The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
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TIC war in south Africa.

South Africa of being in the midst of the
campaign, and of having been through the
war in Cuba as a correspondent. He there
fore gives the reader a practical. vivid, and
clear account of things. 1t IS inevitably
colored somewhat by his personal view OF
theN question under martial discussion, but
when a personal visw is based on good ca
sons and thorough observation, a writer
may be pardoned fer adopting it in such q
work as this, for only in this way can a
truly impartial view be gained Of the whole
matter. Halfway presentations Of such a
case do nobody any good.
Mr.. Musgrave's opinion is given with
sufficient clearness in his introduction, a
part of which is as follows
Thanks to prominent Afrikanders, who ex-
ceedinsy anxious that ! should present their side
in the United States their views and speeulations
were freely brought to my notice. But tamil
iafity viii the Taal is apt TO breed contempt,
and though one cannot be blind to the maehina-
tons Of capitalists and the blunders OF imperial
lists and ultra loyalists, careful review OF facts
will lead true americans as lovers of universal
liberty, 10 realize that the only hope for South
Africa lies in its federation under the almost
republican constitution guaranteed by the British
flag. Boer, or rather Tasl, ideals are in anti
thesis to liberty and progress They are founded
on hatred OF the Anglo-Saxon-a hatred based
on pasI injustice but famed to fame by In
tgiguing foreigners controlling the Transvaal.
The misapprehension of British intentions not
withstanding. the Boer raid into the colonies
was unJustihable aggression; 1t was, from nrst
10 last of conquest and sublugation. The
great sympa thy that ! had for the Beers vanished
when / saw their ruthless devastation and
method Of extending their rule toward Cape
Town.
Patriots seeking to fight an army that may me-
mace their existence 90 not war on women and
children. force citizens to take up against
their country, turning out on the bare
veldt those who refuse. lo0ting their homes and
crops / have seen much OF revolution. For
three years | was a sympathetic witness OF the
Cubans in their struggle for freedom from
SPANS grip. would that the ultra Afrikanders
could take 4 lesson from these ignorant but SELF
sscrifeing peasants.
He also states that 80 per cent of the
American residents in South Africa are in
favor of British rule, and that at the
time when Boer sympathizers were hold
ing mass-meetings in the United States,
the British forces had not fought one bat
tie outside their own territory, and
were striving to repel the invasion of British
colonies, 10 raise the siege of British cities, and
TO prevent further destruction OF the property
Of hard-worlaing British colonists, who at least
were innocent of capiialistic designs.
1t seems not to have occurred to the
people who so loudly accuse the Uitlanders
OF having brought on the war, that in the
event OF hostiities these "grasping capt.
talists" would. with their wives, children,
and property, be the first to suffer and
that they were risking by such a move
much valuable machinery which would be
at the mercy OF the Beers should they
choose to use few dynamite cartridges
in getting rid OF it
The book proper begins with general
discussion Of Boer character and OF British
policy in South Africa. and brief review
OF the events Immediately preceding eLd
following the Jameson raid. 1t then goes
on to describe the beginning and progress
OF the present war, and ends with the re-
lief of Ladysmith and Kimberley. Butler
is apparently one OF Mr.. Musgrave's mill
tary idols, and these pages afford much in
formation as to his character and proceed
ings.
One paragraph which describes the orr
gin of the Boer may be interesting as Con-
trasted with others Of the same or widely
different tenor. which have appeared in
other books on this subject. Mr. Mus
grave says:
The early Dutch settlers were chiefly of the
toughest class, uneduested and intolerant-a
Sezitzble scum OF routiers. discharged soldiers,
H.sis.-, end Adventures, released by the peace
Of westphaIIa Or tempted by the wandering
sustain the white population, orphan and found
ling girls were shipped from the Holland asylums
TO wife the colony. These maidens, barely of
marrlageable age, were chiefly the offspring OF
NetherlanG soldiers and sailors killed in the wars
many were iIlegitimate; few had known the
soitening influence Of home parental affection.
Reared under the Puritsnicsl system Of Dutch
institutions, their knowledge OF life rudi-
mentsry. When they were landed in Africa they
were eagerly seized by the men, and in the pos
sihilites and phases Of their awakened sex, the
rrrrT#H
oblivious 10 the slavery and absence Of sentiment
in their union From such parentage the Boer
characteristics can be traced. The bigoted re-
ligion OF the today is the direct attribute |
OF the almost superstitous belief OF the rigorous
ly schooled mothers Of the nation.
A particularly interesting paragraph in
the next chapter deals with the fact |
already mentioned-that the Uitianders |
cannot reasonably be accused OF having !
brought on the war for slight cause:
Converse with American Uitlanders, who at |
least cannot be charged with desiring the over
throw Of republic for monarchy. Here also
are Danes, and some intelligent Cape Dutch, |
too. These not the men to excite war for
8 phsntasm to lGitate, at the risk Of their
positions, against political evils short of OPP
preston; neither are they the type nyrInidon
to capitalists and self-seeking promoters To
those 1900 men war meant loss OF property,
and cessation Of industry. Would they seek this
without good and sufficient cause? Buttonhole
the intelligent lrishman from the Rand He hates
England and the English, but he speaks with
fine seoIu OF the Kruger Government, and would
sooner enlist as Queens Tommy than be
colonel of Dlskes sansculotte regiment.
have talked with all these; there are men
among them who, for the sake Of political prin-
eiple, have lost the entire proceeds Of ten years
toll; their wives and children are facing abject
poverty by their side
This is strong testimony, and the author
appears TO know what he is talking about
So he does in the chapter on why the
Burgher Fought" in which the following
paragraph occurs:
/ am writing this in the stif-back chair Of an
average Dutch farm house, with its sloyeny |
vrouw, floor Of hard, puddled-clsy and cow !
dung, dirt everywhere, notably the dood- |
kist, the coffin-cupboard that mingles death and
the staff OF life IN Boer household. The farmer
q hard-faced, beThiskered son Of the soil, aud |
religious TO a fault treats his blacks with less |
consideration than his dogs, hates the English |
like poison, why. he knows not and Is exceed 1
ing wrathy with the district missionary who. he 1
SAWS, will 20 on "beyond'' TO convert the mon /
keys in the forest when he has done with the
Kafiirs lie IS the type Of AiriksBder, who signs 4
for Dutch South Africa, and who has ridden of 1
gaily TO face the despised British army. expect |
ing easy victory. II Is pitiful to realize that
these farmers have been led to war 10 fight and I
TO die bravely and bravery inilict death for |
what in their colossal ignorance they deem |
principle.
Another interesting scrap of info7ma-
tion Is from the literature OF the Afri- /
kander Bond:
For the schools for our girls the English lead |
We must establish Airikander schools for our /
children, for by Angliiying our daughters they |
inject family HE. The English notion that wo- I
men are TO have high education IS insane un- /
senptuFal house-corruptng, hene- coruptirfe.
These schools for girls must be banished from
our land.
There are also some accounts of outrages
on refugees, calculated to open the eyes of
people who believe that though the Boer