Show m OP A CITY ClY Tire The possibility ot of the destruction or of Johannesburg by br the Boers is s causing much discussion slon and a Proclamation seems cems to hOe have been issued declaring that thal tim British would be justified irr III seizing private belongings In retaliation for the wanton destruction ot of British property There can be hardly any question os as to the riGhts ot of the burghers burgher to destroy the tho elt city mentioned Great BrItain informed the powers shortly after atter the beginning ot of the con conflict that thata a state of war exIsted In South Africa The belligerent rights ot of the Doers can enn therefore met lIot be disputed This beIng conceded International law ex cx exerts perle erts hold that the they are In Inra ra razing Johannesburg It if the they deem It necessary to do so 10 to prevent It from I being mAde n a base or of operations against Pretoria The oct act would be considered as n a necessary war measure Iri In sup support support port ot of this view Jew Fish Is quoted IU its having said In a note noto to Mm lIn ister Thornton at London that ho he was not aware or of any an low law by which either ot of the tho Is hold bound to Indemnity indemnify or make rep to 10 the owners of 0 property properlY destroyed Inthe In Inthe the necessary proSecution ot of hostile operations V This is II train from II a purely military point ot of view Ie Worse Wore nets than the ot of a city have been committed b by the armies annles of at every European country countr But Dut such a atop astep top step would b deplorable It would mean menn that t tro o peo plo pie are resolved to fight to the tho bitter end and It bo be a notice to the world that a great number ot of lives Ive ar are yet et to be sacrificed on African soil Such an act would the hatred between the contending races roces and make reconciliation In the present generation moro more Improbable than It lip op pears Clra even nt at present Ills It is not belIeved that any American citizen would sustain losses losse worth men mell should Johanne burg bo be snort on tine altar or of the war god but It if our government has any Influence at Pretoria It would do welt 1011 to exercise It In the interest or of a speedy spee ly peace This country has opened it gates wide to 10 the Finnish people and thousands of at them are leaving the sepulchre of at their ancient liberty autonomy and existence The same nine gates would be open to the flours who cannot be reconciled to foreign dominion They had hod better give up nn an Ira possible struggle and make the best ot of the Inevitable |