New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-18
THE SOUTH AFRICAN INQUEST.

Tho British House of Commons did not want
tho nresent South African investigation held. Ii
thought it would merely reopen an old sore
which had begun to heal. But Mr.. chamberlain
thought otherwise and In one Of the most power
full and dextcrous of all his speeches he partly
persuaded and partly compelled IT to reappolnt
the committee and order the inquest. iroDaDly
most members were convinced by that speech
that that was the right thing to do There Is
little room for doubt that all will be thus con-
WINGED before the end of the investigation That
will be the case whether Mr.. Rhodes does or
does not make the sensational disclosures whlch
have been limited at. For Mr.. Rhodes, impor-
tant man as he is. Is not the only one on trial.
nor Is the Jameson raid the only incident to he
considered. Mr.. Rhodes will probably come OH
with flying colors. That will be an agreeable
and satisfactory result But that will not be
the only nor the chief result.
The investigation, like ancient Gaul. Is TO he
divided into three parts The Jameson raid and
Mr. Rhodes's completely with it form the first
and really the least important. Most men are
already convinced that the raid was wrong
chiefly because it was Implanted and ill-sup-
ported, and therefore a failure. There is no
sense in applau1ing the Greeks for invading
Crete to redeem their brethren In race ana re-
ligion from oppression and persecution, ana
then condemn Jameson and his troopers Tor
doing exactly the same thing under even greater
provocation. Mr.. Rhodes admits that he was
responsible for the gathering of Jamesons force
on the border. but denies that he ordered or en-
cOuraged it to cross. both of which statements
are doubtless true. They describe his chiel con-
nection with the whole affair. The British are
not going to condemn him for it. If they should
condemn hin at all. it would be not for doing
so much but for not doing mOre-for not back
ing Jameson up with force that would nave
accomplished the objects of his raid.
The second par. of the inquest will deal with
the general conduct of the South Africa Com
pany. and especially with the system under
which it has procured native labor for its mines
There have been some ugly rum0rs-indeed, ex-
plicit charges--that practical slavery has pre-
vailed Contracts have been made with native
chiefs for so many workmen. and the chiefs
have rcsored to compulsicn to fill up the roll
That Is a far more serious matter, if true. than
the raid into the Transvaal. Great Britain has
Wanted herself upon her abolition of the corvee
in Egypt. and her suppression of the slave trade
throughout her entire sphere or influence.
She has frOwncd upon the Transvaal Beers for
their propensity to "wallop their niggers. and
upon the Portuguese in Africa for giving to the
slave trade the shelter Of their flag. She cannot
afford TO have the internal business carried Oh
under her own patronage and on her own colo
NAL soil. That is a matter which this commit
| tee should probe to the bottom. and which alone
amply jusiines- indeed. renders neccssary-the
holding of the inquest.
| Finally. and most important of ALL is the ques-
| ton Of the grievances of the "Iitlandcrs' in
| the Transvaal. These We're the cause of the
| Jameson raid. of the attempted revolution in
| the Transvaal. and of the bulk Of the South
| African problem. They have been hitherto
fully described in these columns, and further
rehearsal of them is not necessary at this time.
| 1t may be stated. however. that the promised
reforms. slight as they were, have not been
granted The Pretoria Government has assumed
| an attitude of defiance. 1t has actually added
| TO the harlshps of cOlOniss in that country. so
| that not interested Englshmen alone. but i'm
| partial Americans settled there have written
numerous letters for publication in the American
press warning their counrymcn against mgrat-
| ing to or visiting investing capital in the
| Transvaal so long ii is under the present
| Government. This committee will consider
whether some fifty thousand Englishmen and
| other "Uitlanders'' are to continue to he perse-
cuted and oppressed and treated az white mig
gers" in a land which is under British suze-
rainty. That will be the most important part OF
It's work. and. since many Americans are among
the victims of Boer tyranny. 1t will be the part
! of greatest interest to this Nation