The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-12-28

The NEWS from the Transvaal in
South Africa must be decidedly in.
teresting to the British government.
The Beers have openly re-proolaimed
their freedom and set up the govern.
ment which was thrown down by the
English a few years ago. Sone en-
gagements have already taken place,
in which the Dutch have been vic.
torious. This revolt occurs at a
highly inoppcrtune time. Great
Britain has big job on hand in Ire
land. That part Of the kiGgdom is
in practical revolt. The government
does not govern aud the lava do not
prevail or avail. The people are a
law unto Themselves, and while
enact no statutes, they make
rules which control. Thirty
thousand of tbs army are now in
Ireland, and other regiments are
going there, yet the Land League
organization is so perfect, End exer-
oisss so much influence, that neither
the police DsR the troops can keep the
people in suhjection, or make them
conform to established rules. At this
distance the Irish dispute may seem
e little thing, but it is large enough
to tax heavily the resources of the
general government. The British are
not in good condition to engage in a
war in South Africa, and especially
such q wsE as it must be if the
natives and Beers combine to fight
the common enemy. The war will
not be OF the character of those
between civilized nations, but !
rather SITTER the Zulu style of war
fare, in which victory ia attended
with go little credit, and defeat
is terribly disastrous in the mat
ter Of men and money no less
that In reputation. The Beers
regard the British as invaders, and
while the latter have taken possession {
of the little republic, the inhabitants t
have maintained their recent societies
and political organizations, and stead.
lily resisted all efforts to Anglicize the
colony. II the Irish are opposed 70
EDgliGh rule, the Beers are Goubly 60.
and their cause OF grievance is mod ..
ern. Their colony, which they had es.
tablished through great danger and ex- I
cessiVe labo7, was appropriated by the
invaders only few years 40. So far !
the people have not shown the slight e
est sign Of becoming reconoiIed to the Il
new order Of things, and there is no Q
indication that they will ever mix :
with the aIienrAce. The English have
been unable in the least degree to Y
change or modify the customs and o.
of the hardy colonists. n
who we're born With Independence n
and freedom bred into them.
The Beers are saids to be brave, dar- .
Ing, and even reckless il facing dan
ger, they are energetic, bu, exces- CO
si7ely modest in department, and u
wonderfully domestic. Those vino =
have lived with them ssy they are .
plain, honest, hospitable, but suspi
,ious of ali foreigners. and il the
,sse of the English they have good
'esson to be. They will be- found a a "a
ormidable enemy, even to the -
mighty British Empire, which il not
n position TO invite trouble or bring -
IN wars which must. however thew y
esult in the end, De bloody and ex- -
In their manifesto, procia- s.
nation OF notice to the English CON-
nander in South Africa, the Beers do
lot speak as though they were re
oIved upon gsme of bluff. They E,
ak Ike earnest, desperate men, ca
mo knew their rights and were col
Ding to defend them at whatever Gu
oct. We may all feel sorry for them, W. W.
II in the end they must yield, but BiI
e may also mourn for the hundreds be
ID thousands OF British soldiers whose my
res will be lost in the terrible strug- %,
: that the great empire must enr
gage ia in order to maintain its We
in toe dark continent, 'Ai'