New-York tribune., 1900-04-15

son Robert e. Lee when they drew sword
against the Stars and Stripes.
In 1896 j had long talks with Mr.. Steyn-in-
deed, the Executive Mansion at Bloemfontein
was by far the most interesting intellectual
centre of South Africa-to me at least me s
Free State President discussed the problems OF
the day from the standpoint of trained lawyer
and a practical statesman He has stuoled IN
Europe. has the world, and has that pecul-
lar gift, so conspicuous in successful states
men, Of seeking only the attainable-of lead
ing only where his constituents can follow
With Kriger l felt though talking politics
with shepherd out of the seventeenth century
With Steyn l was talking as with fellow
countryman on questions of ways and means
Steyn Is politically a clean man at the head
of clean community KRUGER is chief or a
State where much corruption in high places ex-
lists and where his own name even is not always
spared. Nowhere in South Africa did hear
Steyns name mentioned save in terms OF the
highest respect.
LIBERALITY IN THE FREE STATE.
These two to me of peculiar interest
because In their persons they marked so vividly
the radical difference in the two lines of Boer
policy. Kruger represents the Chinese method
of protection, by surrounding himself with a
high wall and hiring mercenaries to do his legal
business for him. Steyn frankly grapples with
the enemy. invites immigration, gives equality to
all before the law, relies upon the good sense of
the majority rather than upon big fortresses and
German drill sergeants; declines persecute
the English language-on the contrary thinks
1t we'll for all Beers to know English as we'll as
Dutch. In other words, Steyn looks to the
future of South Africa to a white mans
puDHc, IN Wnlcn the important questions Snall De
not those of one language more or less but of
good administration, internal development, gen
eral education, and, above ALL Africa for the
Afrikanders-an expression roughly analogous
to ours of America for the Americans
In other words in the mind of Steyn the i'm
portant question is not whether there be in the
country so many of English birth many
of Dutch blood, but whether the people of differ
ent races willing to sink their several
tional jealousies for the great purpose of be-
coming Afrikanders-that is to say. identifying
themselves with the prosperity of their adopted
country.
AN OPPORTUNITY OVERLOOKED.
Had a wiser than KRUGER led the Beers
In the last ten years he would have discovered
in irrigation sources of national wealth richer
even than the famous gold mines of the Rand.
KRUGER is noble soul, but he has lived two
hundred years behind his time He would
have done well on board the Mayhower as boat
swans mate or made excellent night watch
man at Salem when the red Indians were
frequent than agreeable. Yet even then his
fellow pilgrims would have found him rather
rough-nOt to say coarse. To-day, however. he
is the representative of a hopeless cause-a dead
issue. His personality Is interesting, and
love him in spite of his faults. We him
pass away with sadness, as watch the dem
clifton of venerable castle which interferes
with new line of railway.
Krtger is gOne-but Steyn Is alive in flesh.
blood and spirit.