The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1900. THE DAY OF RECKONING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 94, 27 April 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1900. THE DAY OF RECKONING.

The article which appeared in the London Times from the pen of Mr. Rudyard Kipling under the somewhat sensational heading of " The Sin of Witchcraft" is sure to attract keen attention all over the world. The title and subject! matter are, as a matter of course, original, and the indictment against those who for years have been skilfully and successfully spreading the seeds of rebellion at Cape Colony is drastic and thorough. The picturesque way in which the author carries the scene back for ten years, and introduces the state of affairs there at that time, as well as the forecast by the " wise ones " of the trend of events, is peculiarly characteristic of the writer. The anticipated trouble has arrived, and the prophetic warning then given and repeated two years ago that " from Capetown to the border we shall be in the enemy's country" owing to the land being full of spies and mistrust, has been amply verified. In commenting on the article The Times says: "No doubt many wise people are congratulating themselves that they did not show their hand too soon, or commit themselves irrevocably to what they now perceive to be the losing side. With these we need not concern ourselves over much. Tliey would have kicked us—none more vigorously—had we fallen down ; they will cringe to us when we find we can stand upright. There are, however, thousands who have openly taken sides against us. Some have joined the ranks of the Boers, and are directly responsible for loss of life among our soldiers. A far larger number have stayed at home and openly preached sedition, thwarting our movements, intimidating our loyal subjects, furnishing supplies to our enemies, forwarding information to disconcert our plans, and complacently promising impunity to all the bolder spirits who went to the front." The reason attributed for this active and secret treason is traced to the humiliating surrender of 1881. " As it was in 'Bl, the Government will take care it does not pay any one to be loyal " are words of warning of such terrible import that it will take mure than an ordinary measure of stern, impartial, and uncompromising reckoning with the offenders to efface the stain these words cast on the policy of the past. The loyalist on the border has his house ripped inside out by the Boers, or the rebels, or both ; but the disloyalist farm is respected, and, in return, he supplies the enemy with food, horses, and information. " Dimly and distantly," says Mr. Kipling, " Capetown realises that the thing called the : British Government is now in earnest.

. . At, heart I do believe Capetown is a little disposed to reconsider her position." The graphic sketches which are given in illustration of the indictment and of the practical impunity with which the actors have carried on their villainy are superbly written and most dramatically worked out. In concluding its comments '/7 ie Times says:—" Perhaps the most striking portion of Mr. Kipling's letter is that in which he appeals in the name of the colony herself for such justice upon evildoers as shall reinstate lier in the good opinion of the Empire, ller nakedness is laid bare to the whole English - speaking race. Wherever the bugles are blown men are even now reading the outspoken comments of their sons upon the disloyalty by which tliey have sufi'ered. Canada and Australasia have sent their children to fight for the Hag and to be betrayed into the hands of the enemy by fellow-citizens of the Eifipu-o." The end and aim of Mr. Kipling's cuticle is that the deliberate treason anu open hostility rampant for the last ten years shall not go unpunished. That not only th'e British public, but the whole of the Imperial public, will back him up may safely be predicted. Vengeance is not asked for—merely justice and fair play, and the inculcation of the lesson that after all disloyalty will not

pay hotter, or as well,as fidelity. There appears to be no difficulty in the process of bringing the offenders to trial —they are well-known. They have " blazoned their shame, they have become reckless in word and deed. They can be brought to account, and in bringing them to account coldly, judicially, yet unflinchingly and inexorably, we shall at once secure the respoct of our friends, and purge the [Oape] Colony of the stain oftreasoa." A Aim attitude by the British Government at the close of the war will be essential if a far greater struggle than the present is to be prevented in the future. The colonies have eagerly and gladly poured into South Africa a goodly supply of their best sons, and in the winding up of affairs should have some voice in the final settlement. Whenever the time is ripe for bringing the miscreants to trial and wiping out] the mistakes of past policy, the Imperial authorities will do well to invite judicial aid from those colonies which have helped to bear the burden of the strife. There will not be wanting men of backbone and foresight equal to the task of dealing with treason, and fearing not to mete out to the murderer or manslayer the punishment which is due—sufficiently strong, moreover, to resist the plea, " let bygones be bygones," and to show the world at large that Greater Britain can accomplish the task that England essayed but failed to catry out.