New-York tribune., 1896-01-13
DIR. JAMESON'S RAID.
cprsIS IN GREAT BRITAIN'S RELATIONS
WITH SOUTH AFRICA-A MENACE
FROM GERMANY
London, January 4


when a British Prime Minister read a letter
,,on, the Sultan at political jollification meet
,rg and cynically announced that a good bit
a, territory was coming into market in Asia
Minor Then President Cleveland's message
IN the Venezuela dispute was like bolt from
the blue. and with it there was an illuminating
fash of hostile opinion in America. Hardly
had the spectators regained their composure
before there new bit of sensational melo-
drama In South Africa. more exciting than any
thing which Sir Augustus Harris has provided
sor the Drury Lane stage. There was the IN
vasion Of the Transvaal by a flbusterng ex-
nedltion headed by the administrator of the
chartered company, followed by brave and
successful defence of their country by the
Boers and catastrophe which infuriated all
the English settlers in South Africa.
The blood feud between the Dutch and English
settlers which has been infiamed by these exct-
,ns events. had its origin in rivalres in Cape
Colony and in the abolition Of slavery which
was enforced by the British Government. Many
~ the Boer farmers took their herds OF cattle
and retired from the colony into the interior or
I'D the coast. Some Of them settled in Natal.
where they were In course of time outnumbered
and dispossessed Of political power by British
immigrants. Others occupied the level tracts be-
tween the Orange and Vaa Rivers and laid the
foundations OF the Orange Free State Others
aeain crossed the Vaal and trekked northward to
the Limpopo. escaping from English domination
and cherishing fierce resentment against those
who had driven them from the coast. The con-
ouering race which was founding empire in
South Africa hung upon their fanks and mar
assed them with menaces and hostility. In 1917
the Transvaal was annexed to the British Crown
and the Beers rose In revolt defeating their enc
mics in several battles. Mr.. Gladstone made
peace with them without avenging the British
defeats and they regained in treaties. concluded
IN 1881 and revised in 1884. their autonomy quail
fed with recognition Of the Queens suzerainty
They lost control Of their foreign relations but
received assurances Of absolute liberty to govern
themselves In their own way without molestation
They were stolid thrifty farmers and cattle
men with their methods Of dealing with
natives and with an instructive repugnance to
everything English. They had retreated into the
BUSH they thought that there was room enough
for all in Africa. and tnat after all their wrongs
and sacrifices they might be left in peace in their
own country: and possibly they would have been
unmolested II their territories had not included
one Of the greatest gold fields in the world The
discovery Of the Witwatersrand gold district
transformed the fortunes Of this singular agri-
cultural people. 1t became at once Impossible 10
keep out the swarms of alien Adventures VINO
c.me from, the ends Of the earth. johannesburg
the mining capital. became a fiourishng city in
few months. The entire district was overrun
with prospectors spectators and miners. IL
was not long before this mining population re-
cruted from. desperadoes and adventures OF
every cline and land outnumbered the Beers
three four to one.
The Beers had no idea Of retreating again De-
fore the advancing horde of Englsh-speaking
mfr Of IN
wealth. They were minority, but political
mwer was in their hands and they were de-
fer,n,ned no, to divide 1t with the invaders.
They had in President Krtger a singularly abie
and shrewd leader who resisted every attempt
on the part OF the newcomers to interfere
with the exclusive system of burgher govern
nent. The Uitlanders took little interest In
politics at first. when mining was pron'aoie
and the gold fields of the Rand were maze the
basis Of the most astonishing mining specaa
tion Of modern times They content to
nay tribute to the governing classes ana 10
enrich those who lacked the enterprise required
,or develoning the resources Of the country
Rnt when the inflated bubble of speculation
hurst I'm London and Paris and times were Dad
in Johannesburg. there was discomfort IN the
mining camps Of the Rand. Then the newcomers
began to agitate for their political rights. Ihey
were the majority party they paid the buiK OF
the taxes; they owned nearly everything IN the
country that was worth having; but they were
denied the privilege Of voting and were ruied
By a stern. unbending oligarchy. which refused
10 give them schools, sanitary laws an em-
cent nolce and all the benefits Of good local
government.
All the Colonial officials in London were taken
by surprise. Mr.. Chamberlain who was ENJOY
ing a holiday outing IN Birmingham, was
h,- mid
There were prolonged consultations with LORD
Salisbury and an interchange of messages with
President KRUGER. the High Commissioner anu
Nv pbodes and then the expedition was re-
called with a flourish of trumpets. when IL was
already well on its way and the Boer rinemen
were under arms and marching 10 intercept '"e
column Every one made haste TO olscia''h re-
sponslbility for this flibustering enterprise i"e
Cape Government asserted that II had oeeh
undertaken without their knowledge or coHsch''
Mr. Rhodes avowed that he had not peeh coh-
r,,ad in advance The High Commissioner re-
pudated It as a wholly unauthorized movement
The Chartered Company separated tsei i'o'''
the pratical mission Of Its own serVah's' WIN
had suddenly become freebooters. MT. C"ai''"''
lsin not only condemned without hearing an
honored Official who had rendered spendid ser
vice to the British Crown in South Africa, but
he also snranp to the defence Of the Government
OF the Transvaa and virtually assumed re-
sronsibility for the continuance OF minority mis-
rule and intolerance.
The Beers made no concessions. They Khe" that
any alteration Of the suffrage would arm the
majority with political power. and that they
themselves would be outnumbered outvoted anu
rendered helpless TO protect themselves free
suffrage and equality Of rights involved annex
alton. They looked westward. and they peheio