Washington sentinel., 1899-05-20
Another Attempt to steal the Trans
vaR1

of the Beers in South Africa. The
comparative weakness OF the
Transvaal and the rich gold mines
situated within its borders are, in
England's opinion, good and suff-
cient reasons why the sturdy des-
cendanIs OF the Dutch, who we're
the first settlers in South Africa,
should be deprived OF their inde-
pendence. The story Of the treat
ment the Beers have received at
the hands Of the English shows
how tvrannical John Bull can be
when he is dealing with people who
are not strong enough to place re-
straint on his rapacity.
It is now $50 years since the
forabears Of the Beers were robbed
Of the colony they had planted IN
South Africa. After English rule
was established the original settlers
accepted the situation and tried to
live the best they could under the
English flag. The history OF
America, of Ireland, of India and
every other land that at any time
has come under English domina-
ton proves how arrogant and TYR
annical the English can become
when they have the whip handle.
At last things came to such pass
IN South Africa that the hardy
descendants Of the original Dutch
settlers could stand it no longer,
and they, therefore, determined to
push farther into Africa to escape
from English rule. 1t is now over
sixty years since they carried out
this resolve and settled in the
Transvaal, which at the time was
an unknown land to Europeans,
The Beers were left in un,lis-
puted possession OF their new
homes, so Tar as England was con-
cerned, until late in the seventies.
BY that time the Transvaal had
become Of sufficient importance to
excite England's cupidity. Eng
lish troops were, therefore, sent
nto the little South African Re-
public, under the pretense OF safe
guarding British interests against
the natiYe Africans, who had been
waging war with the Beers. Hav-
ing obtained footing in the Trans
vaal, the English showed no dispo-
sition to retire, although the
trouble with the native Africans
had been settled. The Beers,
growing tired OF this occupation,
rose in arms and defeated the Eug-
lish army which had been sent
against them. They employed the
only argument John Bull under
stands and respects. The famous
victory Of Majuba Hill led up to the
recognition, in 1884, Of the practi-
cal independence ofthe Transvaal,
under the suzerainty OF the Eng
lish Queen.
There was no disturbance in the
little south African Republic
until three years ago, when DR..
jameson and a gang OF freebooters
made raid upon it, with intention
Of annexing it outright to the
British Empire. 1t is we'll known
that Joseph Chamberlain and Cecil
Rhodes were fully cognizant Of
Jameson's plans and heartily ap-
proved ofthem. The brave Beers,
however, had not forgotten how to
shoot. AS at Majuba Hill, they
gave the marauding English a
warm welcome. Those Of Jame.
sons freebooters who were not
killed were captured and magnan-
imously handed over to the British
government, although every man
Of them, under the laws Of nations,
had forfeited his life.
Chamberlain failed in the at
tempt to steal the Transvaal,
though the agency Of Jameson had
bided his time in the hope that
something would turn up which
would afford him an excuse for
depriVing the Beers Of their inde-
pendence. He has now found the
desired excuse in the complaints Of
a lot of English carpetbaggers,
who have settled in the Transvaal,
and who consider it a grievous
wrong because they are not al
lowed to run things to suit them
selves.
The understanding" which ex-
lists between the President OF the
greatest Republic of the world and
the English Government has indi. |
rectly made it possible for Cham |
Oerlain to assume the role Of bully |
toward the little republic over |
which Kruger presides, and prac-
.ically rescues ENGLAND from the
ISOLATION Of few years ago. It