The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-03
THE BILLINGS GAZETTE.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

fcAIE NEuUl IUNo.
Cause Of Hitch In the Proceed
ings at Pretoria.
TERMS TEE BoERs HOLD OUT FOR
Will Not Desert Cape Rebels and
Want the Danishlnent Proclama-
ton Observation-Disclosures Terms
They Are Overwhelmingly Views
ON Peace Terms and Independence.
Although 1t has been stated recently
that The hitch in the peace proceedings
at I'retrda, South Africa, was owing
to the refusal Of the British govern
ment to place the Cape rebels on the
same footing as the burghers and to
withdraw the Punishment proclama-
ton. the real difficulty appears to be
that the Boer leaders have not only
pledged themselves to carry these two
points, but also to other terms in their
minimum proposals, the articles Of
which are herewith given. says the
New York Times:
Observation-Disclosures Of the two re-
publics under the pr~otectorate Of Great
Britain.
"Second.-Complete amnesty for all
the Afrikandcrs who have Joined the
Beers.
Observation-Disclosures of Lord Kitch-
ener's proclamation ordering the ban
ishment of the Boer leaders.
Notwithstanding of the farms
burned by the British troops.'
All evidence shows that the Beers are
religiously and hence conscientiously
opposed to deserving the Cape rebels.
just as they are to surrendering the In
dependence for which they have been
| fighting.
An extract Of the authorized state
ment published in LIE Matin of Paris,
in which Mr.. Kruger declared the
Beers independence t be Gods gift
and hence i%nviolable. was cabled to the
United States, but it was not made
evident that the whole of the minimum
terms offered are based upon what
Kruger. Leyds, Fischer & Co. believe
to be Gods unalterable will. The whole
secret Of the Beers obstinacy appears
to be concentrated in the following
words:
Peace has been offered to us as well
as amnesties and pardons and financial
aid to repair our losses. But at what
price? At the price Of our independ-
ence, as If that were a thing to be
bought and sold. No; not all the treas
liberty. for it is God who gave. it US,
and we could not give it up without re-
pudiating God and meriting his male
diction. We have appealed. as was our
duty. to the good offices of the interna-
tional arbitration court instituted for
settling the differences between CIV
ilized nations. We have appealed to
the consciences of governments. Hith-
erto we have not been listened to. Are
we discouraged? In no way. When
the Lord shall himself summon these
governments. they will be forced to
come and take the road which he will
indicate to them and stop at the place
which he will mark out to them. The
English government will no more than
others be excluded from this summons
in order that it may accept III honest
offer Of arbitration. peace and friend
ship. The English government and peo-
pie will then have to bow before the
divine will. They will have to open
their eyes and be converted. pray
God to do this.
1--WE have endured many injustices
! and cruelties. My Christian conscience
does not allow me hatred. l regret the
errors and sufferings of the English
people, because, God be praised. there
are in that people many men who, If
they were accurately Informed, would
follow the Christian path with us.
They are still misled. ! pray that their
eyes may be opened, for they are de-
ceiyed. The English people were told
that we were the oppressors of for
eigners. Has not experience proved
that the desire of oppression was not
on our side; that the alleged grievances
were only a pretext for masking the
avidity of INSCRIPTIONS tinanciers. who
have no other aim than to accumulate
wealth? Every day costs England
enormous sums and-a more irrepara-
BILE loss-a sensible diminution Of her
prestige. her honor. her political infiu-
ence. The ~veracity Of my words is at
tested by facts. An honorable peace is
still possible. On the day when the
eyes Of the English people are opened
to the truth peace will he made, for
the war is prolonged only by the GU
pidity and falsehood Of our adversa-
ries. | pray God to add to all the
miracles which he Is accomplishing in
our favor that Of dispelling the blind
ness Of the English. May he 500 lis
ten to this prayer. He alone Is the