The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-15
ANOTHER "GREAT TREK
A Phase of the Transvaai situation
That Is Overlooked.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
That is a most distressing picture that is
drawn by the news correspondents in South
Africa OF the state of affairs in the Trans
vaai, and especially al johannesburg. 1t
sets forth with startling distinctness a
Phase OF the situation which is too common
~ overlooked. We look upon the game as
one between the phlegmatic oligarchs or Pre-
toria and the grasping imperialists of Lon
don. Yes; put what of the pawnsI For be
assured that these are numerous. There are
tens or thousands of honest, sturdy, hard
working outlanders in the Transvaal, as
honest and sturdy and Woodworking as any
of the Beers. They settled there in good
faith, to make the place their home and
their chiidren's home, TO develop the re-
perhaps amass a fortune. They are people
of moderate means. They are con-
cerned IN no political intrigues. They ask
nothing but fair treatment and the enjoy
ment of the 'inalienable rights" of life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness" They
are just such men as have built up so many
OF our W States and have made great
states in the Canadian and Australian will
dernesses. What is their lot to-day in that
South African Republic of whose immeas-
urable prosperity they have been virtually
the creators?
The days Jews tells us. They are being
crushed between the upper and neither mill
and workshops deserted. Industry is par
alyZed, business is suspended, ruin is at
hand. A reign of terror prevails. Warrants
are out Tor every member of the press and
for every man who has spoken for redress
of grievances. Freedom of the press, free
dom of speech, the right of public meeting.
are abolished. Three or four men may not
stand together in the street and discuss
their mutual interests. No man may carry
or possess arms to protect himself and his
family against lawless violence. And all
around johannesburg, as though it were a
convict camp or a besieged city, are Boer
forts. with guns trained inward, upon the
homes where helpless women and children
dwell. 1t is made known that the outbreak
of any trouble between the Boer and British
CT those guns, And the men behind the
guns are of the same type as those who,
under Official orders, threatened to seize re-
and strip them naked I'm the streets Of
johannesburg. No wonder every outgoing
train Is crowded with women and children,
and with men, too, In a mad rush to escape
from the menaced city.
IT is another great trek" The first was
sixty years ago. Those who took part in it
were fleeing from what they deemed, and
not without cause. Injustice. TIL British
government had abolished slavery and had
not adequately compensated them for the
slaves thus taken away from them. 1t had
failed. moreover. to impose sufficient re-
straints upon the emancipated negroes. So
they set out for the wilderness to found a
niggers" 10 their hearts content. History
has recorded the judgment that they were
Unsuitable in their migration. There seems
In reverse direction, is to be reckoned as a
flight from still more intolerable. Injustice.
That IT will be permitted to continue. how
ever, until JOHANNESBURG reverts to wilder
ness and the progress Of the last twenty
years Is all undone is not to be believed.
The British government told the voortrek-
kers of sixty years ago that IL they would
return all grievances would be abated, but
few of them accepted the invitation. The
Boer government of to-day cannot afford to
make a less generous offer. Or, If it be
persistent in its ,nhospitable and unjust
course. then the power that has been para
mount in South Africa since long before
fhQ first 'QraQf tTQEf uy1 have RI SnaaE
the master word for justice and for civfliza-
ton.