New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-23

what was expected, on either siue. A"S D.
fear I'm England before The war was as We
made clear in these columns Mt the time' tna'
hostilties with the Transvaal would pro'oAe
insurrectlon at the Cape and lead 10 genei"i
race war throughout all South Africa Ih"'
1vos ono of the considerations which most re-
strained the British Government In It's nego'ia'
tIons with the Transvaal. On the otner huiiu'
there Is no doubt that Mr.. kruger ana MI
Steyn both confidently looked for synpu-
tbetic strike" ut the Cape. Mr. Steyn s reihaih-
able proclamation TO the Cape Dutch al 'he ou''
break Of the war was not so much an appear us
n signal. Its tone was that OF a SUMMONS "
take a prearranged course. Nor was grouiu
lacking for such views on both sizes. Inc
AfrIkander Bund was formed for the purpose
of destroying British sovereignty nj the Cape
and making all South Africa, from the oape "
the Zambes Dutch confederation. Inc heV'
Mr. Du Toit who organized the Bund made no
secret of that fact. We do not say that MI
Hofmeyr. Mr. Sauer and DR.. Tie water the
nresent chief spirits of the Bund. cherish any
such ambition. though they have, and not Win
ont reason. been suspected Of It. Perhaps they
have done so In theory, but have not been VIII
ing to put their theory into practice
There can be no question that any widespread
rising OF the Cape Dutch in aid or the boer
States would have given the war far dil-
ferent aspect from both a military and moral
nont Of view. The Dutch in Cape Colony con-
siderablv outnumber the British, and are their
nears IN civilization and in efficiency, In peace
mr. war. Their rebellion against the Crown
would have made the military problem lhcolh-
,orob,v moro difficult to solve. 1t would have
been necessary for the British TO bomoaru cape
Town and force landing for their troops there
and then to fight their way over every lnch Vi
the road northward. Nor would the moran
effect Of such rising have been less marked II
would have corroborated greatly the protest OIL
the Beers against British sovereignty, anu
would have Influenced strongly the opinion ana
Judgment Of the outside world. How great TINS
Inter influence would have been may easily DC
estimated from the contrary influence whlch the
lack of such uprising has produced People are
saving, and with no little reason, that II the
Dutch majority at the Cape, after so many
years of British sovereignty, are contented 10
remain under that sovereignty, ana VIII not
mise n hand to save their brother Dutchmen
at the north from being subjected 10 II, why
then. surely that sovereignty cannot be so lntoi-
cradle n tyranny after all. 1t Is not conceivable
that the Cape Dutchmen have been crushed INFO
supne helotry.
The conclusion to be drawn from the conduct
o. the Dutchmen at the Cape, then, is that. de-
spite their occasional political unrest, and de-
spite some dlsaffection toward the Crown, and
even active sympathy and cooperation with the
Roers. they are on the whole well content with
their estate as British subjects, and have no mind
TO try TO change 1t by violent means. They have
II, II nigh v.
They feel themselves to be better or both poHt-
icaly and indusrially. than their brethren IN the
Transvaal And they would rather see the
Transvaal raised to the level of the Cape than
the Cape lowered to the level OF the Transvaal
That. as we have said, is one Of the most slgnif-
cant features Of the whole case.