Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1900. War or Peace P

Manawatu Herald, 8 March 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1900. War or Peace P

" Kruger wants peace," such is the headline of an item of what Dr Leyds declares. There can be little wonder if both Kruger and Dr. Steyn desire peace, and it should be, to them, at any price. To keep up the marvellous audacity of these two Dutch* speaking States, who first of all declared war against Britain's might, staking all like a gamester on the chances of what might follow on such an undertaking, now, hemmed and overpowered, cry for peace with the absurd conditions as to the recognition of the independence of the allied Republics. The Boers have been fearfully misled as to the temper of the members of the British Empire if they imagine for one moment that any proposal like that will be entertained. We are glad to see that with the view to strengthening the hands of the Government members of the House of Commons are largely signing a memorial that there shall be no lasting settlement after the war unless the residents of the Republics are disarmed and incorporated. This is the right thing to do, and the London Times foreshadows that the Republiaa will be converted into Grown colonies, allowing them to federate on Canadian or Australian lines, and develop from within. No other concession would be agreed to, as we have been insulted by the Boers more than is tolerable, and the progress of the war has developed the savage tactics of which they have been guilty. A few months ago the aim of these Republics was to drive the Britisher into the sea, and the Boers | perpetrated the farce of formally annexing certain portions of South Africa, the property of the Empire. This was childless, and no much harm would have been thought of it had they behaved like civilised beings in the fight they courted. The Boers have been found guilty of using explosive bullets, also bullets with the tips dipped in chemicals that made a very bad wound, of firing on the Red Cross, and also on the white flag. Their last improper act that we have been made aware of is the deliberate pollution of the water supply of Ladysmith, which was the chief cause of the disease and suffering undergone by the inhabitants and garrison I Men guilty of such base tricks finding themselves cornered ask for peace ! Can such men be trusted for one moment, and do they deserve any such trust being placed in them ? Nothing will satisfy the people than the complete disarmament of the Boers and the control of their lands being taken out of their hands, and the cost of the war being made a debt of the conquered territory. To do this we may have to boldly face Continental intervention, but we believe the cry from all over j the Empire will be for the British

Government to stand stedfast to the wish of the people. We have risked much, but we had better risk more to complete our contract in South Africa properly and permanently.