The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-23
KRUGER'S FAULT.
He Had the Chance for Honorable
Peace and Rejected Ii.
New York Evening Post.

New York Evening Post.
We have said that President Kruger had
a fine chance for peace with honor, and
that he madly threw it away. Several cor
respondents write TO ask what is the proof
of this. The proof is in the official dis
patches, which ii is clear they have not
read. AT the very beginning, on May 81.
when Sir Alfred Miner met Kruger at
Boemfontein, it was made plain, in every
way that words could make it plain, that
England asked only a reasonable franchise
and elementary political rights for her sub
jects resident in the Transvaal. "Ah, but
the intention was to swamp the burghers
with the new electorate!' Let us not get
excited. Suppose We read exactly what Sir
Alfred A1ilner said:
Il do not expect that in the South African
Republic more than would be reasonable
should be conceded. What / think and de-
sire is that the immigrant population. which
is occupied with its trade and industry, and
to which the country owes its present posi-
ton, wealth and influence, ought TO have
actual share in the government of the
cOuntry-nOt to outvote the old burgherS,
but to share in the government, and to give
the benefit, by their knowledge and expert
ence, TO the old burghers-which, in my
opinion, is OF more Importance than that of
the Old burghers The time will come when
there will no longer be old ana young
burghers. but that these will be united as
burgnerS OF one state. For that purpose
therefore. it is not sufficient that few
shall be admitted. But ii would also be
unfair to admit all the rag-tag, irrespective
OF their character. But SUCH an admission
is desired that the new industrial popula-
tion shall be given reasonable concession by
being allowed TO vote for the Volksraad,
which possesses all the power which they
do not possess now. When a question of
great interest comes before that NolkSraad
strsnsers sa and sithoagh the BEST law, in the
eyes or those who make II, Is made Tor
them, 1t is nevertheless the general opinion
of the citizens of a progressive nation that
the laws should be made as well as pos
sible by those persons who have to pay, and
not not by Others who exist outside de, the opera iSo
old population to be outvoted but it is
chiefly my object to give a vote to the new
such position that they cannot be out
voted
If this settlement of the controversy was
not one that insured peace with honor, why
did President Kruger afterward assent to
it? Although he refused to do it at Bioem-
fontein, he did later make the offer Of
of seats in the Volksraad assigned to the
Rand. This was what Sir Alfred Miner
had said would be satisfactory. Mr.. Cham
berlain said at the time that 1t would be
satisfactory Here is his dispatch of Sept. S:
Her Majesty.s government Is still st pre-
r praphs % and Of fe the % note % of the m 18th OF
August taken by itself. provided that the
inquiry which her Majestys government
has proposed, whether jointly-aS her NAL
esty's government originally suggested-or
unilateral, shows that the new scheme OF
representation will not be incumbered by
conditions which will nullify the intention
to give substantial and immediate represen-
tation to the outlanderS. In this connection
her Majestys government assumes that, as
bers of the Raad will be permitted 10 use
their own language.
THE acceptance of these terms by tne
government of the South African Republic
would at once remove the tension between
the~two governments and would in all prob
ability render unnecessary any further IN
tervention on the part OF her MaJestys
ances which the outlanders would them
selves be able to bring to the notice OF the
executive and the Raad.
Is there any war in that, any intention
to wipe out the Transvaal?" In fact,
everybody thought this meant peace Sc
cured. An offer had been made by the
Transvaal and England had said that II
would satisfy all her demands. Was not
that peace with honor for both sides? But
the Transvaal withdrew its offer; why. has
never been explained, except that there was
| a verbal mdl-entendu on the part OF the
British agent at Pretoria. But was tnat
any reason for breaking off the whole ne
gotiation and launching an ultimatum which
infallibly meant war!
| all this away. Their favorite metaphor to
excuse Kruger's amazing ultimatum is
| that he was surrounded by thieves and
| was only striking out like a brave man.
who would not wait to be garroted. Well,
grant that Miner and Chamberlain. and
even Ralfour and Salisbury. were thieves,
| it must be admitted that they were In COM
pany with many men who were not thieves.
John Morley and Sir William Harcourt
were not bent on stealing the Iransvaa!
Campbell Bannerman was no thlef, ana.
spea king for the Liberal party. he had SAID
that there was no cause for war III tne
| Transvaal stuck to its promises about the
! franchise Leaders of Salisburys own
| Courtney. were there to see that no high
way robbery should be committed. All that
kruger would have had to do would have
| been to say TO the gentlemen by Chamber
Iain's side '"rhis companion of yours is a
thief and they themselves would have
| handed him over to the police. But Kruger
| lost his head This however. Is no good