The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-26
loom PAUL" KRUGER.
UncOmplimentary Picture Drawn by
Henry VI. Stanley.

London Letter in Philadelphia Telegraph.
Henry NJ Stanley has returned from
South Africa, where he was one of the
guests Of the new railway to Buuwayo at
it's opening ceremonies. and he will proba-
bly, have a good deal to say of forciple
nature in Parliament when questions re-
garding the complaints of the "Outlanders"
against the Boer government are being dis
cussed.
At the time of his departure I reported to
you that he had been engaged to write
series of letters for one of the weekly pa
pers published in London, but devoted sole
ly to South African affairs, financial, COM
mercial, and political, and / think l noted
the EDITORS announcement that his distin-
guished contributor would deal with the af-
fairs of Rhodesia and the Transvaal in
''factfuI' way
Mr. Stanley is such a forceful writer and
| such an experienced observer that / will
therefore quote his pen-picture of the ia
nous "Oom Paul" which, while doubtless
factful," is very far from complimentary.
| He says:
II was fortunate enough to have an early
morning (5:30 a. NO. interview with Presi-
dent Kruger before he departed on what
| may probably be his last electioneering
| tour: As he was fully dressed in the usual
| black suit and little old-fashioned top hat,
! and smoking on the veranda of his house,
| the old President must have risen from bed
| an hour earlier at least, and a. m. is a
! remarkably early hour to begin business.
! Two armed guards in the uniform of Lon
| don police inspectors stood in the street
| barring the way to the house. but a mere
! look from the President suficed to give
us admission. His Good morning in Eng
lish slipped from him unconsciously, and,
! after shake hands, he led the way to a
| spacious saloon, wherein the first thing
that attracted my attention was large
| and coarse oil painting of him. 1t happened
| that the seat shown to me placed Mr..
! Kruger and his picture directly in front of
me, and was thus forced to compare the
/ original with the copy. The history of the
| painting l do not know. but it is per-
| mitted to be hung so prominently in the
| reception room it is to be presumed that the
| President and his friends regard it as
faithful likeness, and are consequently
| proud of it. This small fact proved to be
| the "A b G of my study of the man of
destiny Of South Africa. 1t was clear that
neither Kruger nor his friends knew any
| thing of art, for the picture was an eXag-
| gerated reproduction of every defect in the
Presidents homely features, the low, mar
| row, unintelligent brow, oVer-Small eyes,
ana heaVy, massive eXpanse of face be-
meath. The man himself was almost beauti-
ful in comparison with the monstrosity on
the canvas and really could not help
plying him for his innocent admiration of
a thing that ought to be cast into the fire.
But presently the President spoke-a
mouthful of strange cultural words-in
voice that was like a loud gurgle, and as
the great jaws and cheeks and mouth
L
picture, and it did not seem to me then as
If the painter had libeled the man. At any
rate, the explosive dialect SO expanded the
cheekS and wtdened the mouth that per-
celved resemblance to the brutal picture
II was told by my introducer after the
interview was over, that the President had
already read a chapter in the Bible. and
that 1t IS his custom to do every morn
ing before appearing in public. l then I'M
uerStOod the meaning and tone of his last
words to me. Said he: What I have said,
shall be done He was abiding to the fact
Rates were the children of the state, but
they should be put into the hands of The
attorney general, and if it were discovered
that the terms of the concessions were in
any way contravened, PREPARATION should be
made. The manner of his last words re-
minded min d ne M Of tbs Jovic way-.and what, I
had been engaged l knew he had bee in
fected with the style of the Pentateuch
This humor of Mr.. Kruger's is becoming
abundance of life and vitality in the Presi-
uent, but he is unable to brook opposition.
ANY expression suggesting him to be mis-
taken in his views or policy rouses his
temper, the thunderOuS gurgle is emitted,
ana the left arm swings powerfully about,
while the eyes are considerably buried I'M
Der the upper eyelids. l suppose he fancies
this to be the impressive gaze. He RI
eogue about to impress his new pupil and
methodically starts to inculcate the prnci
pies Of true craftsmanship; but he soon
meats himself with the dissertation, :tnl
breaks out into the strong masterful style
which his friends say is such a picturesque
feature in his character, and which his
critics call the humbug pose If by the
latter is meant the repetition of stale plati-
tudes, and the reiteration of promises
which will never be carried out, / fear L
must agree with the critics.
Mr.. Stanley then pictures the old man as
he is usually regarded by the general read
era wonderful diplomatist of but little
education, but exceeding brilliancy of mind
hidden under a mask of stolid silence-and
he acknowledges that his IDEAS were much
the same. But since | have been hermit
ted to see him face to face he goes on, II
am lost in amazement at the ridiculous pic
tLre my fancy, fed by cowardly and de-
signing men, had conjured up. That SO
many people should have united in singing
this mans praises can only be accounted
for by the fact that they must have had
some interest, political or pecuniary to
serve; otherwise, how is it that his Great
ness solely consists in mind of what he
has derived from the cowardice and weak
nesseS of others? Many mickle makes a
muckle, and hundreds of little advantages
obtained over petitioners of all kinds, and
by the follies and mistakes of others, con-
stltute in the mind of the curious multitude
what they have been pleased to term
greatness In appearance he is only a sui
len, brutal-looking concierge. dressed in old
fashioned ill-made black clothes. He ap-
pears to know absolutely nothing outside
of burgherdom; he has neither manners
nor taste; his only literature seems to be
limited to the Bible and a few treaties and
documents about the republic; he has no
intrinsic excellence of character that should
appeal to the admiration of the public; but
what he does know he knows Well He
knows the simplicity of his rude and beard
ed brethren of the veldt; he can play upon
their fears and their creed with perfect eff
feet and it is in the nature of his l-con-
ditioned personality TO say no All the rest
has fallen to him because he IS so unyield-
ing, and others so Vacilating and so pitt
fully weak. / do not suppose there are
any people in the world so well represented
by q single prominent man as the Beers of
South Africa are represented by Mr.. Kru-
ger. He is pre-eminently the Boer of Beers
in character, IN intellect and in disposition,
and that is one reason why he has such abb
solute control over his people. His obsti-
nacy-and no man with a face like his could
be otherwise than Obstinate-his people call
strength. Age and it's infirmitieS have in
tensified it. His reserve-born of self-pride,
consciousness of force, limited ambitions
and self-reance-they call a diplomatic
gift. His disposition morose from birth
breeding, isolation, fostered by contact with
his kind. is unyielding and selfish and has
been hardened by contempt of the verbose
Weaklings who have measured themselves
against him. This is the man whom the
Johannesburgers hope to weary with their
prayers and petitions; but they never will
do it. Nor will they convince him by their
arguments. for he is too dense, ignorant and
| impenetrable. This is the man our new high
| commissioner hopes to soften with his Gull
tured letters and amiable illusions to the
| possibilities of restoring concord in South
| Africa. l feel a reluctance to say it, but
his labor will be in vain. This is the man
| to whom the accomplished and loVable Brit
icJ, - foria hos hoe, It'll.