New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-16
JESSE CEILINGS TO JAMES BRYCE.
AN ANSWER TO THE NORTH AMERICAN
ARTICLE DEFENDING THE Beers
Letter In Nc RuraI WorId.

Letter in The Rural World
In this country Mt. Bryce's opinions on the war
would have little or influence, but in America hs
is known as ex-Minister of the Crown. and more
monwealth," book which has been wei recsiysd
specially for American readers" are likely TO have
Bryce seems ignore the position Of Great Britain
as a paramount Power in South Africa confrontst
with the TransvaaI question. a question fraughs
Tfn aanger colonies % hs Boer5 and the Brs5
are rather represented as rival Powers. striving
together. with equal rights, for the possession
OF r fee anneRatdG Of s dss6e as
handed act" no more TO be justified than would %
the sezing of the neighborng territories OF Pora,
gal. Mr.. Bryce admits that the Beers before ne
that they would have asked Tor BrlLlsn p Pc
tectorate. He. however, onits the ctrcumstanesss
fecting our South African possessions. He ignores
altogether the facts that the Beers before the an
nexation were bankrupt in money and al oshssf
resources; that they were defeated and crushed;
by the then powerful and warIIke ZuIus; that in
their dire straits a large proportion OF them Pc
titioned for the protection OF Britain; that kEagST
himself held office under the British Government
after annexation. and that i was only alter -
their enemies finally destroyed and every oenel.
the Power which by the policy Of annexation hAa
saved them from destruction .,.
Mr.. Bryce declares that the subsequent troubles
in South Africa, including the present war, wsIS
due 10 the Johannesburg rising and the JaInTs ~.
raid II does not seem to have occurred 70 nm
the deaf ear turned 10 every Petition and the con-
for reform which preceded the Johannesburg ris,ns
and the Jameson raid. He does not say that II
tolerably fair form of administration had been con
Ceded-even If the denial of the rights OF clIzsI-
ship to individuals had been COntinued-lt IS pr4o-
able that the raid and the Johannesburg rlslns
would never have occurred. -
Mr.. Bryce speaks of the concessions mace ~
the Beers. but every who has stuule0 80
course OF events knows we'll that. though PROMISE
and crafty proposals were frequent no IeAl -
ceSSonS were made. On the contrary. tilt go
ment OF British subjects grew worse and worse
direct violation of the condition pTeceteilt.
the convention made with the BOer rulers N 49,
" q
Ception, promise the protection OF the IA" anu
all the privileges attendant thereon
The record OF the last fifteen years mas ceeh
of eXaCtiOn. corruption and broken piSdsss- -
nue. the country have been denied an WIZ =,
its government. every right OF citizenship ana
been subject to brutal and hagrant abuses -
which redress could De OBTAINED.
Mr. Bryce states that there were some alnoiisse
the English who desired 70 seize the rcnest $50
field In the world and working haFd -
with that aim IL seems 10 me 80, s,,rber
states that il was only few OF the more Vl o.S,
spirits among the Beers who dreamed or oTs. sS
England and turning South Africa into one 49,
quent events by the Boer proclamations anneN ~
the British territory which they had invaded ~,
Bryce tells the American readers thal 1870 $500
possessed no general right OF lntsIIslil -
with me internal affairs than with the aIairs y
BeCium or Portugal He ought N IalEueSSss -
have said that Britain never wished or Sousls ~ ~
interfere with the internal auatrS or the S-
further than TO demand that the iettsf 81 So,
OF the convention should be observed; tht ~ 49,
tive pledges OF the Beers should be kept ana -
the intolerable tyranny practsed on 6IlUS-a ~
this country 10 surrender at Boer & 80
position as the paramount Power II Soutn -,
an alternative that only Little Ensiahuer Gus
contemplate.