The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
141l!l2lEi} . 'i:|1| ]


probably is that he is a mixture OF all
these traits. and that seems 20 be the
view of the present author. His character
sketch is the most satisfactory yet made
Of the hoary Transvaal patriarch. and is,
on the whole, explanatory Of all his public
acts.
Mr.. Hobson had a personal interview
with Kruger. but is cautious about allow
ing the impression gained on that occasion
( to influence his opinion. He points out
! the fact that there are many people who
have been associated with the President
I for years who differ widely in their esu-
{ mates Of his character. and that as he
says. this inscrutability is in itself a strong
I factor in the situation.
During the interview Kruger expressed
[ himself strongly upon the matter OF GER
I tain broken promises attributed TO MN.
and his remarks on this occasion 20 idr 10
! explain some Of his actions His idea OF
/ citizenship is readiness for military ser
vice and this is a rock on which many
diplomatic negotiations between him and
= Outlanders have split The people OF Jo-
hannesburg. while willing to perform the
duties OF citizens in general. are in most
cases not willing to fight on the Boer side
! against England. as their own relatives
and friends would be found on the oppo-
site side. That is, as Mr. Hobson notes.
one OF the most distressing features OF the
present war Many British are forced, OF
have volunteered. to fight under the Boer
flag. and owing to the mixture OF races
which has taken place in South Africa, II
| is a contest Of brother against brother. and
I father against son. Naturally, President
! Kruger argues that if the johannesburg
people cannot fulfil what is TO him the
first duty Of a burgheT, they cannot make
good citizens.
Another alleged trait in Mr.. Krugers
character is his venality. On this point
the author is inclined to defend nm, ar
guing that certain acts which seem venal
are not so in reality, and that much OF the
Presidents conduct has been misrepresent-
ed He admits on the one hand, that
there is considerable nepotism in the Gov
ernmeut but claims. in defence against
the charge of bribe-taking that certain
perfectly legitimate land operations have
made the President rich. while his dispo-
sitiou to screen some OF his unscrupulous
friends has given rise TO imputatlons thaJ
he was in the same boat with them. II il
pointed out that Joubert, who was richer
than Kruger. and has not been accused OF
dishonesty made his fortune in a legiti-
mate way. by advances in the price OF
land On the whole making allowances
for certain differences in standards, the
conclusion seems to be that Dom Paul Is,
as his burghers believe him TO be- person
ally honest Il may also be admitted that
though he is unquesuonably bigoted ne
is not a hypocrite. As to his political
character and power. it is worth while TO
quote the concluding page Of Mr.. Hobson's
estimate. as it seems to explain some
things hitherto misconstrued:
In politics. as ia religion, Paul Kruger is gov
rrucd bv a few simple. detply-rooted notions. The
notion that he is a iar-signted, foxy politician
seeking his own ends seems TO me quite unWaI-
ranted and arises from the situation, which often
forces him 10 give reasons and arguments Tor
actions which are really based upon sentiment,
iutuitivc caution. or set preludices. Mr. Kruger
has continually been fighting for the independ-
euce OF his country, As he concelyes IL, WaFdlug
of the danger Of an overwhelming rush Of amen
influences When called upon suddenly for Z set
defence Of his position, he has no ready dia-
lectic. but often blurts out reasons which are
not the real ac.uatlng ioTcts. lis tVasious ana
dilat0ry bargaining are not really conscious
stsiecrait so much q rude instructive fence
which has been successful against politician
like Mr. Chamberlain. because the latter. by
Characteristic fallacy, supposes his antagonist TO
be the same manner Of man as himself. AT
the same time. able men that know him well
tell me Mr.. Kruger is q powerful thinker. who
drives right down 20 the bedrock OF an issue.
has keen nose for fallacy in argument, and Is
even willing 70 admit an error when 1t Is clear
w pointed out 10 him There is. however one
weakness in his position which deserves notice
lie reads nothing except the Bible. neither books
nor newspapers, though extracts from the lat
ter are read 10 him. The result Is that he has
70 depend on the friends around him for an his
knowledge OF the larger world. Even as regards
the most material facts which reach his mind
there is thus o constant danger q unfair Sc
lection and Misrepresentation. Mr.. Kruger Is not
the self-sufiCng man he is sometimes painted
Dominated by certain passions and experiences,
he is never shaken by threats or by violence,
but he is very am,uahle 10 the influence OF
friends. This. TOO. is characteristic OF his
race which England has fo0lishly ignored The
concessions which seemed 10 them 10 have been
wrested by threats 90 force were really made
under the urgent pressure OF friendly representa-
tons. OF Mr.. hrlgeT's actual power 1t Is hard
TO judge. The Boer IS a suspicious man. and.
until Euglauds open men8ccs closed all discus
sion and hushed al disseusious. he was not pre-
pared 20 give absolute discretion, even 70 the
President The dynamite vote and the proposed
concession % nyeyear franchise evoked storm
Of indignation which 10y 10 means spared the
President. Many persons. indeed, insisted 10 me
that NJ. Kruger and bis Government could ia on
case have forced the adoption OF a hye-year fran
oh.se But ! am not convinced OF this. There
is 40 strong man lH or out Of the Rand who
could really stand up against the President. or
could rally power.u. party against him in a
national emergency. Beers do not like the noe
ton Of dictatorship. and are strenuous in their
insisteucc on extreme forms Of democracy. But
my conviction i- that hruger's power in a grave
emergency like ihat which the country has en-
upon She minds ct thc great majority is such
that they have auquiese-d ia almost any de-
cisi0u. and have endorsed, however reluctantly.
almost suy concessions Ar might have made To
this extent Tie 1rsusysA may be regarded as a
0ue-iuau State: BUT 10 must ever he kept in
mind that this power q Mr.. Kruger is due 70
an abnormal stress o. circumstances. that IL is
not created by h, sole viii and authority, but
IS tho hslf-can~gious recognition by the people
that be is the true repository OF the ancient
Beer spirit and traditions. and that he will fight
with al bis mind and Oh bis nigh; Tor tie in
dependence ~ Dis country
As 70 the other forces in Transvaal pol
itics, the author says that Kruger dwarfs
them all. Joubert he calls brave soldier,
but by nature a man Of peace. He con-
siders DR.. Leyds the evil genius Of the
Transvaal. who, with his notions Of an
unqualified Dutch supremacy has done
much TO bring about the present condition
OF things. OF Transvaal diplomats and pol
iticiaus in general Mr.. Hobson acutely re-
marks
South Aircs IS constantly engaged ir fitting
square peg INIT. round hoios.
Comment is unnecessary.
queer feature Of the situation, accord
ing to this author Is the respect and
veueration which Beers have for Queen
Victoria He quotes one Of them as say
ing. Just before the war:
Tie Queen. sls b good and a pious woman. who
meals nn evil to U-. t is only that vrTlomde
kimbg-.a.H laL bias lal 4-,r4y thc British people
in dealing with the alleged police out
RACES and laNity Of law in Johannesburg.
Nj Hobson denies many Of the stories
which have been printed On the English
side Of the question. and throws discredit
on others. He claims that the Boer po-
lice while they may be little lax. are
no more so than in many American and
EucL--h .lLia. and lhaL ON Lhe whole Lie