The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-04
AN INTERVIEW WITH KRUGER
BoER PRESIDENT GIVES HIS
SIDE OF THE DISPUTE.
Interesting History of English Ag-
gression In South Africa-Life-
long War Against the British.

loom Paul's People, by Howard c.
Hillegas. has just been published. Two
of Mr.. Hillegas' chapters are devoted
to President Kruger himself We quote
a part of the description given of Dom
Paurs personality and lofty, inspiring
patriotism:
A man Of absolutely no education, as
we understand the word, he has, dur
ing the long years of notable career,
SO applied his inherent abilities, his nat
ural astuteness. the cunning acquired
by constant battling with the wiles OF
native epernies, as to be able to acquit
himself Of his high office in a manner
TO be envied by many who have enjoyed
hundred times as many advantages.
Although he is almost 70 years old, the
presidents mind has net become
dimmed, but, If anything, has grown
lleener in perception and wider in its
scope during the Iast-ten years
President KrHSer's personality is
most unique. He inpreSses one as be-
ing king in the sarb of farmer, a
genius in a ounces cap. At first sight
he would be mistaken for an awkward
countryman, with store clothes" and
silk hat intended for someone else. His
frock coat is far too small TO reach
round has corpulent body, and his
trousers seem TO have a natural an
tipathy for his shoes.
He wears no cuffs, and the presence
Of q collar and tie may be determined
only by drawing aside the natural cur
tain formed by his whiskers. He is un-
couth in his manner. but he has great
natural attractiveness. gained by
long life among hunters in the wilds.
He is slow TO make friends, but once
he trusts a person, VOlumlncus proof is
necessary before he alters his opinion
or the man. He never forGets good
deed and never paTdOns the man who
does a bad one.
President Kruger is short i'm stature,
measuring less than feet inches.
The mouth is wide and ungainly. The
constant use Of heavy pipe has
caused Il deep depression on the left
side Of his lower lip, and this gives the
whole mouth the appearance of being
unbalanced His chin is large and
prominent. and his ears correspond rel |
atively in size and symmetry with his
face. When in repose his features are |
not pleasant TO look upon but when !
lighted up by a smile they become |
rather attractive, and generally cause |
his laughter TO become contagious |
his hearers.
There is no love lost between the |
president and the English. The author /
writes:
The presidents hatred of the English
was bred in the bone. and it Will never
be eradicated. To see has country free
from every English tie is the aim of his
existence and every act Of his political
career has been born with that
thought"
In his interview with the president,
which took place at Pretoria, Mr.. Kru-
ger asked the author three leading
questions. which are indicative of the
man. Have you any English blood
in your veins?" Are you a friend of
Cecil Rhodes" ITO what church do you
belong?" Mr. Hillegas' answers hav-
ing been supposedly satisfactory, the
president proceeded slowly and, be-
tween puffs Of his great pipe. spoke de-
terminedly" The unshot Of his talk
was the upbraiding CT England.
our people increased in number. and
as The years passed. established a form
of government such as yours in Amer
lea. The British thought they We're bet
ter able TO govern us than we were our
selves. and once took our country from
us. Their defeats at Laing's Neck and
Majuba hill taught them that we were
fighters. and they gave us our inde-
peEdence and allowed us to live peace
ably for a number Of years. They did
rot think the country valuable enough
to warrant the repetition of the fight
ing for it. When it became known all
over the world twelve years ago that
the most extensive gold fields on the
globe had been discovered in our APP
parently worthless country, England ]
became envious and laid plans to an
lex such a valuable prize. Thousands
# people were attracted hither by our
wonderful gold mines at johannesburg, !
md the English statesmen renewed
heir attacks on us. They made all
orts of preteXts to rob US Of our coun-
Iy. and when they could not do ii in
way that was honest and would be 7
by other pations. they
damned the Jameson raid, which was
merely a bold attempt to steal our
Ountry"
1t was evident that Cecil Rhodes was =
Iona Pauls special bette noire for he
aid: Il
Mr.. Rhodes is the cause Of all the t
'Oubles between our country and Eng "
md He desires to form all the coun-
y south Of the Zambesi river into =
nited States Of South Africa, and be- n
IRE he can do this he must have pos g
sssion Of the Transvaal and the r.
range Free State. His aim in life is II
be president OF the United States of o.
)uth Africa. He initiated the Jameson X
lid and he has stirred up the spirit of le
Scontept which is being shown by the | y
nelishmen in the TranSvaal. Our X
lvernment endeavors to treat every u
he with like favor. but these English ~
en- are never satisfied with anything u
g do. They want the English flag to II
ave over the TransVaal territory and III
lthing less. Rhodes spent millions Of 10
1Inds in effort to steal our country. eN
ld VIII probably spend millions more ca
lt we viii never leave this land. w
lich we found, settled and pro- "
rted.'' m
Then rising from his chair and rails en-
2 his voice. he continued, slowly and ha
liberately: WI
We viii fight until not one Boer re- M
aims to defend our flag and our coun- IN
=; our women and children will fight he
their liberties: and even /, an old ca
an, Will take the gun which I have oN
ed against them twice before and use IN
again TO defend the country l love- LOO
But ] hope there will be no war pr
INT none and the Beers want none. has
war comes. we shall not be to blame. me
lave done all in my power for peace. we
d have taken many insults from
glishmen merely that my people HS
ght not be plunged into war. i want a
war. l hope that ] may spend the De
It Of my days in peace OF
-o~<0
Kipling Agreed With Him. of
[ is related Of Rev. Georse Macdon- ne ,,e,
. Rudyard Kipling's maternal grand ms