New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-06
THE BOERS SAID TO BE JUSTIFIED
or THE BRITISH PRESS.

". W. STERLING. or TRANsvAAL TELLS WHY
BRITISH CAPITALISTS OBJECT TO THE COY
ERNMENT OF PRESIDENT KRUGER
Washington. JAN Speciality. W. Sterling. Of
Transvaal. South Africa. the country where the
English and Beers at present in collision. is
visiting friends in this city He has lived in the
Transvaal for a number of years. and has been
several expeditions to neighboring countries pros
pecting for gold ard buying different kinds of mer-
chandise
Besides speaking several dialects peculiar to the
natives, with whom traffic in the outlying districts
is carried he has many acquaintance in JO-
hsrnesburs the centre OF the present disturbance
Mr. Sterling has President Kruger. OF the
Boer Republic. whom he describes a man OF
great integrity and democratic The Boers
have good for defending their country. Nj
Sterling believes and will make bitter fight before
they will submit TO the demands oil the foreign resi-
dents He describes them as an industrious people
lacking perhaps In enterprise. but still thrifty AMI
in many instances possessing large wealth. Many
OF them originally came from Germany. and that is
why the Fatherland comes 10 be Interested In the
present controversy. Mr.. Sterling lef, the Trans
,dal 10 to America in October. and expects
return in the spring He says the difficulty had
ts gin back in June last over drawings for claims
10 gold mines Whitfonten and Lupard Wei, To-
caites about twenty-five miles from johannesburg
rn- Beers 10 have had the best OF ii in the
drawings which are made according 10 their pecul-
ar laws and fights for possession followed. much
after the fashion Of Western mining camps. The
capitalists were dissatisfied. especially the English
and Mr.. Sterling believes that England Is back
ing the claims of her subjects. with the intention
eventually Of Selling the government Of the coun-
ny.
such action he thinks would be resisted to the
end because tne Beers are splendid fighters. being
able 10 muster about 900 able-bod!e. men. Besides
heir own p0pula, don capable OF bearing arms. he
thinks the natives will certainly night for the Beers
..nom they at the same time fear and love becaus.
inev are well treated. The natives. however, are
.ot been accustomed 10 the use OF firearms. ana
nave no; been allowed TO own guns OF weapons OF
any Kind II greatest diligence * observed by the
authorities 20 prevent even knives from coming
10 ile possession OF the blacks. They fight nercey
.. IT, spear and shield. ana would be useful IN bai
% 70 before the lines of soldiers
There are about 800 AmericanS In JOHANNESBURG.
MI Sterling says. Largely out OF respect for them
the last Fourth OF July was widely celebrated IN
that city "a a holiday. The Beers had their nals
ny ng Fl ON public buildings, but certain OF the Eng
lsh pulled them down. and general fght followed
.Iucn o. the discomfort comes from the English
CAPITALISTS no make fortunes out of their invest
inents but still object to the payment OF heavy
duties levied on imports, especially the machinery
FOR mines As a matter of fact heavy duties are
paid on manufactured products. so that exorbitant
asked for necessities as wei as !uAurles
igars sell for % cents apiece and clothing and FOOD
are disposed of at prices comparatively as nigh.
In carving products from one. state to another
iuties must be paid on passing each boundary