THE WITNESS ON THE "PRO-BOERS." TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 44

THE WITNESS ON THE "PRO-BOERS." TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — As one whom doubtless" you would label "pro-Boer," although I object to . the title, allow -me" "to reply to your remarks thereon in your -last -issue. I protest against your' assumption -that those who are against the South African war 'are -wishful to see their country worsted. -• Nothing of the sort. We are as proud of the honourable traditions of our country as any one can be, but we claim our right to speak against her being led by unwise counsellors into a dishonourable line of action. No, Sir, we are rot for the Boers, as ' you put it ; we are ior , Britain pursuing an honourable course :n her dealings with all nations, particularly with small, weak States; and in connection with the present war "peace, advocates" is a fai metre coxred;

appellation for men who c-onsider such a war wrong and unnecessary than +o apply a term which, according to your showing, 1 implies a wish for the Boers to win. We have no ■wish to see a handful of simple farmers beat the pride of the British Empire, but we do wish to see Britannia refuse to soil her hands by the dirty -work of niching by force of numbers their independence from the South African farmers. We claim to be true patriots seeking to preserve our ]oved country's good name against those who would sell it (and have sold it) for less than a mess of pottage. I ask a question. Suppose an American to object to the recent American-Spanish war (which I believe was primarily • entered into from as piire motives as is possible in any war except a war defensive of home and country), was, he necessarily pro- Spanish? Was John Bright a pro-Russian when he objected to the Crimean war?. Time has shown John Bright and his kind to have been right, and tho> newspaper editors and other "patriots" who hurled hard names at hini to be wrong. I am amused at your thinking that, the average '"pro-Boer" is usually, careful to be on, the popular side. I ask;, would anyone, unless very courageous or very independent ofvpop^ilarity, be likely to brave the treatment- accorded him by /'patriots'' who are fighting (by deputy) for freedom of speech in thY Transvaal?- Personally I am obliged, much against my will, to use a norn de plume instead of my usual signature, as a, measure of self-preservation against sav-ige, ignorant Boars — I beg pardon, I- mean • the cultivated, Intelligent Britishers -who object to my 'having a say with regard to the 'actions of the Government of my own country. — I am-, etc., PEACE ADVOCATE (or, Peaceful "Progress). [If our correspondent is " not for the Boers," as he says, then he is clearly not a " pro-Boer. ' As a "peace advocate we have no present concern with him, and can only regret that he should be a century or so ahead of his age. — Ed.]