The times., 1899-08-12
sATuRpAY. AUGUST u. lsss.
kruger TO the World.

Inc MANIFESTO OF freSidenL kruger OF
The South African Republic, which has just
appeared in London, is there regarded, ac-
oOrding TO our dispatches. as an appeal 10
the civilized world II that was the object
IA issuing it we think that il would have
been better left unwritten. Il does not
appear to be document well calculated to
excite much sympathy for the Beers.
In it Mr.. Kruger states that it has be-
come fixed idea among his people that
she British Government is determined to
take their country. Mr.. Chamberlain's pro-
posal for q joint enquiry into the work
1ngs of the franchise act had not yet
been rejected when the pronunciamento
was sent out, but its writer said ii would
be as the Government and members of
the Folksraad regard the request as an in
fringement upon their right TO administer
their own internal affairs
The real merits of the Outlanders' g-iev-
ance question are touched lightly in the
paper, as might be expected, Kruger con-
renting himself with some glitterfng gen.
eralities. and accusing unnamed persons
connected with the British Government OF
Interest in the capitalistic syndicates
which. he says. are eonspiring TO loot the
Transvzal. Evidently the main purpose
OF the manifesto is to serve notice on
England and other countries whose citizens
are resident or have made investments in
the State that if the Beers are pressed
any further they will not only go TO war.
but viii indulge in some other diversions
not usually resorted TO by civilized COM
snunsties even when in q condition OF bel
ligerency.
o~ing to the settled conviction that Great
Britain viii not rest until she has taken posses
sion u the TrznSyzsl- the Boers are determined
10 fight rather than permit the capitalisiic Gle
ment 70 rule them. The Transyaai, being the
richest country for it size in the world. would
form q bright gem in the British crown. and
j. may answer the purpose Of Great Britain TO
acquire The whole country even az the cost Of
1iie mining industries In the event OF war the
Beers VIII assurediF wreck the mines and by
1he loss OF millions % pounds worth Of mining
plant the general body Of shareholders in Europe
Viii be irTetrievably ruined and they should fully
understand the price they must pay before au-
thorizing the British Government 10 go to
The above paragraph is the meat OF the
proclamation. Il is a cold-blooded and
savage warning that, as soon as q column
OF invasion starts from the Cape or Natal
vast gold mining plants in the Rand viii
be blown up, wrecked, and destroyed, and
that the rich and populous Outiander city
nf johannesburg win be laid in ashes.
Probably these are not idle threats. II is
hard 20 know what not to expect from a
wild, ignorant. and insanely bigoted and
fanaticai people like the Beers. But no
doubt President Kruger hopes, IL he does
not thoroughly believe. that the threats
themselves viii be sufficient TO keep the
hands OF Great Britain from his throat 1t
is plain that his blood dynamite. and
petroleum language is largely aimed at the
British shareholders in Transvaal compa-
nies, who, he thinks, may take fright and
exercise resistless power upon Parlia-
ncnt IL opposition TO war. In this notion
ae is doubtless wrong The shareholders
may feel fheir knees knock together and
fheir teeth chatter as they think OF the
ruin OF their property. and, possibly, they
may try TO exert pressure TO avert hostIM-
ties. but their number is small. while that
of the British classes and masses who VIII
be rendered furious by "ooQ Paurs" des-
perate warning and defiance is very large.
and dominates the situation
IL the manifesto is indeed intended as an
appeal 10 the civilized world" it is a dis
s1ai failure. The civilized world could
anly reply 10 it that a people capable Of
the barberism which Kruger promises the
Beers viii descend 10 in the event Of war
are manifestiy unfit TO have country. and
that the sooner they are wiped out of ex-
istence the better IL viii be for civilization
and humanity.