The Age Herald

Grim Refusal of the Boers.

The rejection of the terms offered by Lord Kitchener means that the Boers prefer to struggle and struggle on, hoping that Russia or some other power will come to their aid. They prefer to endure much suffering in order to take advantage of contingencies that may arise, quite forgetting that England will doubtless see that none arise while they remain belligerent.

The Boers, too, desire to make the conquest of the two republics very expensive to England; but while they are doing that they are increasing the thoroughness of their own defeat, and disappearance as a people. The very rejection by General Botha of the terms offered means that between outlanders and Kaffirs the Boers are hereafter to be a subject people. They will scarcely be a force in the Transvaal after this war is ended on present lines.

So far as their families are concerned the Boers have made a great mistake. They have doubled their own sufferings, and that, too, with no chances of gains. They have made complete subjugation a necessity to Great Britain. They have invited it. There should be sense and good judgment at the end of a heroic struggle, as well as in its earlier steps. There was none of either present when the British terms were rejected.

To the outside world the saddest feature of the situation is the destruction of two republics, because of hardheadedness at the beginning of the war and also near its ending. Rage without judgment never won much in this world, and it has cost the Boers almost beyond words, for they have lost independence and liberty and country, and even individual property rights. The blow is crushing and final, and General Botha's rejection of peace terms seals the fate of these brave men.