OLIVE SCHREINER INTERVIEWED BY PATTERSON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6730, 27 February 1900, Page 2

OLIVE SCHREINER INTERVIEWED BY PATTERSON.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Recently you published an. interview between, Mr Patterson and Olive Sclireiner, in -whiclii the lady denounced 'the present war -with the Boers with clenched fists, alleging that it was a " put up job "by the capitalists. Patterson seemed to agree with 'her, drawing her out on points favouring the Boers. I don't know that it is worth while taking 'much notice of this interview, as the fight is now on, and will be certainly carried on to a " finish," and if Kruger is not " knocked out " by the end of nexb week, he will, at any rate, be very " groggy " on his legs. But the danger is that the remarks made by Patterson at t>he end of his interview may db harm. He said as much that public opinion at the Cape was in the main against the Avar, and that even if .the British won they would have trouble for years in governing a stubborn and resistful people. Now, as long as Mr Patterson sends us graphic accounts of the war we will be thankful to him, but when he steps out of his sphere and assumes the role of ! a prophetic statesman we may be allowed to demur. We may bs allowed 'to ask why we should attach any weight to a writer who was opce a paid contributor to that almost indecent, scurrilous, disloyal paper, the " Sydney Bulletin," and we may be allowed to question whether, smart writer as he may be, he has made himself acquainted with the history 'pf South Africa for the last thirty years. If he had, I think it would have only been in good taste, as showing some respect for ihe Sydney " Morning Herald." which he now represents, if ho had 1 stated fairly the facts of the case, that is, that the Boers would not really have lis for neighbours. If they had been sensible they might haye said, we would prefer Dutch to British neighbours, but since they have come, we will just bleed them as much as we -can without overdoing it, fund as they, the Boers, wene first in • the field, veiy probably public opinion would have hacked them up. But instead of thati not only did, they over-bteed, but they worked determinedly ito drive us out of the country. This they 'have confessed. Well, it is no use, going over, ancient history*' but , it is of use for 'us.' t& have aii -.intelligent and just view of the question, so thatpublic j opinion may be very pronounced; in urging the British Government to qbtain adequate andjust terms in settlement on- the completion of the Avar. There is always great danger of allowing a false sympathy to Sris6 at the time of our .elation with victory. I We often see this sympathy granted to the foulest of criminals, and there will.be only 'too many in Britain to use the cant pliraze "forgive and forget." Now, we must uot forget. that Kruger has persistently stirred up racial hatred, that he has by great astuteness struck the Empire a; ■heavy blow, and that the colonies have rallied nobly to her assistance. When, therefore, the terms of settlement are being debated it will be for nil the colonies to say, " We have not spared to give valued lives* to. 'attain victory, and we look that the price has not been paid: in vain." — I am, etc., ■ VERAX.