The times., 1899-09-19
noer sInyeioIders and Bigots

A letter recently received by The Times
on the subject of the troubles in the
Transvaal is of especial interest just at
this time. as it expresses the view of an
impartial observer who has no interest in
the settlement of the Transvaal difficulties
beyond that which every right thinking
and broad minded person must have.
The letter is from an American WHO lived
for several years in the Transvaal, and
came in direct contact with all the e'e-
ments of population there. so that his
opinions were formed through observation
Of the actual workings OF the Boer Gov
ornment. Since his return from South AT
rica he has been reading both sides of the
controversy, and is moved, by the argu-
ments OF the nti-English theorists, to
offer some information CLEANED in his own
experience. His statement is in part as
fellows:
The Boers saw they trekked from Cape Colony
that they might have liberty But everybody IN
the Cape knows that the Boers, under British
rule had all the liberty they desired. In 1884
or thefeabouts slavery abolished in the Brit
ish dominions, Of course including the Cape,
bui the Beers who had always held the natives
in bondage, refused TO do away with II, and
rather than do so they went TO the Transyaal,
where they could ensaye and abuse the natives
TO their hearts content The few Of them that
can read only read the Old Testament, and they
treat the natives just the Jews used to do
| in Palestine in the days of the Judges. They
think they have a divine night 10 drive out the
| Csnaanites, ss they call the natives, and pos
s5ss their land and enslave those that remain.
Now they there they want 10 keep everybody
Csc out, the same as the Morrnons dld when they
went to Utah Nobody but Bocr is allowed to
have a rife. II il were not for the
British, the BsssItos, who splendid horsemen,
and the Syvazis would break out and have
gesnce on the Beers for their cruelty TO them.
The natives in the British colony Of Natal or the
Cape Colony well treated; they go TO school
/ and are taught read and write, but not so
in the Transyaa for there are 10 schools, at least
there not until lately, and nothing but
| Dutch is allowed 10 be taught. A Uitlander is
not allowed to teach his child his own language
As to teaching native, why, they would not al
| low him near school OF anywhere near a
/ church. for they consider that a native has no
| soul. They never gave them any wages until the
| English 10 the country, and when the
natives saw how well the English paid their labor
! they deserted their Bocr masters. They
| cannot discriminate between an American and
1 an Englishman; they think they are all the same
| people but living in different parts OF the world
/ the same Canadians and Australians The
| mines ia the Rand will be leased to nobody but
| Holiandars and Germans. The Germans know
/ That, and that is why they are backing the Beers
! secretly Ii they can, the Beers will have no
| other religion tut The Dutch Reformed Church,
| or at least nothing but some Protestant Church.
| for they very bigoted; they hate Jews and
| Catholics and viii have no dealings with them
| il they can help II. There is no knowing TO
| what extent Of tyranny they would go il they
bad all their own way.
This letter is significant as coming from
one of the people, not from-a theorist, a
politician, or speculator. The writer is
evidently an American OF the type which
helped TO make California in the fftiss-
enterprising, thoughtful, an advocate OF
peace, progress. and liberty. With encour-
agement, men Of this sort might easily
give America a share in the fortunes OF
the Transvaal, for South Africa is at pres
ent sort OF Fortunatus' pocket, out Of
which there is chance of any man win
! ming treasure. II is not necessary to as