The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-04
EngIand's Predicament.

Four months ago President Kruger
said that the Jameson invasion of the
Transvaal was a plot of Rand capital
lists deliberately concocted for purposes
of gain. His statement was at the time
discredted; Cecil Rhodes was well
coined to conferences by Secretary
Chamberlain; Jameson was lionized and
England flew into u passion because
Emperor William of Germany had sent
to Kruger message of cheer. Now,
Kruger has produced his evidence and
proved his whole point: Cecil Rhodes.
the one-time king of South Africa.
but now shown up as designer of
revolution and treason. is upon the
point of arrest or flight: Jameson Is
enthusiastically desDised and the willy
old president of the Boer republic. by
committing the death sentences of
Rhodes self-confessed tools, has left
upon England the responsibility of ad-
judging the case of the eminent prin-
cipal.
Says |. n. Ford in his cable letter to
the New York Tribune:
No sharper transition of public opinion
was ever witnessed in England than that
which has taken place last week. At first
there was horror over the death sem
tences, and cynical contempt for the anti
quated barbarity of the Dutch law. which
could not be enforced, or. if 1t could, would
lead to war between England and the
Transvaal. President Kruger, who had
spared Jameson and the raiders, again
interviewed with mercy for the millionaires
of Johannesburg. Then came the cipher
dispatches. the documentary proof to
which he referred four months ago, and
there was an immediate revulsion of feel
ing. Doubt as to the meaning of those
dispatches there could be none. The in
vasion of the Transvaal was discredita-
Bile and sordd plot of Rand capitalists.
with the former premier of the Cape Colo
ny behind them, and egging them on, with
the African directors of the Chartered
company conspiring with them, and with
Jameson. an idealist and Il unique figure.
because he was poor and not mercenary.
as their principal puppet The inSincerty
| of the political reformers at Johannesburg
was at once unmasked: the specious plea
of knieht-errantry in behalf of imperil!cd
and helpless women and children was dis
carded as an idle tale. 1t was simply IA
tinanciers. raid. reckless in conception
and feeble in execution: dishonorable to
the English reputation for morality and
fair play. and disastrous in consequences
to two jealous races, whose fortunes are
Readers who wish to gain clearer
idea of this South African affair than
| can be obtained from the newspapers
are recommended to read the series Of
| explanatory papers which Professor
James Bryce is contributing to the Cen
| tury magazine, the first of which ap-
pears i'm the number for May. 1t may
| now, however. be explained that the
would seem, is almost inevitable. is
| likely to carry with it consequences of
| far-reaching Importance. That it will
| check for years the development of
In South Africa to come to standstill
appears to be certain. This will un-
doubtedly have it's effect upon the
Beers themselves, who, although ma
tion of farmers, have yet an eye to
profitable nearby markets. That It
will likewise cripple the Outlanders tor
English and American squatters on
Boer territory who, in numbers, exceed
the Beers themselves) is evident. Thus
there may come from the Beers them
selves request for leniency to Rhodes.
after he shall have been sufficiently
discredited before the world to render
him In the future harmless to the
| Transvaal.
In the meantime, England is i'm the
position Of the parent confronted with
proof positive that the offspring is a
bully and thief. She must either ply
tine rod or spoil the child and get her
self discredited into the bargain.