New-York tribune., 1899-06-15
THE SOUTH AFRICAN COW.

The cartoOnist depicts the Transvaal Presi-
dent as a wild old cow which the British
High Commissioner is whimsically reluctant to
tackle So in accord with the nursery rhyme,
the Commissioner sits on the stile and contin-
ues TO smile, which, he SAYS may soften the
heart of this cow But he accents the may
I'm a dubious fashion. full of an ominOus mean
ing In more than one respect the artists idea
is a happy one. Sir Alfred Miner has been re-
luctant to tackle the Transvaal Government
with force. He has smiled upon 1t with all
possible patience and suavity and consideration,
journeying from Cape Town 10 BlOemfontein for
the purpose. Mr.. Krtiger is undeniably bovine
in temperament and in intellectually So far
so good. We are not, however, TO assume that
Sir Alfred's seat and smile are TO be perpetual
By no means There are other attitudes and eX-
pressions equally at the command of that mas
terful Young statesman And II the cartoonist
wishes to repeat the likening of "Oom Paul to
a COW. he may get inspiration for future
sketch from the history of George Stephenson
Suppose" he was asked, you should build
your railroad. and run your locomotive and
carriages at twenty miles an hour as you say
you can, and a COW should get in the way
What them 1T would" replied the great en-
gneer gravely, "be bad for the cow
We do not predict that affairs in the Trans
vaal will come TO so serious a pass. If they do
however it will be the fault of the TTanSvaal
Government and ut will be bad for the COW.
We are not without sympathy with the Beers
In the case of the Jameson raid we could re-
ioice in their success. Yet that raid, lawess
and crack Drained as II was. had sore provOca-
ton Mr. Kriiger himself admitted that and
promised to give relief to the grievances Of the
colonists. That promise has not been fulfilled.
No relief has been given. On the contrary,
the grievances have been made still harder
to bear And now, as If to add insult
to injury. the offer is made TO grant some
slight relief. not now. but seven years hence,
provided the colonists will acquiesce in meas
ures which so good an authority as General
Joubert Vice-Presdent Of the Transvaal, ad-
mits are harsh, unjust and humilating, and
were purposely made so. That is Mr.. Krdger' S
application of the lesson of the Jameson raid.
That is his answer 10 the petitions which his
own right-hand man declares are well founded.
II is not easy to regard such conduct with the
patience of Sir Alfred Miner. The purblind
stubbornness OF George III was flexible and
gracious compliance contrasted with the atti-
tude of this petty dcspot of the Transvaal
1T will be bad for the COW" There are those
who predict that the Beers will be able to battle
any army Great Britain can send against them.
Such talk is idle 1t is based upon Majuba Hill,
where a handful Of British soldiers, worn out
with campaigning, were surprised a3d over
whelmed by ten times their number O! Beers.
A moor foundation that for forecasts OF a cam
paign in which the British might easily outnum-
Der the Beers. Nay, for might ensily' read
"vould certainly" For things have changed
since Maiuba Hill. At that time the only occu-
pants of the Transvaal were the Beers and the
Kaffirs To-day the Beers are a small minority
OF the white population. They are outnum-
bered two to one by the British. American and
other "Ourlanders." whose only political right
is the right 10 be taxed and 30 be made 10 pay
seven ninths of the revenue of the State. These
"Outlanders' alone would quickly settle the
whole matter were they authorized so TO do.
And in case the High Commissioner does have
TO get down from the stle and tackle this wild
old cow" such authorization will not be long In
coming. 1t is sincerely to be hoped there will
he no need for such action. But il is for Mr..
Kriiger TO obviate that need and TO doing so
| he does not now seem much inclined.