New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-22
PAUL KRUEGER'S REAL QUALITY.
THOMAS @. sHEARMAN WRITES OF THE
TRUE INTERESTS OF AMERICA IN
THE BOER WAR
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: l am very glad to see that The Tribune
and other genuinely American journals do not
allow themselves 10 be dictated 10 by Molly
Maguires, on the one hand or respectable but
irate Hollanders on the other The Tribune is
perfectly correct in saying that the defeat OF
the British In South Africa would be a disaster
10 the United States Of America I am espe-
cially glad to see that even an advocate OF the
Beers. like Mr.. Robert b Roosevelt, has the
intelligence 10 see, and frankness to admit, that
this is the fact.
If there is any business man who has not had
sense enough 70 see this long ago his eyes
ought surely 10 be opened by the events OF the
last few days. The three British defeats in
South Africa have already cost the United
States at least S1O0OOOOOO in the tremendous
downfall Of prices the breaking up OF con-
fdence and the certainty that. but for extraor-
binary efforts on the part of bankers. our coun-
try would have been involved in ruin great
as that Of 1898. II Is most astonishing that
intelligent business men. who know anything
of the history Of our country should ignore the
inextricable involvment Of all of our financial
affairs with those Of Great Britain, and forget
the lessons of our history. which show that
whenever Great Britain has been involved in a
disaster have occurred in the United States
and that when there was even a slight shadow
Of a war cloud arising between the two coun-
tries, as in December 1898. the panic and dis
aster in this country were vastly greater than
they were in Great Britain.
The pious Paul KRUGER has given US more
evidence Of his real quality. He has Just for
hidden the water to be pumped out OF any
johannesburg gold mines belonging 10 British
stockholders, these, Of course, constituting the
larger number OF mines This means stop
page OF the principal world supply Of gold
during the entire Transvaal war, and for six
eight months after the restoration Of peace A
little incident which happened the other even
ing is also instructive. The Rev. +. Z. Clark
after relating with great satisfaction Mr..
Krugers unctuous declarations Of attachment
70 his dear Lord Jesus went on to tell that
when he was introduced 10 KRUGER as an
American that illustrlous gentleman asked him
brusQuely: Are you one OF those Americans
who run 10 the Queen whenever they get into
trouble?" Some OF your correspondents. who
Indulge in abusive language. may think that
this is language which Americans ought not to
resent. But Mr.. Robert B. Roosevelt will hard
The plain. obvious truth. which no one can
fail 20 see who uses his own eyes, ie that Paul
KRUGER is a corrupt INSCRIPTIONS, treacherous
despot. who no doubt has certain amount
Of sincere religion precisely as Philip Of Spain
or the Duke OF Alva and many other similar
pious souls had. but who like them, never
allows his religion TO stand IN the way OF his
personal spites or TO intercept any tide OF gold
which would otherwise now INTO MS pocket
Mr.. Kriger hates Americans, Just as much as
he does the English although it suits his pur-
pose just now 10 pretend occasionally that
this is not so AS for Irish Catholics. he hates
them so much that he has never allowed them
10 have the right OF gaining vote or ever
holding an Office under any circumstances.
suppose that this is why your Irish CORE
spondents are so full OF love for Mr. KRUGER.
But. moreover. Mr.. Kriger suspects, and APP
parently hates, even his own fellow Dutchmen
In South Africa He has never allowed them
the privilege OF naturalization, any more than
the hated Outlanders. And when he was COM
PEELED 10 have twenty OF thirty honest and
really capable officials 20 attend 10 public az
fairs Cbeng unable TO find even half dozen
such among his own loyal Transvaal Beers, he
would not employ any OF the Dutch who resided
In adjoining territories. but sent 10 Holland for
that purpose. Nevertheless the Dutchmen OF
the Orange State and Cape Colony have rallied
TO the support Of Mr.. KRUGER. simply because
their race sympathies overcome all their com
mon sense and sef-respect
Some people seem 10 think that the fighting
qualities OF the Beers atone for all their igno-
rance prejudice and oppression. | certainly
never doubted that the Beers would make