The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-02-03
The Catholic Bishop of Kimberly.

teresting Information and opinions with
regard to the difficulties, now merged
into war, between the British and the
Beers.
10 letter to member of the Boston
Herald staff. dated previous to the out
break of hostilitIes september 19), he
champions the cause OF the Outlander
population of the Transvaal Republic,
and views the question from the stand
point OF one who desires equal rights for
all in that country. A residence of thir-
teen years in South Africa has enabled
the bishop to acquire thorough &C
quaintance with the conditions existing
10 that country. 1t will be observed
that Bishop Gaughran was thoroughly
convinced at the time the letter was
written that war between the British
and the Beers was inevitable.
The part of the letter which is of pub.
lie interest is as follows:
Nov for my personal opinion about
the matter. 4 can, With safe con-
science, say that | think England very
seldom had more just cause for war
The state of things in the Trapsvaal was
a scandal to the nations. That hand
full OF men, some of whom were very illit-
crate, and all of whom were very pre-
JUDGE and selfish, should expect to be
allowed to make laws forever for those
who spend their money in buying up
property 10 that country and develop
ing its wealth, is preposterous.
''Chamberlain's indictment Of the
Transvaal government was perfectly
fair | have no hesitation in saying so,
and have had thirteen years ID study
this question.
Il am not an Englishman, as you
know. nor are my sympathies in general
with England; but In this case believe
England will do credit to our common
humanity by forcing small state call
ing itself republic to give equal rights
to all.
Whatever one may call highlands
title to interfere in this matter, it is GER
tain that in former years most of the
Boers, their president at the head, asked
England to come to their aid and take
over the state. She did SO, and then
when the debts of the little republic
were paid by England, and Paul Kruger
received his salary. which was 10 arrears
for long time, he started a rebellion
against the new authority. Gladstone
gave them back their country under
certain conditions. The fourth clause
of the convention conveyed the idea
that all who 60 into the country shall
have equal rights. The Beers and their
volksraad did not keep that pro Use;
they did not give equal rights to all.
when the rush to the Iransvaai be
gan there was very simple law for the
franchise. l am writing from memory,
but think it must have been a resi-
dence Of two years and paying taxes. A
few years afterwards it was increased to
six years, then to fourteen years and
no one could say how many more years
might be added on.
Those who had invested their money
in the country had no hope OF ever hav-
log voice in the government of the
country, and vet the Uitlanders were
twice as numerous, at least. as the orig
inal usurpers. For, in my mind, do
rot give to the Beers Of the Transvaal
the title Of nationality. They simply
killed the Kaffirs fifty years ago, and
then took their places. There is moth
irg in this that implies prescription for
a nation.
Nov comes the question of Paul
Kruger and his advisers. He had a
clever man for some years who Kept him
from committing himself too far but he
has left him, and now the whole govern
ment seems to be like boat without a
rudder. Dom Paul is shrewd, but when
one considers that the president of the
small republic. which has only 10000 in
habitants or Whereabouts, receives a sal
airy as large as the president Of the
United States, one can imagine that
patriotism is not the first characteristic
of his life.
81 cannot aufer into the de of