The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-03

DON PAUL NOW ON THE sruMp.

DOM PAUL NOW ON THE STUMP.
Features OF . Presidential Election in tho
TransvnnI.
Recent advices from the Transvaal indicate
that the Presidential campaign in that African
republic 10 proceeding. The candidates are
again, as at the last election Of 1892, KRUGER
and Joubert, one the President and the other
the commanding General, the man who beat the
English at Majuta Hill.
The present year ends Mr.. Krnger's third term
as President, a term in the South African re-
public extending over not four. but five years.
For fifteen years. therefore, Paul KRUGER has been
almost dictator of the republic. In the United
States no man would have been allowed to Sc.
cure himself in power as Dom Paul has done.
The American citizen is. with the craftiness
bred Of bitter memories, too jealous of his liher-
tics, too suspicious of even the brightest public
servant, to indorse a third-tcrm nomination.
With KRUGER and krngcr's people 1t is differ.
ent. Dom" means "Uncle.'' but Father
Paul 4" would be the old burgher's better ,itle.
Those who have been with him through the
stress, the excitement, the dire poverty, and the
sudden prosperity of these past fifteen years are
as devoted to him as ever was an Old GuardsmRn
TO Napoleon.
Jus before the last election. in which Gen.
Joubert, the COMMANDMENT Chief. ran in oppo.
si'ion to Krtgcr, Gen. Schmidt, a famous old
veteran. came home rom Holland. The Gen
cTal could talk English. but, when interviewed
at his hotel in johannesburg on the approach.
ing contest, he used for the effect the services
OF an interpreter. The writer asked him if. as
a soldier, he would vote for Joubert, and was
sorry he could not understand the emphatic
EEn is eleHi,n Mieh 10 T P.Sl k 5ne GenG Hs w ann b,mseIf
a white.haired man. but he said, as the inter
prefer translated it:
'pap1 Il rippr 10 my father. nm bis unnf To
you think ! would disobey him 7"
II is a widely spread sentiment, and the ma
jority OF the burghcrs think as does the good old
Gen. Schmidt. 1t is also a semi.religious senti-
mRen,: for r rel is part Of the daily life of the
people understand that Dom Pau. is also defend
ing their faith;
road connecting. Cape Colony with Johannes
burg and the capital OF the Transvaal. Pretoria.
there was no railroad in the whole republic.
The stumping OF the country, therefore, BY the
1 enipni ffns1 prineipi wss Sen sh"Tsbes on on the the d m9st
cnt settlements being the usual meeting. places.
In evsryth!ns W Wrs I there rsrsr a sim simplicity hrt and frank rank
the rude tricks from farm to farm and burg to
burg perhaps as unp,et ten Ions, and honey a
orator. but has that plain, direct mode of speech
in addressing the bnrghers which they under:
Introducing a smile. When he was expected at
a town. the b%urghers rode out to meet him and
escort him to the market place. Every Boer is a
horseman. one might even say a cavalrymnn. and
these escorts were semi.military in character.
In this way he traversed the country with a
small permanent escort besides OF the regular
army, a body of youngsters who enlist for two
years.
One very noticeable thing throughout the
campaign, was the manner in which religion
many OF the speeches delivered would have been
branded. probably, with justice. as EypOcritical,
or a, bes, topaiisol; In !ns transyaal they
at all studied the Beers and their history. A
and fights with aClnl vpnl The .'nli int,nar'b
when you meet him in the street. is almost in
sisnihcant, anh His tai! hat is GENERALLY, un.
political gatherings he made no effort to look
imposing; and a stranger would scarcely have
Gen. Joubert stumpcd the country in much the
same way, but throughout he had'little chance,
an Dom Paul won in a %canter.
constitute the State houses of the Boer RCpub-
etor Of it told me once OF the early days When
that architectural triumph had not been con
in the Transvaal Treasury, and the Government
could not raise a loan. Then Mr.. KRUGER WAS
W t,rs. e sise ,Ssn to % i Issr rr}s o4Ss of :,d in ,s s1d T saSrs:
taries required to run the business of the Gov
ernmsnti but smail as it vas the clerks were
saries. In this way the grocer became an i'm
portant creditor of he Government. There was
dental rooms in those days. But in 1857 anne
the rush of gold seekers. and the great
the Witwatersrand. Barbartou, Klerksdrop, and
all over the country. They brought capital with
them, enormous amounts OF capital. and were.
amount. The farmers found a new and great
market in the town of Johannesburg: they re.
ceived large sums in exchange for Cl inns on
their farms; the poverty-stricken land became
House; thestafT; of ohinciais was vastly Increased:
no more were the clerks paid in bacon and
cheese, and Dom Paul began himself to draw n
salary commensurate with his dignity. 1t is u
disproportionate salary, II one thinks of what
the President OF tho United STATES gets. Mr..
| Il FliDar gets $40 600 n yalr and 81 nnn a. CpfTaa
money "a, little allowance to enable him to
offer refreshments to visitors.
But 1t must not be imagined that the Presi-
dent suffered in the days OF adversely. He paid
land in a." the garden of South Africa Nobody
knows how rich he is. His real estate increases
in value every day. But he has deserved it.
He has horne the burden and heat OF the day,
was stormed. ms no other man In the Transvaal
could have done.
1t is not necessary here to discuss the treat
ment by. the President. of the Uitlanders, the
people who have male the country so rich. IN
connection with the election, however, one thing
should he remarked. Neither Mr.. Kruger nor
Gen. Joubert thought il necessary. In the last
campaign. TO visit JOHANNESBURG. 1t is the
largest. richest, most important town in the
republic, hut il IL inh bited by charlottesville
ton. therefore. johannesburg is practically
ignored.
Paul Kruger is growing very old. but he is
still II man OF ambitions. and he will never vol
II a contest is necessary. He is more TO the
Transvaal than DiaZ Is to Mexico, almost rs
much as George Washington was 10 the United
States.
Bitten by . Jealous Pet Rat
IT,. n M ~. 4 = n-