Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-07
KRUGER SPEAKS OUT.
He Has Not Ordered The prtebooterS 10
Be Shot.
JAMEsox,s INVASION EXPLAINED
II WINS Part of a riot to Overthrow
the Boer Republic and Annex IL
to the british Dominions-End Not
Yet.

a special London cablegram OF yes
terday TO the New York Sun says:
The mystery Of Dr. Jameson's invasion
OF the Transvaal is explained. 1t was. as
every one surmised. part or q plot Tor
the overthrow Of the Boer republic and
the annexation OF the Transvaal to the
British dominions The executive officers
OF the British South Africa Company and
certain mining capitalists in Johannes
burg were the principal conspirators. No
amount OF denial from Mr.. Cecil Rhodes
will convince anybody that he was not
privy TO the conspiracy II not its actual
author.
The complete failure OF the plot was
due TO the wonderful shrewdness OF Presl-
dent Kruger. The suddenly renewed agi-
tation Of the Uitlanders' grievances in
Johannesburg was Of such an artificial
character at first that It aroused the
suspicion OF the Boer officials. They OBJ
tanned in some way knowledge of certain
details Of the conspiracy. Various YER
sions OF what happened have been re-
ceived to-day, but they agree In essential
particulars. The following, although from
Boer sources at Johannesburg, can. / be-
lleve, be relied upon:
President Kruger determined not only
to defeat the plot. but to punish the
foreign members of the conspiracy. He
knew that revolt had been planned at
Johannesburg, and that DR.. Jameson was
ready to march from Mafaking At the
same moment he arranged with certain
honest leaders of the Uitlanders to pre-
sent to him request for certain reforms
which had long been the basis of discon-
tent. These included the removal of the
tariff on foodstuffs, granting equal sub
sides To all schools no matter what Ian
guage was taught, and extending the
franchise TO foreign residents. These de-
mands were submitted to President Kru-
ger on last Monday. He promised TO sup
port every one of them II the petitioners
would defend law and order i'm Johannes
burg. Then he seized the telegraph office.
and prevented the news of his concession
or any other information from going out.
The revolution had been timed for the
following day. 1t didn't some Off. The
city was pacarded with Kruger's action.
and there was no longer an excuse for
the revolt. The leaders found themselves
checkmated but their messages TO DIR.
Jameson and others informing them of
the change in the situation didn't get be-
yond the telegraph office
MARVELLOUS MARKsMANSHIP.
Meantime President Kruger rallied his
burghers from all sides and sent them 10
meet the invaders. with orders to shoot
to KILL They obeyed literally. Their mar
vellous craftsmanship was again shown
by the fact that OF 10 Engishmen who
were struck by Boer bullets eighty were
killed.
When the 500 prisoners reached johann
nesburg President Kruger received this
message from the British Secretary OF
the Colonies:
1T IL rumored here that you have or
dered the prisoners shot | do not be-
lieve it, and rely upon your generosity
in the hour OF victory"
President Kruger replied:
81 have given no orders to have the
freebooters who are prisoners shot. Their
case will, in due course. be decided
strictly according to the traditions Of the
republic"
Then President Kruger added infor-
nation about the other forces that were
preparing to invade the Transvsal bord-
ers. as he plainly intimated, with the
knowledge Of Mr.. Cecil Rhodes and he
called upon the British Government 10
exercise its direct authority 10 prevent
| further outrages against Transyaal inde-
pendence.
Thus for the second time has this little
South African republic taught Great Bri-
tain a lesson in decency, magnanimity,
and right.
The news from Berlin indicates that
| President Kruger will not lack ample
European support in using TO the fullest
| advantage the power now in his hands
for the humiliation and discontinue OF
| Great Britain. II he demands the COM
plete independence of the Transvaal re-
public. Germany, and quite probably
| France and Russia will support him. II
will be a dangerous demand TO make
| for every hour adds evidence how
/ deeply British passion has at last beer
stirred. Things have gone pretty far
when a London paper, ordinarily sober
enough. describes the Kaiser as Ger
many's puppy Emperor, who is the laugh
! ing stock Of Europe by reason of his
vanity. ignorance, and silly pretensions.'
! The end OF this dramatic South African
episode is not yet.
KRI-GER'S REPLY TO KAISER.
President Kruger. in reply to Emperor
Williams message, cabled the following
| from Pretoria:
Il testify to your Majesty my very deer
and heartfelt thanks for your Majesty's
sincere congratula tons. With Gods helI
we hope to do everything possible fol
holding our dearly bought independence
and the stability Of our dearly beloved
|