The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-05
WAR FOR PEACE.
Dom Paul Says Independence
Alone Can End It.
Beers Always Ready to NegO-
tiate on That Basis.
WILL CROSS OCEAN.
Ready to Come to America IF 1t
Will Do Any Good.
Says the British Have Acted
Like Savages.

New York. April 5-.A despatch to the
Herald from Paris says:
An interview with Mr.. Kruger APP
dent Of the Transvaal was seen in a
modest little inn at Utrecht, where he is
stopping for the moment. His eyes. have
been very much improved by recent op-.
erations and he can now dispense with
spectacles.
Getting in front Of a table with a bible
under his left hand. Mr.. Kruger dellv-
cred himself Of an important statement,
TO which further significance was given
by the presence of the Orange Free
State delegate. Herr Fischer.
Mr. Kruger began by announcing that
on Saturday next he proposed retiring
into the country for complete rest the
little village of Hilbersum, not far from
Utrecht has been selected for his abode
Nothing has yet been decided regarding
his trip to America Mr.. Kruger will
undertake the Journey if his strength
permits and if there is any hope of gain
ing advantage for the Boer cause.
Pointing to Herr Fischer, the aged
president declared that the two repuo-
lies were indissolubly united. Herr
Fischer" he said, sis fighting for the
same cause as my heroic friend, Presi-
dent Steyn. The two presidents and the
two commanding generals, Botha and
DeWet, will share the same fate.''
ance he placed on the British official
kilograms and statements in parliament,
Mr. Kruger half rising from his chair,
declared: THE British government,
British telegraph and the British press
always try to make this much" and he
measured his little finger, look like this
much-'and ne extended both arms. j
am persuaded everything is going well
out there precisely because our enemies
continue to dissimulate and travesty
facts
As regards General Botha's negotia-
lions, the public knows from the blue
book and by reading General BOtha's
last dispatch that it was the British ger
eral who first made proposals Never did
the Boer general refuse to listen We do
not fight except for peace. We are not
conquerors, but, although General BOtha
listened to the British proposals, he new
er uttered a word of equivocation on the
subject Of independence. Independence
is the only treasure we cherish, even II
we have to sacrifice all others to have
our national independence.
1T is for that reason our citizens for
sock their farms and sacrificed their
lives and our women and children now
suffer temporary servitude in the en-
emy's camp.
And added the president with still
more emphasis, ''if the English were not
blind, if they considered their own in
terests well, If they were not hopelessly
enalaved by error and injustice, they
would recognize the independence we de-
mand because in the hope Of safeguard
ing it we shall be ready to make many
concessions and sacr1flces and, moreover,
it would assure peace forever in South
Africa"
The subject Of arbitra ton being
next preached. Mr.. Kruger expressed his
entire readiness to submit all questions
to the arbitrament of an impartial tri
bunal, not even excepting the question
Of independence.
I'VE would sacrifice our liberty he
iaf rf frnf
cided that one or the other of the re-
publics had done anything 10 forfeit it.
But on that point we are at ease"
Here the Bible was invoked, Mr..
Kruger reading a passage from the
Psalms, in which David calls upon the
Lord and asks if there be any spot or
blemish in him, or whether he had COM
mitted any misdeed he or his people.
But, like David" he said 1--WE have
known that we are less impure than our
aggressors and that our cause is holy
and just Therefore we fear not the
judgment of the just and rely on the
mercy of Cod
British atrocities were the next topic
Of conversation. Mr. Kruger readily ex-
patiated on the terms Of the recent man.
ifesto issued by President Steyn and
Dewet.
Il have myself witnessed the brutal
ity with which the British have waged
war against u.s." he said They have
acted like savages and on their own con-
fession have been assisted by savages
whom they had armed.
They have once more merited the
reprOach heaped upon their fathers by
old Chatham at the time Of the war Of
American independence. Our enemies
have violated all the laws of war be-
tween civilized nations. They have out
ragged liberty without regard to the lives
Of noncombatants and pillaged and
burned private property. They have
treated as rebels men who were known
to be citizens Of the belligerent country.
They have not even spared women and
-taf hi,
declared neutral and inviolate by all in
ternational codes They have slavishly
initiated the proceedings which excited
universal indignation when practtced in
Cuba by a Spanish general, for which
Spain was cruelty punished
Everything that has been said re-
specting the horrors Of war as waged
by the English legions is far below the
truth. I declare-and history will bear
me out when it ceases to be falsified-
that people viii shudder when they learn
the details of all the atrocities that we
have suffered.
THE South African war has been on
the part of the English a perpetual de-
fiance Of the Geneva convention. To a
much greater extent than their refusal
to accept any Intervention is their de-
fiance of The Hague convention
Referring to General DeWet's raid into
Cape Colony, Mr.. Kruger denied that
1t was ever hoped to provoke a general
rising. I'VE knew perfectly well that
this would be impossible he said, be
cause OF the rack OF munitions ana arms.
as well as the difficulty of the combined
action over such enormous distances.
But the invasion demonstrated that the
A1rikanders were everywhere favorable
to our cause and ready to afford help in
their power.
President Steyn and General De Wet
hal. however. different object in view
and they attained it They were able
to obtain plentiful supplies of food and
horses. Moreover, these brave allies OPP
Grated a diversion, which allowed Gen
eraI Rotha to escape from a tight posi-
ton in the east of the Transvaa1. They |
con- PEELED the English to spread their
forces over the enormous distances and
to recognize the fact that the Beers
vaYs= masters in the field