The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
SOUTH AFRICAN TRAITS.
Edward RebstOck Compares English
Aggression to Boer Patriotism.

Aggression to BOer Patriotism.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 4.-The Globe-Democrat
says: Mr.. Edward Rebstock. of Givelo.
Matabeleland. South Africa. who holds ex-
tensive mining claims in the territory con-
troned by the British South African Com
pany, and who fought under DR.. Jameson
during the two months conflict which took
place before Matabeleland was taken from
it's native ruler, arrived in the city yester-
day and is staying at the Laclede In
few days he will again sail for his new
home. During the last month he has been
at Rolla, reviewing his course of studies in
mineralogy. His interview in the Globe
Democrat. supplying information as to the
future of the gold regions in South Africa,
will be recollected by all who take an in
terest in that country.
81 am not surprised" he said, "at the
news which has been flashed to England
and to this country with reference to the
conduct OF the British South African Char
tered Company. 1t should be borne in mind
that in the present instance the invasion
of the Transvaal or the Boer territory is
not an invasion by English troops, but by
the troops of the company which 1 have
named The company, OF course, has the
moral support of the country It represents
guaranteed it in its so-called march of civ
ilization. The civilization is carried to the
/. natives of South Africa with a sword in
one hand and dollar in the other. The
dollar secures the services of volunteers
to seize the lands of the native chiefs; the
sword does the rest. But the company is
police. You see, therefore, it has been en-
70 fax hat taki IT,
self the risk and the cost of securing the
possession. 1t has the recognition of the
British government in its mission. Its at
tempt to enter the Transvaal is nothing
more than flibustering expedition, as is
known TO all who have any knowledge of
the recognized rights of that republic. Even
Joseph Chamberlain. the pseudo-Radical,
who seems to have imbibed Salisbury's
lingo spirit since Salisbury supplied him
with office, endeavors to creep out Of the
position he had formerly assumed on his
hands and knees. This is not due, how
ever, to love of the Beers, but TO fear
or resentment on the part of France and
Germany, which have South African inter-
eStS OF their own.
II must say 1 feel sorry for Jameson /
feel sorry because 1 feel he has been used
as tool by Cecil Rhodes. Rhodes is the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the British South
African Company in South Africa, as the
Duke of Fife is it's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
in England. The latter. however, is figure
head. DR.. jameson is the company's admin
istrator in South Africa. To think, there
fore, that jameson would have moved tow
ard Johannesburg without the knowledge, If
not the instructions, of Rhodes, would be
like supposing the Secretary of War in this
country could move troops down to Mexico
without the knowledge of President Cleve-
wealthy through his association with the
South African Companv and he sticks to a
good thing when he finds it. But Jameson
must bear the responsibility.
Jameson, by the way, is a remarkable
man. He is a Scotchman by birth, and, as
with most of his countrymen, his apprecia-
ton of the dollar is about as great as his
want of appreciation of joke. But he has
all the Scotch determination and force of
character. This strikingly illustrated
in his march on what Is now New Mata-
beleland. Some of the volunteers, after a
months march, were about to rebel against
its continuance, except ii was to be re-
warded by greater financial results. jane
son got up and made speech to his men.
and, before he had concluded Ii, they all
fell in with his views. In his attempt TO en-
ter the Transvaal, however, he had a task
which few men would have undertaken. /
take it, judging by the point which formed
the scene of conflict, that he had his men
started from Bechuanaland, in the neigh
borhood of the Kimberly mines. and struck
across the country for Johannesburg. My
surprise at the attempt is all the greater,
since Jameson must have had in mind the
juba hill some fifteen years ago, IL my men,
DRY serves correctly. There, i think,
there was hardly a soldier left TO tell the
tale of the slaughter. AS TO the number of
soldiers in the service of the South African
Company / think that six months ago, IL
was about six hundred. These are all vol
unteers. and were at Bechuanaland. In adj
dition, there about five hundred border
police The volunteers are made up of citi-
zens in the service of the company. They
enter the volunteer service only on condi-
ton that they are 20 be free to accept or
reject the terms upon which any expedition
is 10 be undertaken. They are, therefore,
free agents. To those who took part in the
expedition TO Matabeleland the terms of
fered were S125 day, all clothing and
food found. and large tracts OF land if the
expedition terminated successfully. l have
no doubt that in the filibustering expedition
against the Beers the inducements were
greater.
Most people who know the Beers will not
have much hesitation in coming TO the con-
clusion that they have seen about the last
attack by England. The Beers are great
fighters From the time he is a child the
Boer is trained in the art OF craftsmanship.
The killing of game, the protection of
herds, the life OF the bush, all go TO make
him a perfect shot. Then, he can live
where an Englishman would die. He does
not know what ii is to suffer from hunger
or exposure. He is as tough as Indian
on the warpath. Man to man, no English
soldier can hold candle to him. He heart
lily hates the Englishmen- should one enter
a saloon where Boer is taking a drink ne
will turn down his glass as mark of con-
tempt The cause OF this is not far to seek
While the Beers have succeeded in estab-
fishing a republic and in maintaining il,
their country is nevertheless occupied by a
large number of foreigners, mostly English
men. although there are some French Ger
mans and handful of Americans. The
total foreign population is about sixty
thousand: the Boer population is about If
teen thousand.
.'The Beers have adopted laws which COM
pletely prevent the predominance OF the
foreigner in their government For example
the restrictions with regard TO the power of
voting are many. The schools will teach
only the Dutch language. The foreigners
especially the English, object to this. They
claim that they are the people who con-
tribute to the wealth OF the country, and
that they should have the predominating
voice. In this view they are sustained by
Cecil Rhodes. who has been doing not a
little to arouse feeling against Dutch rule
SO far as the question OF the production OF
wealth is concerned. perhaps the foreigners
are right. The Beers are men who follow
purely Agricultural pursuits. with the ex-
ception of a few who are small merchants.
How the condition OF things which at pres
ent exists will terminate I cannot say. One
thing seems 10 be settled. and that Is that
the Boer will ever resist British agrees
SION
jameson Well Known I'm Montana.
HELENA. Mont. Jan. 4-Dr. Jameson.
the leader OF South African British Com