The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13

ing, therefore. to note that he was from
the first opposed 10 the war that has dew
out felt confident that. if il occurred. the
political independence of the Boer repub-
lies We I'D come to an end.
We have felt all along. and have not
hesitated TO express the opinion. that this
was a controversy in which both sides were
In the wrong, and one which might have
been avoided IL the combatants had clear
ly foreseen what was 10 result from their
quarrels. But Mr.. Botha. with his long
knowledge through association with the
government OF the Orange Free State, Is
also OF the opinion that both parties have
been in the wrong: but he carries back the
wrong-doing TO years beyond the negotia-
tons which preceded the outbreak of hostil-
tiles. He finds fault with the English that
they nave not pursued a settled, consistent
policy In their treatment of South Africa
At one time the Orange Free State was
declared British territory, at another time
Il. was abandoned. Sir, Garnet, now Lord.
Wolseley annexed the Transvaal, declaring
that the rivers will sooner run back in
their course than that England will give up
English Ministry abandoned that country.
The slavery question was handled with
great ignorance OF the circumstance sur
rounding the case. and England failed to
carry out effectively her promises of COM
pensation 10 those whose slaves were eman-
eipated: These and other instances OF a
fuctuating policy greatly encouraged the
belief that the Beers had only to assert
themselves TO successfully carry through
0HS RA-A aIOA DlC lItAI llIlQ were ser.
Mr.. Botha represented what may be
termed the conservative element in the
Orange Free State. He was a friend
and admirer of President Brand. who
was instrumental in securing peace and
prosperity for the citizens Of the Orange
Free State, and was also an advocate
continue President Brands policy. but who
was defeated at the polls by President
Steyn. Mr.. Botha asserts that the war. so
Tar as the Beers are concerned. was the
outgrowth of the ignorance and ambition
OF Kruger. Steyn, Heitz and others of their
class, and. If they had succeeded. would
nave pedpetuated, at the expense of the
Liberties OF the Boer people. the oiigarchy
they had formed.
Paul Kruger. he asserts. is a very much
misunderstood man, for, instead OF possess
ing the high. noble qualities with which
he has been credited, he is IAN ayaricious.
unscrupulous and hypocritical man." who
would sacrifice an entire people TO his Gu
pidity. Mr.. Botha. who has known him for
years, seems TO think that his only virtue
Is courage. and says that his whole career
can be searched without finding evidence
that either through personal or official
Expenditures he has ever done anything
for the public benefit i'm the Transvaal.
He was known i'm the Free State thirty
years ago, before he found better means
of enriching himself. as a swindling dealer
in oranges and tobacco, and one whom we
strongly suspected of being a very cute
slave dealer"
Steyn. as President of the Orange Free
State. abandoned the policy OF hts wiser
predecessors and threw his lot I'm with Kru-
ger, although the citizens OF the southern
Boer republic had no grievance Of any
serious moment TO bring against the Eng
lish. 1t was a plot successfully worked up.
ending in an appeal 10 the traditional patri-
otism of the Beers; so that those who coun-
seled reason and moderation were de-
nounced as traitors by their more ex-
citable fellow-countrymen.
Mr.. Botha had been for years a valued
member OF the Folksraad. He had the lfb-
erty and well-being OF his country greatly
at heart He foresaw that IL was the de-
10 use the Orange Free State for their own
purposes. and that even IL they were sue
cessful in their war il would mean that the
Beers In the Orange Free State would be
placed at the mercy OF the dominant class
In the Transvaal, a class controlled by the
desire 10 use opportunities for greatly en-
riching themselves. But his counseis were
addressed to deaf ears when the people
were aroused by the excitement OF a pos
slnie war IL was useless to attempt to
State could gain nothing In such a contest,
let the result be what IL might. But he
now asks his fel-low-countrymen whether
they think that events have justified the
confident faith that they placed In Messrs.
Kruger and steyn; whether the prophecies
of these men have been fulfilled; whether.
on the contrary. their predictions have not
been altogether falsihed. and this being
the case. whether ~ IS not better for the
Beers TO as quickly as possible abandon a
useless struggle. carried on at the present
time chiefly by political fanatics and the
lawless, irresponsible members OF the COM
munity, accept the inevitable and make
the best possible terms with the English.
His advice TO the English is 10 endeavor
10 realize the conditions under which the
Beers have lived. and 10 remember that this
accounts in no slight degree for the man
ner I'm which they have been misled. But
while showing liberation the English must.
in his opinion. IL the future OF the country
Is 10 be assured. lay down as a policy, from
which no deviation whatsoever Is 10 be
made, that the two Boer states are here
after 10 be considered colonies OF Great
Britain. and that their political independ-
1,.. a. 20 no forever 4 an end IL IllIa
that the section OF the Liberal party IN
England. which insists that political inde-
pendence should be continued TO the Beers.
are. IN view OF present conditions. doing
serious injury both 20 the Beers and 20
England in encouraging the former 10 per-
sist In carrying on a hopeless struggle
which must be ended before the great mass
of the people can take the necessary steps
10 regain their lost industrial prosperity.