The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-14

| InSlE MONIES anu IdIUlS, dHu WIN NC-
spise the enterprise and unrest which
go with gold mining and stock jObbing
They hate gamblers and robbers. The
word BOer means farmer. When Eng
land occupied Natal, in 1913, they
found that the Dutch had been in that
country, then, 100 years. So they be-
long there, and own the country by
every conceivable right They, how
ever, have been pushed back and back
until their present and final settlement
across the Vaal, where the British
might have at last left them in peace,
but for the discovery of gold. Their
! republic is surrounded by Zululand,
Bechuanaland, Matabeleland and other
barbarous regions against which these
stOlid Dutch have held their own, and
| would but for the infringement Of gold
thirsty BritOns. After many troubles
| and wars, from 1912 to 1881, in some
complications fomented by England in
her raids upon all that region, the
Beers got their Dutch up" and in
| sheer desperation, under the command
of an old farmer by the name of Piet
Jourbel they jumped into the British
troops and achieved freedom at a
| stroke. This same old Pet Jourbel
whipped DR.. Jim Jameson and the
sprigS and flower of British royalty
two weeks ago. The big victory of
1881 paralyzed London. 1t was the
sensation of the day, and Johnny Bull
then determined to wipe out the Dutch
republic at any cost. But he hasn't
Under the terms of the treaty OF 1881
the Beers obtained independence. ex-
cept as to a British suzerainty, which
means supervision. But it now seems
that the Beers also entered into a secret
treaty with Germany, hence Emperor
Williams prompt and unexpected ac-
assumed the presidential chair the
country was in the throes Of what may
be called the reconstruction period.
He has had to deal with his own peo-
pie, largely primitive and unprogres-
sive, and with considerable and grow
ing population Of intelligent and Specu-
lative EngliShmen who would like to
upset the whole order of things and
make the Transvaal a crown colony.
To pacify the latter he secured the in
stitutiOn Of a second legislative cham
Der, also of tWenty-fOur members, 10
which such of these Uitlanders, or for
elgnerS, as are naturaliZed and own
property may send representatives but
upon all its acts the original BOer vOllls-
raad holds an absolute veto power
Prior TO the formation of this chamber,
however, and in 1883, when the influx
Of gold seekers commenced. an act was
passed prohibiting the mining of gold
and silver. The Beers had been &C |
Quainted for fifty years with the exist |
ence of the deposits of precious metal, |
but the old men. rooted in the customs |
of primeval and pastoral mode Of /
life. desired that their simple manners |
should remain unchanged. The pro-
hlbitOry act was unpopular even /
among the younger Beers, who craved |
the wealth deSpised by their fathers,
and soon became a dead letter. The |
rich veins We're found in 1888 by an
named Struben, and a
moderate rush Immediately began, SO
that Mr.. Kruger during the whole of
his terms of office has had to deal with
a constantly growing population of dar-
ing spirits from all quarters of the
earth who could be ruled only with a
rod of iron. The effective manner in
which the Jameson raid was handled.
the diSarming Of more than 10000 for
eigners on the Rand and the bold tone
adopted in dealings with Great Britain
show the forceful character of the aged
president and his confidence in the
and strength of his mill
tary organization. 1t is true that the
South African republic represents re-
or, at best, inactivity, but
we cannot fail TO admire the heroic
figure of the old man who stands at
the head of a race that Is perhaps ig-
norant and INDECENT, according to our
ideas, yet possesses those manly attri-
butes which we are compelled to adj
init belongs only TO men worthy to be
free.
The latest dispatches say that prom
lnent English residents of Johannes
bug have been arrested for high trea-
son; that England is said TO have pur-
chased DelagOa bay from Portugal 10
secure landing for trooos close to the
Transvaal, and that the squadrons be-
ing hastily fitted out at Portsmouth and
Sheerness are destined for South Afri-
"a If these things are verified and
the 10000 Beers behind Kruger re
ceive the support of Germany then is
the world on the verge of a catastrophe.