The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-12-15

lish writer on South African subjects
hae sent two letters to the London Times
one Of them dated October 20, and the
other written before the opening Of the
South African war. From these letters,
rs published in the Manchester Guar
dian Of October, 25, we make the follow
ing extracts.
FROM LETTER WRITTEN BEFoRE THE WAR
Nothing has lately been left unsaid
that could help TO prejudice public opin.
ion in this country against the Trans
yaal Beers, and thus assist the schemes
of those who, under cover Of the plea
that they are only desirous Of rightino
the wrongs of Itbe British outlanders
really wish, at any cost, TO do away
the Independence Of the Transvaal re-
public, which has long been stumbling
block IN the way of certain imperial
schemes or dreams.
That the outlander population of 10.
hannesburg have long suffered from
many genuine grievances Is, no doubt,
perfectly true, but 10 the genuine griev-
ances as set forth in the manifesto OF
the Johannesburg National union in
1895 there have lately been added others
which are not genuine, for the special
purpose Of innaming public opinion in
this country.
For instance, Sir Sidney shippard has
told ms in the current number OF the
Nineteenth Century, that "Britons may
be robbed, beaten, imprisoned or muir
dered; their women may be grossly in
suited, their houses may be broken
into at any hour Of the day or night by
a rufllanly police force, who are terror
10 the peaceable, and worse than useless
against criminals; and II the uniortu.
nate British householder demonstrates
he may be shot dead in his own room."
This is a very strong indictment, but I
do not believe il can be supported by evi.
dence, for no one who has read the de-
tailed evidence in the case of the man
Edgar who was shot by the policeman
Jones-the incident on which the greater
part Of this charge has been manifestly
based--can possibly agree with Mr..
Chamberlain that the killing OF Edgar
was case OF murder. Moreover, re-
spectacle Englishmen whom know
wei. and who have lately returned to
this country from Johannesburg tell me
that II this statement Is meant 10 imply
that well.behayed, lawabding Britons
live in constant fear Of assault and in.
suit at the hands of the Transyaal
Beers IL is not true, though IL IL true
that there is so much ruifianism amongst
certain classes Of the outlander popula-
tion that the police are unable TO cope
with Il.
The greater part of the personal
charges made against the Transvaal
Beers has, | believe, but small founda.
tion, since, taken as whole, they are
an eminently quiet, sober and self-con-
tained people. hut little given to brawl-
ing or Dragging. ! have some right TO
speak ON such matter, as | first went
to South Africa in 1871, and in the fol.
lowing year came in contact with the
Transvaal Beers. soon learnt To
speak their language, and during more
than 10 years have had great deal 10
do with them and still have many friends
amongst them but in all my long inter.
course with these people. whether az
casual acquaintance, friend OF the fam.
ly or total stranger, have never met
With anything but hospitality and kind
ness, and naturally at the present
moment, when | firmly believe that
here is design in certain quarters TO
orce Il war upon them which il will be
made TO appaer that they have forced |
lpon us, feel great deal Of sympathy
or them.
Mr.. Rider ilaggard has told us that
le found Il impossible TO go ON living
n the Transyaal amid the daily insults
4 victorious Beers, and he also tells ms
hat Beers look upon Englishmen with
ontempt and consider them TO be NOR
lily and physically towards. travelled
lowly through the Transyaal by bullock
lagon shortly after the retrocession Of
he country In 1891, and visited all the
arm houses on my route. met with
10 insults nor the least inciyility any
here, nor ever heard any boastinp
bout the Boer successes over Four
roops, though at that time understood
nd spoke the "Taal" we'll. In common
18th all who really know the Boers, who
ave livel amongst them and not studied
heir character at second hand, have
ways been struck by their moderation
speaking OF their victories over our
lldiers.
Az for the Beers having CONTEMPT
n Englishmeu as individuals, that is
onsense. They hate the British goy
-nment, and, knowing their history, I
y one think that they have ample rea.
N for doing 80, but the individual
nglishman that they know they
Ike at his real value. There are,
course, unfortunately, certain Eng.
en- in johannesburg, or people who
= now put down as Englishmen, who
nld not but appear as contemp.ihle 10
boer as they would do 10 most people
this country. hut, ON the other
nd, could name many Englishmen
d scotehmen, men who have been [
nest aud upright aud fearless in all k
eii dealings with their neighbors, who (
We been held in immense respect b, 8
the Beers OF their acquaintance. :