Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-12
ASSASSINATION.
Rumors Of Pretoria's British
Diplomatic Agents Murder.
Beers Have Already Crossed Border,
Not Waiting Time Limit.
Great Britain Is Not Prepared and Must
Adopt Defensive Tactics.

| London, Oct. lit is rumOred that
Mr.. conyngham Greene, the British
diplomatic agent at Pretoria has been
assassinated there. The report how
ever, is unconfirmcd and is discredited
at the Colonial office.
| The rumor that Mr.. Greene had been
| murdered is Of doubtful origin, and is
| considered extremely improba BILE as it
| IS believed that in obedience to orders
from the imperial government. Mr..
Greene had already left Pretoria, con-
fiding the care of British interests to
| United States Consul Macrum.
IL the latest reports which
are confirmed from various points
! in South Africa. are true, the
Beers have not waited for the expra-
ton Of the time limit but have already
crossed the border as they would be
! entitled to do both in virtue of the mott
| fication contained in the last paragraph
of the nltimatum and also of the Brit
| ish acknowledgment. which reached
Pretoria so speedily as to justify be-
| lief amounting almost to certainty
that the war party in Great Britain,
while welcoming an act which has de-
prived the country of all peaceful al
ternatives and given it the great super
fetal advantage to be derived from the
fast that the adversary has volun-
tarily assumed the stigma of virtually
declaring war,was eagerly awaiting its
chance.
The Transvaal difficulty has already
proven Of great educational value by
compelling everyone interested in pub
lie affairs to study what has long been
terra incognita. Strangely enough,
although Cape Town is connected with
the civilized world by submarine cadle
and many fine lines of mail steam
ships. ana although it exercises through
the gold production of South Africa, a
compelling influence upon the money
markets Of the world. yet less is known
about it ly the general public than of
the Cinso and the Soudan, which have
practically no interest direct or indi-
rect with the American public.
Prof William Henry Brown. who won
distinction in the great Smithsonian
Institute and his work for the Serb
ners is the only one who throws light
upon the white and black races of
Rhodesia and the Transvaal. 1t is q
strange pisture wrch he presents OF
social conditions in that part Of the
world. The Beers were immigrants
from Holland. who settled first near
Cape Town and who instead Of pro-
crossing in civilization. seemed in many
respects to rcccdc. They did not en-
courage additions to their number
from their home country. neither did
they favor any alliance with the many
English and American adventurcrs and
settlers who came to the veidts ana
valleys of South Africa. nor did they
manifest any desire TO improve the
spiritual condition of the kaflir and
Bantu races whose lands they appro-
priated. 1t does not appear that they
We're particularly cruel or inhuman but
they never allowed pity or mercy to in
terfere with punitive justice. When
ever an outbreak occurred. or a fellow
Boer was robbed or maltreated swift
and terrible was the vengeance meted
out to the luckleSS African. The pol
icy was a successful one, as it instilled
a fear and awe into the black men
which are almost universal at the pres
ent time.
They proved good agriculturists and
better herdsmen. but in prosecuting the
business Of life they developed quail
ties totally at variance with those they
took with them from Holland. The
Dutch are sociable and ever gregarious:
the BOer is rather unsociable. and
tends to solitary habits; the Dutch love
literature. art and music: their libraries
are famous. and their art galleries no
table as regards both quality and
quantity. The Beers. strange to say.
care little for these things and find their
chief pleasures in open air sports and
occupations.
With this change in tastes. has come
a change in habits. The fat burgher,
the plump canal hoatman. can hardly
be recognized in the stalwart. bearded
farmer of the Transvaal. The Dutch
are not good horsemen, nor are they re
markable for their craftsmanship.
while the Beers are as skillful as
American cowboys, and can use the
life and revolver in a manner worthy
# Wimbledon or CreedmOor.
Like all sociable people the Dutch are
Courteous, genial and hospitabe. The
5oers are churlish. self-centred and if
Continued on page 90