New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
IN SOUTH AFRICAN BUSH.
LORD RANDOLPH CHURC HILLS BOOK.
MEN. MINES AND ANIMALS ~ SOUTH AFRiCahA.
nv Lord Randolph :. Churchill, VI. p. $40, PIP o'o'

nv Lord Randolph s. Churchill, NJ p. $40, PIP. $50
New-io-k: ID. Appleton a 90.
Tho preface 10 ibis entertaining volume is
thoroughly Characteristic of the brilliant au'hor.
II contains an apology for the reproduction Oh
n series of letters which had appeared IN Inc
Daily Graphic, and this naturally Involves
side.thrust at tie expense Of those criucs VINO
have been riding rough-shod over the author.
The direct testimony of the proprietors of thao
journal has served to convince him that the pubic
has read his letters; and this has led him to the
conclusion that III, critics who condemned them
were wrong. or worse still that the pubic
does not care twopcncc what the Judgment OF
tho critics NAV be 1t is on the of chance,
the author adds that this state of things, de-
duced BIZ argument, may he The actual state OF
things that again submit these letters to the
public in another form" This Is exceiicnt
badnaee with the same keen cage whlch his
cpicrams reveal in Parliament; and IT is supple
men,ed b. the withdrawal in mock soiomnlty oil
passages containing reflections upon the cook OF the
steamer in which he sailed to Sontn Africa, ana
some hazardous speculations on the origin oil the
female sex. which have been taken very seriously
by some OF the critics. Chatting such as this
is amusing but apologies for the republlca'ion. OF
the letters were not needed. The book Is the
better for having bccn written somewhat IN the
line of journalism 1t is q volume OF travel CON
tanning the results of journalists trained observa-
ton and intelligent reflection upon political
affairs Such work is IL great Improvement
upon the ordinary book of travel. The author III
writing for the entertainment and instruction OF
the readers of The Daily Graphic produced II
much better book than he would have done II he
had collected his notes. and in the leisure OF ms
London library attempted TO put them together
after the usual manner
The volume is mainly occupied with an in
MIGRATING recital of Lord Randolph Churchilrs
recent Journey from the Cape of Good Hope
through the Transvaal and Bechuana Land |"
Mashona Land or Southern Zambesia One chapter
is taken up with the outward voyage, and another
with Cape Colony and for the 1ransvaal Beers
three chapters are reserved. The remainder OF
the volume is devoted 10 the vast territories in
the interior which have recently been brought
under the sphere Of British influence. The
journey involved 1000 miles of travel by on or
mule wagon beyond tne lines of railway commune
cation. and was attended with all tho'e hardShirs'
discomforts sporting adventures AMI incidents oi
camp life which furnish material for a fresh and
delightful book Of travel Lord Randolph Churchill
thoroughly enjoyed his experiences III the Afil"an
bush. and has Iroiu cd n record of his journey
and exploration which has hardly dull page
In il.
Nothing could BE- more can III than the authors
manner OF discussing political relations IN South
Africa. lie surrender Of the 1ransvaal and the
peace concluded by Mr. Gladstone with the vict9rs
Of Mouba Hi were Transactions which he Ind
bitterly Denounced in Parliament. Peter and
more precis, Information. combined with rciec-
ton now 'cads him 10 the conclusion that while
The British Government at that time might have
annihilatcd the Eocr forces. and have rcgained
Tie Iransvaal II would have Lost Cape Colony.
The Dutch sentiment in the colony bad been 80
exaggerated by what il considered 10 b. Tie
just fai;hlcss AMI arbitrary policy pursued towar
tie free Du,chmcn Of tie Tr,ns,aal by Sir Bartlc
FIcrc Sir Iheophilus StclStonc and Sir Owen
Lanyon that the final triumph of ,' British arms.
mainly by brute force. wouli have prominently
and hopclcsty alienaicl il from Great Britain
The magnaniairy of tie peace with the Bocrs.
concluded by Mr. Gladstonc's Government after
two humiating military rcvcrscs suffered by the
their control atoncI for past grievances
and reconciled tie Dutch settlers 10 English rule
Concord between Dutch and English IN Cape
Colony was rcndercl possible b., masnanlmiiy.
ON tie other hand Tie concessions made 70 tn
Bocrs have inflated them with overwhelming
pride, aud retarded the progress Of south Africa.
" On the whole, writes this former critic OF Mr.
Gladstonc's foreign diplomacy, lind niysef free
To confess. ana without reluctance 20 admit, that
the English escaped from wrcrched aud dis
rcditable muddlc. not without harm aud damage.
but probably in the hest possible manner, aud that
lessons have been taught 70 many parties by the
'lransyapl war which, if learned, may be Of the
utmost value in framing future policy The
following passage presents the authors uufavorab,
view Of tie bocr Of the IransNaal rs dstingu shed
from the Dutch settlers OF Cape Colony:
THO hoer farmer per,oniaes USE, illenes; oc
cuplIng larn O from 5000 to 10000 acres, he con
ic> hhscli %iih raising herd Of ftw hundred head
~ cattle which are left almost entirely to The of
the natives whom he employs IL may be asserted gen
orally with ruth. that he never plants ire digs
well, never maize, IOiu never grows blade OF
Rough and ready cultivation OF the soil for mcacs by
he nrvch he - some cAtent permits, but agriculture
nnd the aercu rt he ho!ds alike IN great contempt
'mo"'ng aud drinking o'nec. lie j. perfectly un |
cdlced WIN Tho exception o. the Bible every |
believes with fanatical crcduy. he never opens "A |
book. never even reads newspaper HIS simple ig
he shares with hi, wife, bi, sons his daughters being
proud that his children shouh grow up rs gno |
rs himself. In inc winter time lie moves |
With his herd Of cnttle into the better pasture, md
iider climate OF inc low country vedt and lives a.
dN ana useieSaly In his wagon as he does In his |
farmhouse. The summer sees him rrturnng home, |
ne Bcr farmer drags ont abe most degraded aud |
Gnobe existence ever experienced by n rucc with |
any pfctcnsOns 10 clVlnZniOH. have, i must ad |
nit, met peIsOnS In Government circles and |
elsewhere OF BOer Dutch birth who nrc entirely !
excluded from the scope Of these remarks whose |
manners were polite and amable. who were anxious |
% show kindness and hospitality. whose conversation |
was distinguished BY original Ideas and liberal sent
nents These, however. are but bright exceptions. |
speak Of the nation If Tnnsvanl Beers II whole |
- think ! have seen II. turned my back gladly |
IN this people, Fastening northwnrds To lnndS pos
'csSed hoped Of equal wealth. brighter prospects |
deserved for more WORTHY owners entitled t. happi.r
icstincs: rciOlced after all that ] had seen I'm the
IIansvaal that the country and the people of the |
'atabele and the Mashnna had been rescued I'm the
lic Of time. owing 10 the genius OF Mr. Rhodes and
he tardy vigor Of the British Government from the
whitening and mortal grasp Of the Boer.
One of the most interesting chapters Of the bool,
Is that in which the wonderful diamond mines
Of Kimberley described. The Dc Beers Com
rany represents The amalgamated interests of
nearly all the corporations. The scale Of it's opc-
rations is stnpendous. On a capital of nearly
$40, 100000 Of debcnture and share stock IL
has paid interest at the rate of ) l-9 per cent