The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-01

Britain should not interfere In the internal
affairs OF their republic. This proposal was
rejected by Mr.. Chamberlain. and larger
demands made than ever. President Kru-
ger again made a proposal. similar TO the
original one, but asking that the British
withdraw their additional armies sent to
South Africa. To this Mr.. Chamberlain
made a reply that practically broke or all
negotiations. and about Oct. . war was de-
clared. The Orange Free State, by its
President, Martin I. Steyn. joined the
South African Republic in its war declara-
ton Of self-defense.
Now, as TO the amount of gold produced
in the Transvaal. there are seventy-four
mining companies, producing in this year
from 405 900 10 10000 ounces OF gold each
month, each ounce worth about SO at the
mines. The total amount produced in the
eight months of 1899. including August 0or
the mines stopped work in September), was
about 3.500,0O0 ounces, and during this year
il has increased each month. and IL is now
known that this republic produces more
gold than any other country In the world.
Australia, owned by Great Britain. comes
next in amount each year OF the yellow
metal.
coed the whites in number in all that sec
ton Of South Africa. In the Transvaal
there are s5o.ooo blacks and about $4,000
whites: or these there are about ASo0
uitlanders. mostly English. and with a
large amount of machinery working the
mines around the largest city. Johannes
lHtft are oiiH dbOQt N.NIO -
Beers, and It is stated they can and have
raised an army OF 35.Ooo soldiers. The
Orange Free State has a population OF 800
oo blacks and 1000 whites. and have raised
an army of about 5000 men to assist their
sister republic.
There are three great railroads. all built
and owned by the British. the first and
longest one starting from Cape Town. run
ming northeast by tire cities of Beaufort
West. Kimberley. Vryburg and Mafeking
and over eco miles 70 the west and north OF
tho South Afriran Reprh1ic reqrlv all on
British soil. TIE next railroad commences
at Port Elizabeth. which is about 400 miles
east of Cape Town and runs thence nearly
Orange Free State. thence north to Jo-
hannesburg. Pretoria and thence eastward
TO Delagoa bay. owned by Portugal The
third railway commences at Durham, in
Natal. which Is a shipping port on the In
dian ocean. of 2s.no0 inhabitants before the
war. This railroad is about $50 miles long.
passing north to Pietermaritzburg. the cap
ital of Natal. Ladysmfth. Newcastle,
Charlestown. thence into the southern Sec
ton of the Transvaal. through Standerton.
Heidelhurg ard johannesburg.
Sterhanus Paulus Kruger is a native OF
Rustenburg. in the Transvaal. born In 1s25.
and is now serving his fourth term as Pres
ident Of the South African Repub'c He
was made a preacher In the Dutch Re-
formed Church In 1892 ard claims TO he re-
ligious. quoting the Scriptures often In his
conversation. He is now living with his sec
ond wife. who has borne him fifteen chill
dren: some. however. have died but his
sons are brave. strong. active soldiers and
under their fathers advice. His salary as
President Is $4,000 per year. and he is also
allowed $3.50 per year for coffee. His
wealth is at least 50 nc0. 00.
Martinus T Steyn has been President OF
the Orange Free State since 1895. He Is a
native of that republic. educated In law,
both in Fneland and Holland. talented and
well qualified TO fill his place both as a
President and a general. He Is forty-three
years of age.
General Joubert. the commander OF all the
Poer armies. Is a veteran OF two Transvaal
wars and is the leading military genius Of
both nations. With these three brave men
as leaders Of the Roer armies the war must
necessarily he a long and bloody one. but
owing to their geographical position. sur
rounded by foes on all sides and having no
seaport. and having only about one-half
the number of soldiers that England VIII
put In the field. these two minor republics
will he crushed down. and all for gold.
Might does not make right.
did more than any one person to bring on
this war. and Lord Salisbury. the English
premier, a few weeks ago made a speech in
London plainly stating that no other nation
on the globe must interfere In behalf OF
these two republics. He also said that Eng
land looked to the United States and Ger
many to encourage them In their war with
the Beers. Time will prove that there are
many thousands Of just. honest American
people who sympathize with these common
ignorant but brave Beers and denounce this
as one Of the most bloody and inhuman
wars to stain the history Of the present day.
NEWTON A. TRUEBLOOD.
Knightstown. Ind. Nov. q.