New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-02
THE BURNING QUESTION.
TIMELY BOOKS ON THE TRANsvAAL
AND THE WAR.

Their own Leaders Prepared under the Au-
". Van Der. Hoogt. Preceded by the Policy Of
Emo pp. 2s5. Harper Bros.
Wa" VIA So Maps Portraits and 9 Illustrations sSo
PIP. PSI. Chicago: Laird & Lee.
THE TRANSvAAL TROUBLE BY John Hays
Hammond. l2no, PIP 81. The Abbey Press.
BoERs OR ENGLISH? By Edward Demollns
Cranslatedl. limo. PIP 70 Imported by Charles
Scrthner's Sons.
NJ i p With Map and and fiia n Emo. pp
l47. Imported by Charles scrtbner's Sons
TOWARDS PRETORIA BY Julian Ralph With
Map. limo. PIP. s2S Frederick A Stokes Com
LESSONS OF THE WAR. BY Spencer Wilkinson.
12mo PIP. Dol Philadelphia: J. B. Lppincott
THE TRANSvAAL OUTLOOK. By Albert Stick
ney. With Maps. svo, PIP. 1879 Dodd. Mead &
LEADING POINTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN HIS
Tory 1885 to March So 1900 ATTanged ch5o a4,
Octave. pp. viii, 3Si E. p. Dutton & Co.
Literature. like civilization sometimes gets
forward on powder cart. Few things more
provocative of writing than war, especially IT,
as in the present case, the clash of arms be only
the elimination OF long strife Of words. We
have hitherto noticed a goodly number Of books,
historical. descriptive and controversial, on the
subject OF the South African war. II would
have been rash after the first score, to look for
the end. 1t would be rash to do so to-day. But
we have the satisfaction Of knowing that amid
the food of ephemeral and often unworthy
matter that is put forth there is not little good
work. capable Of giving enlightenment to the
reader
Mr.. Hobson. for example, in his dignified vol
ume on THE War in South Africa presents
the case against the British Government in a
particularly reasonable and cogent manner. We
dc not say he is always convincing but at least
he is worthy OF respectful consideration. Few,
imagine, y.u disagree with his contention
that the abruH resort force deplorable,
though there may be differences of opinion
TO the responsibility for such resort That
progressive influences at work in the
Transvaal which in time might have set all
things right and that these We're checked and
blighted by the i'll starred Jameson raid, may
be conceded. Nor shall dispute his state
ment that DR.. Leyds has been the evil genius
OF the Transvaal with his designs of intolerant
Dutch supremacy, and that had 1t not been for
him there might have been crisis and no war.
Mr.. Hobson admits too. that the Boer Govern
ment has been grossly incompetent and corrupt,
that the dynamite monopoly scandalous.
and that there was abominable maladministra-
ton of finances. Nevertheless, he thinks the
grievances of the Outlanders not great
they were represented to be; he declares that
Great Britain is fighting almost entirely in the
interest of an oligarchy of Jewish capitalists
Mr.. Hobson has been best known hitherto a
somewhat socalstic writer capitalism and
Ruskin's social theories-and he echoes with
much iteration the familiar catchwords about
the venality Of the newspaper press. We must
regret these ratings blemsh upon gen
orally excellent work; and regret. too. the tone
of pessimism which dominates his conclusions
and his forecast OF the future. Apparently he
thinks benefcent or credttable settlement Of
South African affairs impossible.
THE Story of the Boers'' should command
especial attention as a sort of official statement
OF the Boer case, made under the authority of
the Boer Governments. Unfortunately. it is
chiefly compilation of letters, essays etc. thai
are already familiar to the public through their
former appearance in pamphlet form and in the
newspaper press. It is prefaced with an essay
by Mr.. Montagu White. who with imperturbable
naivete declares himself in favor Of a per-
manent peace in South Africa based on true
equal rights for the two races" the very thing
the British fighting for and that the Beers
have all along refused to grant. The compiler
of the volume, Mr. Van der Hoogt, makes a ap-
peal TO American sympathy which it is difficult
to regard ingenious strictly honest. such
as, for example his talk about American mines
in that part of Alaska claimed by England as
British territory" which scarcely have
weight save with ignorance prejudice. He
calls ridiculous" the Outlander demand that
the English language should have official recog-
milton in the Transvaal because English speak
ing people were in the majority, yet fails to see
anything ridiculous in the official recognition of
Dutch in Cape Colony and Of French in Canada.
To the British demand that English should be
taught in Transvaal schools in which English
children predominant he triumphantly replies
with the inquiry: Where in England is Dutch
thus taught? His reply would be con-
vincing If accompanied with statement Of the
districts in England in which Dutch children
form the majority. With all its faults, however,
the book is Of value the best statement of
their case which the Beers can make, at least
have made. To most readers it Will seem much
less effective than that which a Briton, Mr.. Hob
son, has made in their behalf.
In who Ought to VIM" we have what pur-
ports to be impartial historical review of the
case made by impartial American. It's value
as history may be estimated from the fact that
the whole subject OF the abolition of slavery,
which was the beginning of British Boer fric-
ton. is relegateG to a footnote in small type!
OF the same quality is its impartiality 1t is in
fact. about intensely partisan a work could
well be imagined, the purpose of the writer ap-
parently having been to set down everything in
favor Of the Beers and against the British and
carefully 10 omit everything OF the contrary
purport. He does, however. say that Colley
was brave
Mr.. Hammonds little book is a succinct state
ment OF the Outlender case as personally under
stood and by one of the foremost of the
outlanders. 1t is. of course. strongly against
the Beers. and makes pretence of being an
impartial review of both sides. Mr.. Hammond S
high personal repute and his undoubted authori-