The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-23
ABOUT THE TRANSVAAL
IMPORTANT BOOK BY SECRETARY
OF THE REFORM COMMITTEE.
Natural Equities of the Case for In
terference-The Reform Movement
and Jameson's Rash Raid.
london Letter in New York Tribune.

T. N
book which has been advertised in the most
conspicuous way without a penny Of ex-
pense Miss Flora Shaw has reviewed it
in detail for the Times. and attention has
been directed to it in leading article as
the book of the hour. which throws light
upon the critical relations of England and
the South African republics.
The book is THE Transvaal from With
in" and the author is Mr.. j. p. Fitzpat-
rick, who was born in South Africa, has
lived in the Transvaal for fifteen years and
as secretary of the reform committee OF
Johannesburg was imprisoned, heavily fined
and finally released under pledge to alb
stain from meddling in political affairs for
three years. Few men would have consid-
cred th,s pledge as a prohibition against
the publication of a plain record Of facts
in relation to the reform movement, but
Mr.. Fitzpatrick has been highly sensitive
on a point of personal honor. He compiled
record of recent affairs in the Transvaal.
but waited until the three years period of
silence had expired before printing il for
private circulation. His friends at once
urged him to publish ii with few addi-
tional chapters dealing with later events.
This he has done, and the book now appears
at moment when everybody is eager TO
obtain information which will explain and
justify the conduct of the British govern
ment in enforcing under menace of war
the political rights of the English settlers
in the Transvaal
THE EQUITY OF THE CASE
I may frankly say that, as an American,
grateful for the large measure of moral
support and generous appreciation which
the United States received from the En-
glish people during the war with Spain, /
have been most anxious to be convinced
that the British government has a just
cause i'm South Africa, but have not been
able to find unanswerable proofs in the
diplomatic correspondence of the blue
books. While the case for the political
emancipation of the outlanders is inher-
emily strong and valid as a matter of nat
ural equity, the legality of coercion under
the revised convention of 1854, as officially
interpreted by Lord Derby, is an open ques-
argument have been exhausted the truth re-
mains that Mr.. Gladstone, in an excess Of
magnanmity TO the Beers. whose passion
Tor independence appealed to his English
ioerty-loving instinct, tied the hands of
the British government SO. that it
ances OF the outlanders and to enforce the
natural equities Of the case without in
! curing the reproach of repudiating
vention careful reading of Mr.. Fitzpat-
ricks book has convinced me that, while
he does not take up the question of legal
ity, he presents with cumulative power a
case Ior interference on the ground of nat
Mr.. Fitzpatrick is of course, a partisan.
VINO feels intensely the indignity and injus-
| also sincere and honest writer who care
rully avoids 0verstatement and unfair argu-
andor anS 1e be 1Fy
| OF MS book Is admirable. and il is filled with
| i informat a, ton which is of the utmost impor
intelligent and lucid judgment of the
Iransvaal controversy. 1t is not controver-
| its favor after its wearisome poemics and
| recent pettifogging the letter of the
conventions and the meaning of suzerainty.
1t Is plain narrative of what has been
| going on during recent years in the Trans
vaal, and with a true sense of proportion
and perspective it gives clear view of the
trend or Boer policy and administration in
| Offering persistent resistance to the mani
| lest order OF progress and to the genius
| OF civilization.
A CANDID HISTORIAN
Seven of the eleven chapters of the volume
are occupied with the history Of the reform
| movement, the Jameson raid and the trial
| and the release of the leaders. who were
condemned either to death or imprisonment
The authors candor is conspicuous I'm this
portion of the work. He names Mr.. Alfred
Belt and Mr.. Cecil Rhodes as the chiefs "to
Il
it was necessary from the capitalistic point
of view to resort to extreme measures was
| necessarily left" He considers IL impossi-
BILE to say with whom the idea of the raid
DR.: jameson read the life of Give! Prob,
ably 1t was the result of discussion and
no one mans idea. AT any rate, arms and
ments were made by which they should be
| smuggled into the country concealed in ma :
RHODES Was eonsmfed ana Mr r.
/ might be necessary.
The author admits that association with
portion of their programme which the re-
| form leaders find it difficult to justify He
| asserts that the reformers intended TO call
upon DR.. Jameson in case they were at
| tackled by the Beers and unable TO cope
with. them, but adds that this was a modi-
| hcation of the original arrangement. by
| which both forces were to act Simultaneous
| ~ and in concert. DR.. Jameson made two
ter of invitation, which he dated when he
| decided to start on the raid. This letter
was drafted by Mr.. Charles Leonard. and
| was to be used privately and in case OF me-
| cessity for the purpose of excusing DR.
Jameson to the directors of the Chartered
Company and the imperial authorities"
| JAMESON'S RASHNESS.
When the responsibility of the reform
leaders who entered into the original con-
| spiracy is frankly conceded, explanations Of
/ tuelr 10 cooperate with MIN arc
mere matters of detail. They tried 10 pre-
| vent the raid when they found that they
were not prepared for the emergency. but
| DR.. Jameson took the bit between his teeth
| and bolted- The story OF the raid is clearly
| told. with only one detail that Is fresh
| namely, the text OF the reply which Dr.
jameson sent 10 Colonel Rhodes on the eve
| of his battle The letter was concealed in
| the bicycle of the dispatch bearer and was
| not brought to light until the machine was
| repaired by mechanic months afterward
1 The authors purpose is not to shield the
| reformers from responsibility for the raid
| but from the reproach Of having abandoned
| DR.. Jameson to his fate He contends that
| it was impossible for them to render any
assistance when they were taken by sur
| prise through his premature movement. and
| that, apart from their inability, there was
not the slightest doubt on their part that
| he would enter johannesburg after he had
| started and that they were unjustly taunted
| with being towards and poltroons. He de-
| scribes the arrest, trial and condemnation
of the reform leaders and the hard bargain
which they were compelled 10 make In order
TO regain their liberty by the payment OF
| e250.O0o in hard cash.
These seven chapters, OF which i have
| given a rapid summary. contain nothing
| that is convincing in relation TO the contro-
| versy which is now opening the way for war
between Great Britain and the Dutch re-
publics. The author speaks of DR.. Jameson
| as the most useful friend President Kruger
! has found in South Africa. because many
/ things in the Transvaal have been excused
| on account OF the extreme provocation given