The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-25
A TALK WITH KRUGER
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRANS
vAAL SUBMITS TO AN INTERVIEW.
He States His Reasons for Being I'm
willing to Go to England and Ex-
plains His Land Grievances.
Frank Harris. in the London Saturday Re-

TO present me. On our way the Chief JUS
tice (affectionately called "Chief" by all
who know him in South Africa talked free
ly about the President, for whose person
he cherishes a warm admiration. He sum-
med up the matter in a few pregnant
phrases. "Krugers great qualities of heart
and character" he said, "entitle him to be
regarded the father of his people. He
is the greatest man whom the Beers have
yet produced: and. although stood against
him for the presidentship in 1928. / was
not sorry when he was reelected, and /
have since supported him loyalty. my judg-
ment being in agreement with his on the
general lines of policy" The chief then
gave some hints as to how 1 should treat
this democratic ruler. Kruger loves the
truth" he said; you need not be afraid
to speak your mind freely, even If what you
say runs counter to his most cherished con-
victions and annoys and angers him. He
will hear you and answer you, and in his
heart of hearts think the more Of you for
your outspokenness." could not help
showing certain amount of incredulity.
You make him out to be a great man."
AT any rate, 1t is possible to approach
him without flattery or feigned humility"
replied Kotze. quietly; land 1 shall be as
tonished If he does not make a better and
deeper impression on you than you seem to
expect" With these words In my ear We
drew up before the unpretentious but com
Portable one-storied house which is Kru-
gers dwelling. The only sign of state was
in the appearance on the stoop OF solitary
Boer-half policeman, half soldier-armed
with his rife. AS this official saluted the
chief we passed at once into the house and
turned to the left into the large room which
serves the President at once as sitting
and reception room The first thing that
struck me was its curious resemblance to
the parlOrs Of the Western American farm
houses and Of British cottages. Race char
acteristics persist in defiance of circum-
stances. Here. in the center of the room,
was the usual round table, spread with de-
votional books and one or two presentation
copies richly bound; here before a window
the usual cluster Of wax fruits under an
oval glass; there on the walls the sugared
affections of Samuel and Ruth, and under
them the chairs, stiff backed and standing
at mathematical distances. like so many
absurd.
AS looked about me. perpetually discover
ing new peculiarities which were old &C
quaintances. President Kruger came into the
room with a sort of business-like haste. He
walked heavily. noticed, like man with
more strength than elasticity, the result OF
age. suppose Qhe President is over sew
enty); for the chief had told me that Kru-
ger had been famous athlete in his youth,
ana had been noted for speed of foot as well
as for strength. Kruger himself. Il appears,
IN exemplifcation of his belief In the SUI
periority of the white over the black races.
once ran against three Zulu runners and beat
the best Of them by some ten miles. cover
ing himself over eighty miles in tie twenty
must be regarded as an extraordinary feat
Kruger stands now about five feet eight
inches; in youth he was, probably. about
nve Feet nine inches. His shoulders are very
broad; his frame at once square and deep
His great size and length of body render
him ungraceful, almost uncouth. He seemed
gested an advanced state of kidney disease
and his skin had the unhealthy tallowy
pallor that tells of deep-seated malady; the
vitals; The man was still strong though
slow. He was clad in suit of black broad
cloth: the frock coat was stained all dowr
The clothes were of the same cut and ma
ter.al as those of a Western American
Methodist preacher but far dirtier and more
seemed crumpled and dirty, as If 1t had beer
slept In. His hand-clasp was perfunctory
he was evidently glad to get the business OF
armchair, pipe in hand, after motion;ng the
chief and myself to two seats opposite him
He then kicked open large spittoon thai
stood between US, and, having spat into Il
interview might begin The chief. who wa:
good enough to assist me in making mysel
ineligible, told Kruger that he had brough
me. to him as an English Journalist wht
wished to tell the truth about the Transvaa
and its inhabitants
SUSPICIOUS OLD MAN.
Then he must be very different from
good many English journalists" growled the
old man, suspiciously, who tell nothing bu
lies about the Transvaal and its inhabitants
They all say that Jameson came to protec
the women and children, as il any burghe]
had ever harmed a white woman or a white
child. And when they can't send lies enough
from johannesburg they send them from
Charleston"
replied that 1t was rather unfair to judg,
all English journalists by a few. and that /
mrst be remembered that the Shaping O
our face by America and GERMANY hat
aroused a considerable amount of jingo fee.
Ing in England, which these journals wer
trying TO satisfy.
lit said little for the English people If the,
required TO be fed on lies Every on
knows, he went on, how careful the Boo
we're discussing an attack on Johannesbur,
after. thu raid the first thing we considere'
was how to get all the women and children
out of the town il the inhabitants persiste,
In defying us. We arranged for six einpt,
| trains TO be ready to take them out befo-
| we even considered our ultimatum Tel
| that TO the English people. and they wi
| have. perhaps. little better idea of tn
Beers II. indeed, they can now digest truth
| as well as lies"
| AT this stage / began TO realize that Pau
! Kruger could state case pretty forcibly
| His indignant tones, too, added weight (
| lis powerful words. He went on rehectiveiy
| When we show mercy to men caught wit
| arms in their hands, raiders murderers
| even our enemies might believe that w
| could be trusted TO take care of women an
| children"
nodded assent 1.-The English people vii
understand all that when they have IA
| ciate, too, the kindness with which YOU
| burghers treated the wounded--and every
| thing: but just now they are trying to wor
| themselves into a temper because you no.
| the reform committee men to trial. and max
the circumstances of their bail onerous. Fo
| example, the reformers are out on bail
/ very heavy amounts, unreasonable amount.
| because. all their interests being in Johar
nesburg, they are certain not to break the
| jail bonds and flee the country. and yet the
! are forced to pay for policemen TO guar
them. while they are not allowed to leay
Pretoria. All that seems to Englishnen or
| pressive, and appears TO contradict the ger
| erosity you showed to Jameson and nj
| men."
The President stubbornly debated ever
| point. Justice" he said. would keep III
| men close prisoners; they were rebels, an
knew of Jameson's pot, and fostered IL: the
| themselves had taken up arms against III
| government. and only laid them down und,
| compulsion; II was kindness and generol
| treatment to let such men out on bail, how
| ever restricted" and so forth
And when / objected that these charge
had yet to be proved against the prisoners I
| scoffed at what he evidently regarded as III
| worthy hair-spitting. I'VE have got I'll