New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-07
JAMESON AT THE BAR.
WITH PRELIMINARY MYSTERY PLAY
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOERS

.,,yed the vicsstudeS or emancipation and reVO-
,ut,on In Brazil. \ liberal translation would be:
.1n order that the English may see It," The
ohrase originated during the period Of emanci-
cation agitation. when the shareholders were
constantly setting up one legislative makeshift
after another for reducing the evils Of slavery,
hut were invariably shrinking from the enact
r,ent of practical reform measures 1t con-
sidered expedient to proptiate moral sentiment
IN England by making pretence Of moving In
the direction Of emancipation So one tentative
and superficial measure after another was adopt
ed for the purpose of binding English eyes and
easing the English conscience. The emancipation
acts of that period were shallow and ineffective
compromises which left the slavery question I'M
touched. The phrase dscloses the motive: In
order that the English may see It,"
The Portuguese phrase may be applied TO the
extraordinary precautions which have been
taken to prevent public demonstration In favor
OF Jameson and his troopers. There has been an
organized attempt on the part Of the Government
officials and their subordinates to make pro-
found mystery Of every detail connected with
the landing and prosecution Of these rebels
against the Queens authority. The Victoria
sailed from Malta and Gibraltar under secret In
struct,ons TO arrive at Plymouth at midnight
on Sunday. and IN order to accomplish this OBJ
sect the captain was compelled to sail at half
speed and during the last twenty-fcur hours 10
crawl along at six knots. When the Vessel
anchored inside the breakwater she was quar-
entined for twelve hours against all inquirers'
The solicitor OF the Chartered Company was
taken on board, and the chip sailed under sealed
orders without intimation OF the next port where
aha xxaa 10 be expected Yesterday morning
aha arrived at Gravesend. and In the course OF
the afternoon Jameson and his thirteen COM
panions were transferred first to steam tender
and then to a swift police-boat and were finally
put ashore after o'clock at Waterloo Pier With
=, . short distance Of Bow Street Court. All
these arrangements were shrouded In mystery.
The fourteen prisoners were presented before
Sir John Bridge at unusual hour. and after
the most complex and elaborate efforts to con-
ceal their movements and TO bring them into
London without observation.
The accepted explanation Of this secrecy cam
paien against news agencies and reporters has
baen the anxiety Of the Government officials TO
prevent public demonstrations Of sympathy for
Jameson and his fellow-rebes. That Is true so
FAR as II goes but there may be something back
OF It. II 1t were the prearranged plan to land
Jameson and his companions above Graveseno
there was no apparent necessity Tor voyage
at half-speed to Plymouth II the main oDJect
OF all this secrecy and silence has been the pro-
fuction of the prisoners at court at a quiet hour
when few spectators would be likely 10 be pres
emit, they could have been sent up by speciai
train from Plymouth early Monday morning, or
from Southampton on the following morning.
Nxhue there may have been miscalculation OF
tho tide on the lower Thames, and while other
nnsxpeoted bitches may have arisen. 1t Is more
Nkely that the Government has not been banning
The energies Of news agencies and rendering
M lot Of reporters utterly wretched for the last
hveek without having Interior motive. indeed,
Nv&t1a Portuguese subtlety, everything may have
hesn done in order that the Beers may see II.
The prevention of an outbreak OF Jingoism over
Jameson was possibly less important than the
evidence OF overweening anxiety and palnstaK-
Ing care on the part Of the British Government
l. avoid the appearance Of making any conces-
lions to popular sentiment
suBTLErY OR STUPIDITY.
II may be that 1 am giving the officials con-
herned in this conspiracy Of silence ana mystery
moro credit for subtlety than they deserve Ger
ka,nlv n there has not been some motive OF this
kinda deliberate purpose Of convincing Presi-
,aent Kruger and the Beers that the Government
of the day Is making strenuous efforts to fulill
Ats pledges and to bring the raiders before the
bar Of justice without regard for popular clam
prs-the policy adopted has been unintel''gioie
and stupid The conversion OF Jameson's land
Inc into a melodramatc mystery has only served
10 advertise 1t and to stimulate public Interest
In It, If II had been officially announced ten
hays ago that the Victoria would anchor OH
6ravesend on a certain day, and that the prs-
bners would then be taken to Bow-st. there
You'd have been only moderate degree of pub
ndty, When 1t known that the pressmen
Rere patrollng Plymouth Bay and the coast be-
4. RoJp nd Victoria
La under sealed orders for an unknown port, the
konular appetite for whetted and
htirnulated. No more ingenious measures could
kavn been taken for increasing the lingo excite
knent in London over the coming OF the Poet
kAureates hero. Fighting Doctor Jim." than
silence secrecy and mystery. In place OF the
k1ass house where Mr.. Chamberlain was content
s, work under plain view during the Transvaai
erisia there was a cave OF darkness where GUS
torns and naval officials received sealed COM
Aunications and glowered savagely upon timio
1snorters and artists with cameras VINO dp-
f.roaehed the slit In the wall and hes'tatinsiy
Rs,ksd II there was anybody inside VINO khe"
Anything about anything II was an easy way
Be transforming the approaching e'ate '.ia' mo
koopular side show with the apotheosls OF Ooclor
lin a. the tin god Of the concert nails
whatever may have been the motives OF the
r.. nmc.r. ~ the Crown their methods have
~ nrevented a series Of public demonstrations
A. vmnathv for Jameson and his followers. Inc
Victoria was sighted off Dover and her arrival
In the Thames bulletined throughout LONDON
when the prisoners were transferred to smal'e,
craft and taken up the river. they were chee,eu
e various points along shore and from passing
kessels When they were landed al waterloo
bier and conducted to omnibuses. they were re-
bgnized and warmly greeted by cro"os Oh e"."u
blasts who ran after the vehicles VINE" my
srterea tho courtroom the crowd Of spectators
many q, whom had been waiting all day for
their appearance lost all control OF themselves
rhe traditional sanctity OF IN English court OF