The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-07
Nrurer Mn.ter of the situntion.

President Kruger OF the TransyaaI re-
public holds the key to the South African
situation. and. as he is a man OF good
judgment. it is expected that he viii use
his advantage so as TO receive the great
est possible benefit for his people. The
British government has been begging
him. and with success apparently, not TO
deal with DR.. Jameson and his fellow
hlibusfors as the law permits him to do.
The British government is in a dilemma.
II President Kruger should have DR..
jameson executed the outburst Of popular
Indignation in England would be so great
that the Salisbury ministry would be
driven from power That is why the
British government is begging President
Kruger for mercy.
But suppose President Kruger should
grant the request of the British govern
ment. and spare the lives Of DR.. Jameson
and his hnbusters. would he not demand
some consideration for his leniency? 1t
is about certain he would. The belief is
that ne would insist upon the abrogation
of the suzerainty which Great Britain
exercises over the Transvaal republic in
accordance with what is known as the
convention of 1854. or he would demand
the cancellation of the charter of the
South African company.
But why did DR.. Jameson lead an armed
force into the Transvaal? That is
question that is not yet satisfactorily
answered. Somebody must have fur
nished him with the means to equip such
an expedition. 1t has been suggested
that Cecil Rhodes. the prime minister of
the British South African colony. fur
nished the money. He is enormously rich
and very ambitious. He is about AZ years
of age and is regarded by those who
know him as one OF the most remarkable
men Of the present time. Rhodes. it is
believed. sought to make a British prov
ence of the Transvaal republic with the
view of forming a great British state in
South Africa with himself at the head
of it.
Did the British government know Of
DR.. Jameson's purpose to march into the
Transvaal with the view of overthrowiag
Of course, be answered, but it is stated
with great positiveness that as long ago
as last October it was known that Dr.
jameson was collecting an armed force
for some purpose or other. President
Kruger knew long before the expedition
started what its purpose was, though lie
pretended he did not. and he made prep
arations to resist it,
The alleged cause of the invasion and at
tempt to overthrow the Transvaal govern
ment was the dissatisfaction Of the Eng
lish settlers of the Transvaal. Thousands
of Englishmen were drawn to the Trans
vaal by the discovery of rich gold mines.
In fact, the great gold mines that are now
commanding the attention of the whole
world are within the limits of that re-
public. These English miners. spectators
and adventures were greatly dissatisfied
with the laws Of the republic, especially
the laws which prevented them from ex-
ercising the rights of citizenship until
they had been residents of the republic
certain number of years. They we're
wen NitdtNu ny lit DUCTS as the people
of Transvaal are called, but that didn't
satisfy them. They wanted to run the
government. Therefore, they plotted with
other Englishmen in the South African
colony to overthrow the Transvaal GOV
eminent and take charge of the political
affairs of the Transvaal republic. They
were waiting for DR.. Jameson's force at
johannesburg, but DR.. Jameson, owing to
the shrewdness of President Kruger and
his little army of sturdy Beers, did not
reach that place.
What the outcome of the affair will be
cannot be predicted. 1t would have been
easily settled in all probability if the
German emperor had not sent a dispatch
to President Kruger congratulating him
on his victory and virtually telling him
that he was glad that Great Britain's
constituencies, land-grabbing policy had
received a check. Still, even that dispatch
may be explained away by the diplomats.
Great Britain isn't going to have war
if she can avoid it without the loss of
honor.
Justice From Turkey Demanded.
According to our dispatches this morn
ing, our government is preparing to use
force, if necessary, to compel Turkey to
indemnify American citizens for losses