The Atherstone Times. — 1879-03-01 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR. -THE ZULU WAR.  ---- Sir,— I want to look at this Zulu business in a clear manner I ask, was the war, even according to the accepted laws of war, a necessity? To do the Government credit they do not seem to have endo sed Sir Bartle Freer s dictum, that Cetewayo had determined to injure or insult us. At least, if there was any hostile feeling on his part. it is not proved that firm but peaceful means would not have removed all difficulty and danger. But, as I understand it, our High Commissioner seems to have made up his mind from the first that there must be war. And all his plans were laid accordingly. Now. if a peaceful and just rolicy towards the Zula King would have answered, then this war, like that in Afghanistan, is, before Heaven, a crime as well as a blunder. If it were only a blunder that might be retrieved; but if a crime, then the guilt and the shame will remain. Then the slaughter of these men—not only our own brave so' diers, but of tha Zulus as well —are so many murders, and the same criminality, and the :erne responsibility, and the same disgrace, attaches to somebody as belongs to the common murderer—say to Peace—there being this great difference, that whereas Peace has murdered only two or three people, in the other case thousands have been slain. There is another not unimportant distinction and difference, —viz., Peace shot his victims himself, and so rah a personal risk, but the authors of the Zulu policy employ other people to do the fighting, and to commit the murders and be murdered. But my chief object in writing is to protest most energetic Illy against the cry against the Zulus because of the defeat of the British troops at Isandula. This cry is not only unmoral, but it is stupid. If some foreign foe were to cross the British Channel, overrun the county of Kent, and make for London, and if our troops were to meet the foe, and were to inflict a crushing defeat, what would these fire eating Jingoes say then Would they condemn the act of our soldiers ? Nay, would they not laud and magnify the deed, and if not a foeman were permitted to look again upon the "silver streak" of sea over which they had just crossed, would not these noisy and immoral patriots, say.—" Serve them right ?" By what law. I ask, is that wrong in these Africans which would be right in us? How can that be barbarous and wicked in the Zulu which if done by the English would be lofty and patriotic? Would it be right for the nation so invading England to cry for vengeance in the event of their army, or any part of it, being destroyed? If not, what makes it right to cry for venvance against the Zulus. We invaded the Zulu territory—We were trespassers, and we should accept the contingencies of the invasion. The Zulus do not approve. of our going into their land any more than we should approve of France or Germany comity.,* int') ours. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I say, let us have a fair dispensation of merit and blame. I do, then, implore my fellow countrymen not to be lad astray. If this war be unjust let them say so, and demand the instant dismissal of those responsible for the crime And do let us, also, avoid labelling in the Zulu as mere barbaric vengeance what in ourselves would be extolled as lofty patriotiam.  WEST -ORCHARD IeITN