Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-10-12
ASSASSINATION.
(Continued from page ~

lor moved from it's home, three times in
the present century, while its sub-com-
imunities have been even more change
able and changing in their habits.
Professor Browns opinion as to their
future will appeal more to Americans
than either that of Cecil Rhodes or
James Bryce. The first is an Ameri-
can, with no bias either for or against
the British in South Africa. while the
others are enthusiastic and stalwart
| Englishmen of the most pronounced
| type. During the time in which Engi-
reer Brown served as a naturalist for
the United States government, and a
representative of Scribner's of New
York, he had extraordinary opportuni-
ties for obtaining information not
granted to others. His conclusions
therefore. are to be received with very
high respects. In his opinion the
Transvaal will become Anglo-SaXon
through the superior energy and great
er mental power of the ever increasing
army of British and American settlers.
y spirit of commercial. mining and rail
way enterprise is sweeping with i'm
menSe force northward from Cape
Colony. and westward from Delagoa
Ray, which is bound to overturn all Oh
stGclcs
The English settlements now form Il
solid circle around the Transvaal and Or
ausc Free State with the exception of the
small district of Dclagoa bay which is
owned by Portugal. This district itself
is practically in pawn to Great Britain,
and that bankrupt monarchy. Portugal, is
able at a moments request to transfer
all her African possessions to John Bull.
The Beers are SO stalwart and vigorous
that they will influence the future. but 1t
will undoubtedly be in the same way as
the knickcrbOckerS affected the character
of New York and New Jersey and the
Palatincs that of Pennsylvania. The very
conservatism of the Boer will be the best
possible safeguard. 1t Will counter
balance the fierce impctuosty which is 50
marked Il characteristic Of the English
and American pioneer of today.
That the Beers are brave, goes without
saying. The blacks in that part Of the
world outnumber them more than 100 to |,
ard yet through their undaunted courage
and indomitable will, they have not only
held their own, but have intimidated ev-
cry tribe within 500 miles. 1t made but
llllIC hllltIttltc Will NtdHbHS lIiC +hli
cans used. IN the beginning, the blacks
had assegais or short spears which could
be employed as missiles or as stabbius
weapons. They next secured muskcts
from the Portuguese traders, and of lac
years many of them have owned Win
chesters ana even Martini Henry rifles.
Nevertheless the Dutch treated the kaffir
equipped with the latest firearms with tho
same magnificent contempt as when h"
was provided with a feeble spear and
worthless war club.
In the first Transvaal war with England
the Roer displayed courage, marksman
shin and guerrilla talent of the highest
order There is no reason to believe that
they have dcterioratod in these respects.
On the contrary. they not alone possess
these qualities the same as before, but
what is more worthy Of mention. they
now have better roads. and larger mum
Der and better quality Of arms ana am
munition. In the last five years they have
had the advantage of modern instructors,
instruction and weapons. There are
Maxims. Hotchkiss guns, Nickers guns.
improved krup magazine rifles equal n
the Krag -Jorgensen, smokeless powder,
ana the finest quality Of machine made
ammunition in the possession Of Dom
Pauls government ana soldiery-
OF course there is no doubt as to the
outcome Of the war. The little Dutcn
principality will be overwhelmed and
crushed. but it will be at the cost Of an
ocean of blood, and the destruction of
property will be measured by millions.
The very scare Of war has already cost
the little republic at least $50 00o.o00
There is another curious feature in the
entire matter. Within the last 10 years
ana especially prior to the Establishment
of an English rule To the north of tn
Transvaal, there was a strong disposition
on the part of the Beers to again trek 10
the northward. a strong party had
arisen in the state which held that the
foreigners were coming too near them
and they ought to follow out their ira
ditions ana move into Machonaland ana
from thence across the Zambcsia. The
party was popular and the sentiments OF
its leaders were widely applaudcd. What
might have happened if Cecil Rhodes had
not rivetcd together the wilderness into
the new state of Rhodesia or Zambesia,
there is no knowing.
At any rate, this momentous action put
an end to the nomadic aspirations Of the
Beers, and showed them that a new era
had opened in that part of the world II
is impossible for them to move anywhere
unless it be to go into a land where They
will be strangers and owe allegiance to Il
foreign power.
These instincts are strong factors. ana
should be taken into account in estimat-
ing the probabilities Of temporary and
permanent peace in the Transvaai.
Professor Brown tells good story Of
trip made with the Cecil Rhodes party in
1896. to a colony of Beers near the border
of Mata beleland. The people fired salutes
in honor of Rhodes and received him like
a king. The chairman of the committee
read an address in which he invited
Rhodes to be Father to the Beers Of
Rhodesia as Kruger had been Father
to the Beers Of the Transvaal. Mr..
Rhodes began his parental duties by gel-
erously contributing from his private
purse money enough to make good the
losses sustained through the ravages OF
a disease among the cattle.
So far as war is concerned, Great Bri'
tain will not declare war against what
she considers a dependent state. Actual
hostilities. therefore, are expected to take