RACIAL HATRED.
[TO Tam EDITOR or THE "SPEOTATOR.1 Si,—The great question of the day is whether we shall do our duty by the Outlanders, however disagreeable it may be to us, or leave them to the tender mercies of the Boer. One of the most formidable threats to deter us from doing our duty is that we shall intensify the so-called "racial hatred" between the Dutch and English. But I may plead that this view is at least open to argument. Between brave enemies who meet in open fight there generally arises a feeling of mutual respect that often ripens into friendliness. The com- petition and jealous rivalry of trade is perhaps more pro- ductive of hatred between rival races than the clash of war. Civil war is rightly considered to leave the most lasting em- bitterment, yet after the great contest of North and South, America became a more united people than before. In our great war with France our officers and soldiers were always fraternising with the enemy whenever they had a chance. It was not from any special love for Frenchmen, but because they admired a brave enemy. In the Crimea, when they were our jealous and not always fair allies, the feeling on both sides was very different. Have we not fought the Dutch before with varying results as to victory, but with no other feeling than respect for their courage and in- dependence? The Danes might have reason to hate us for destroying their fleet, but I have yet to learn that they do. The most formidable enemy we ever met in India came nobly to our assistance during the Mutiny at time of our greatest need, and quite recently the brave Afridis, after giving us immense trouble, have shown themselves willing to be ex- cellent friends again. After all, there is something in the schoolboy theory of the advantage of letting out a littl
bad blood. At present the Boer hates and despises the "red neck"; perhaps if he finds reason for ceasing to despise us he may also cease to hate us.—I am, Sir, A SOLDIER.
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