The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-14
The da1ieha Daily Eagle ghursaau gormims zaay

that their belated interest in the re-
form movement was grounded Upon a
desire simply 10 make the agitation
serve their stock-jobbing purposes.
In the confession of the accused ring
leaders OF the conspiracy at Johannes
burg it is admitted that a letter was
written 10 DR.. Jameson in which he
was asked TO come TO their aid: but an
effort was made in that shutting docu-
ment 10 make 1t appear that the COM
pany's troops were called upon merely
TO protect the defenseless Johannes
burgers against the lawlessuess of the
mob in the absence Of the Transvaal
police. But the revelation Of the cryp-
tographic kilograms which passed be
tween the plotters gives the affair an
entirely different complexion Bearing
in mind that in the dispatches between
the plotters the proposed invasion Is re-
ferred TO as shareholders meeting"
and as the ''flotation OF new COM
pany," he who runs may read the cryp-
tigrams without difficulty. On Deem
Der 10, Colonel Rhodes telegraphed TO
Bobby" White. at Mafeking: ''In-
form Jameson; don't send any more
heroes before January. No more room
for them. Query" On December 10,
Alfred Belt, the secretary of the com
pany at Cape Town. sent a dispatch TO
Lionel Phillips. at Johannesburg, in
these words: Hammond wires CON-
pany flotation must await my arrival
Cannot come at present, owing to
health. Wire where is hitch. Urge
Immediate fiOtation." The answer
came from Colonel Rhodes explaining
that Chairman Jameson won't leave
unless special letter inviting him" AS
admitted by the johannesburg prison
ers, this invitation was sent: and on
December q a dispatch from the com
pany'S agent at Cape Town to Jane
son, at Pitsani, communicated TO the
raiders the fact that company will be
floated next Saturday, II o'clock night
They very anxious you mustn't start
before O'Clock, and secure telegraph
office silence. We suspect Transvaal
getting aware slightly"
How very correct this suspicion was
has now become a matter OF history.
The fact that the johannesburg con-
spirators, alarmed by the discovery of
their plot by the Beers, at the last mo
ment raised the Transyaal flag and
swore undying allegiance to the repub-
lie does not minimize the gravity OF
their offense; and nobody VIII be de-
ceived by 50 transparent device. The
guilt of the moving spirits OF the Brit
ish South Africa company of an at
tempt to subvert the Boer republic is
las clear as day. 1t is equally certain
that the British government viii be
held morally responsible for the mis-
deeds OF the company unless drastic
punishment shall be melted out to the
instigators and abettors OF the plot
True, the British South Africa com
pany is nominaly merely trading COM
pany; but il has been invested by the
British government with large admin
istrative powers over an enormous ex-
tent Of territory. and has been per-
mitted 10 organize and maintain a NH
itary force and TO carry on war Of
conquest in South Africa. With the
tacit consent of Great Britain the COM
pany has represented the power and
majesty Of the British empire, and has
advanced the imperial frontier into the
very heart OF the African continent.
a disclaimer of responsibility by the
British government for the acts OF fits
creature will not avail Neither would
1t be honest or polite to befog the case
against the company by confoundlng
il with the Outlanders' case against
the Beers The career OF the company
must be cut short, Notwithstanding the
fact tnat the prince OF Wales son-tn-
law and other British high-and-mightt
nesses are among fits directors, Other
wise, England will not only be held
nrorally responsible for the Transvsal
invas sion, but her good name win be
seriously compromised
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