THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1902. THE MISSION OF THE BOER LEADERS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 270, 16 October 1902, Page 3

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1902. THE MISSION OF THE BOER LEADERS.

It was the dictum of the great Napoleon that when a foe was beaten he should be so thoroughly crushed that it would be altogether out of his power to rise again and renew the conflict. Such, however, has never been the motto of Great Britain, but rather has she erred on the side of undue clemency. With none was this more apparent than with the Boers, even that phlegmatic race being compelled to admit the generosity of their treatment. In the first flush of excitement at tho termination of a hopeless struggle, both sides gave vent to their feelings in a somewhat hysterical manner, and the Boers in all probability gained much more than they had dared to expect. In return their leaders promised to be faithful subjects and to endeavour to make themselves worthy of further trust. Iti the light of their present occupation of stumping the Continent raising funds to supplement Britain’s generosity and in. cidentally stirring up again the Continental hatred of England and the English these promises must be largely discounted. Despite what the Boer leaders in the field promised, they have had to take second place when dealing with Dr. Leyds and Mr Kruger, who preferred to conduct operation* from a safe distance. Whatever the ultimate object of the Boer leaders’ mission, it is certain that no effort will be spared to perpetuate anti-British feeling, and if by any possibility Britain were envoi ved in another war an attempt would bo made to wrest away her newlyacquired South African dominions. However far off that attempt may be it is a possibility that should always be borne in mind.