The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-04-04
ENDING THE ROEK WAR.

That formal negotiations are in
progress for the final termination of
the war IN South Africa is made known
by the recent dispatches from London
and Pretoria, says the Baltimore Amer
'can. The leaders are getting togeth-
er, and, as the Beers seem willing to
consider peace proposals, it may be as
sumed that the end is rapidly coming
into sight. AS things now stand there
seem to be but two points to lie recon-
ciled. The Beers will not consent to
an absolute surrender, while the Eng
lish are insistent upon retiring with
out any Entertainments upon their ma
tional honor and prowess. Once an
agreement is reached whereby these
ends may be conserved, declaration
of peace and the cessation Of bostilities
is almost certain to follow.
To the unprecedented observer the
conditions existing in South Africa all
urge the conclusion of peace agree
ment nor do the terms seem to pre-
sent any serious difficulties. 1t must
be manifest to the Beers that England
does not propose to give in, no matter
what the cost in blood and treasure, to
anything short of victory which will
preserve her standing among the ma
tions. 1t must also be apparent to
the Beers that, in the present depleted
condition of their ranks, the hopeless
ness of Intervention from any source
and the effectiveness of the natural
measures resultant upon the war,
which prevent any increase in their
population, they can never wage more
efectual warfare than they are making
at present. To the English the cost
of the war in men and money long
ago became serious national burden:
the indecisive nature of The struggle
greatly compromises England's posi-
tion before the world, and every selfish
interest demands that peace be restor-
ed. If the parties to the struggle
will but recognize these conditions
they can easily come together.
Of peace plans there are very many
but to be effective plan must be ac-
ceptable to either side. OF the plans
proposed none meet this requirement,
so why should it no. be wise for them
to agree to return to the respective
positions they occupied before the
breaking out of hostilitics If the
negotiations were to be taken up
where they were left off, an agreement
might be reached along lines some
what as follows:
Let the governments be established
as they were before, but under British
suzerainty, the British taking the
mines as war indemnity, the Beers
granting the original demands of Eng
land as to the lights of the outlanders
relative to representation and taxa
tion.
This would save the Beers from I'M
conditional surrender, and at the same
time Justify England in claiming sue
cess, since it would insure to her the
ends for which she was contending
when she was forced to 90 to war.
The ultimate effect of it would be to
give to England what she could rot
get by twenty years fighting, and
what, in the final casting up Of &C
counts; the Beers could not prevent
her from securing. Under this plan
the Beers would lose no more than
they are certain to lose by protracting
the struggle, and they would gain
what otherwise would be impossible,
for their civil rights and property in
terests in the land to which they are
devoted would be protected and main
tanned.
By some plan like this each side to
the struggle would gain without losing
more than the fortunes of war ineyi-
tably impose, and peace would be re-
stored, to be rapidly followed ny sub
stantial prosperity.