eloquenIy enough
tor itself, we were sorely disappointed
~ The result; ct least we had every reason
90 consider We had failed in our errand.
a. is assumed we did not take kindly to
tzer supposition. which was gratutitious.
As TO any shape in which material help
saoui5 he ci.en. We had neither right nor
Nil 10 lick and choose. but having seen
20 prospect q receiving such help. we
,7sltcafed in oGl urgent need to all the
leticns Of the World. That course was
'harply criticised. So far as we can see,
II chr appeal to foreigners implied was
hat cur Int ni'ie were in sore need of la
naNt relief and we were willing TO under
go to the humiliation OF no trivial ordeal
Of pleading for them. The memories Of
I:etT withheld. despite pressing needs and
urgent appeal for justice or generosity
are certain 10 live long and die hard,
and inflict damage out Of all proportion
to their seeming Importance, and while the
painful incidents OF war. however deep the
wound they may have inflicted at the tine.
are forgiven and even forgotten, those
which follow peace ranllie long in the
minds Of highs spirited people. | am
eating q well-kRown fact, not uttering q
covert threat. The sum required TO
relieve the primary needs OF South
Africa would not constitute really irk-
some burden in this wealthy empire
though certainly more than they have yet
shown any disposition to grant.
THE SITUATION NOT APPRECIATED.
The number of farms destroyed arc
larger than the people Of England
Imagine We. ourselves, who know coun-
try and people, are reduced to estimates
which. laying no claim to absolute accu-
racy. would require to be officially veTi-
fed by some impartial commission.
The unwelcome fact is forcing itself
more and more upon US that the Boer
character is very imperfectly understood
by the British people. who too often play
upon the wrong chord when it seems so
Easy 10 touch the right one. Our people
rave their suspicion aroused by the action
the government in still maintaining
s. ne concentration camps. l cannot help
3ttering q. word Of regret that the dele
rates Of the late South African States
low in Europe. are not allowed to return
1c!ne To hinder them or any burshers
vgirg home is an act that cannot be
r5conciled with the spirit or clear intent
IS we understand il, Of the treaty with
cur people. If both Britons and Beers
are equally desirous Of establishing
reciprocal trust, it must be evident that
rothing will more materially contribute
30 the realization sof that praiseworthy
aim that a general, complete amnesty
hich zTilI sweep away once and Tor al
re of the most potent causes OF estrange-
Qent between them. If further argument
rere needed, ii is furnished at the X
ample OF nlagnaninity set by the Beers
themselves after the Jameson raid II
avg. in any degree, succeeded in nlahe4s
3ur position clear; If ! have brought home
khe desira biliiy, nay. necessity, OF Ing
snd lending a helping hand TO the Beers
,ot only for the sake Of humanity, but
a matter of good policy, then | shall
.ot regret having broken silence
CSigned LOUIS BOTEA