Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29
THE MEMOIRS OF PAUL KRUGER; -Four TtIue:
President of the South African Republic Told
by Himself New York: The Century Co.

by Himself. New York: The Century Co.
The history Of the relations between Eng
land and South African states has been told
and retold repeatedly during the past four
or five years from various points Of view
Partisanship has been displayed on both
Sides while the Judgment Of the unbiased
historian is now in process OF formation. The
statements Of Mr.. Kruger cannot be prop
erly considered as other than a contribu-
ton to the Boer argument, perhaps final
appeal to the Jury Of the world for that
verdict which will doubtless find it's high
est record in some subsequent chronicle
which all but the participants in the great
struggle will accept as fair and final 1t
states the Boer position strongly, perhaps
more strongly than many other documents,
which, more comprehensive and detailed,
more lawyer-like in adroitness Of argument,
have been issued in great number by
Mr. Kruger's friends and associates. Its
chief appeal to the sympathies Of the reader
is through the medium of a certain sturdy
Observation-Disclosures of statement which
cannot be gainsaid by even the supporters
OF the English position. 1t lacks the finesse
of the diplomat, but it has something per-
haps better-the naive simplicity Of man
who is absolutely sure of the Righteousness
OF his position. No one can read this work
through-and every word Is worth reading
without IeellnS llat OOm Hdul is tOuay
mistaken in his faith in the justice of the
contentious of the Beers that their state
is entitled to absolute independence, and
that England has no foundation in history
or equity for its demands for an acknowl-
edgment Of suzerainty.
The memoirs were dictated by Mr.. Kru-
ger to his secretary, Mr.. Bredell, and to
the former under secretary of state for the
South African Republic, Mr.. Piet Grobler.
Their notes were then edited by Rev. Dr..
w
with information derived from Mr.. Kruger
in the course Of a series of interviews. The
translation into English was done by Mr..
A Tiexeira de Mattos. The only change
from the German text is that where in that
edition Mr.. Kruger spoke only in the third
person Of himself, after his narrative
touched upon the period marked by his
conspicuous connection with public affairs,
in the English version the first person is
employed throughout, thus adding individ
uality to the whole record.
The earlier parts of the narrative are en-
tertaining and valuable in that they dis
close the influences which aided in the for
nation Of Kruger's character and caused
him to be regarded highly by his compa-
triots. He was an intrepid fighter of saw
ages and wild beasts, and among the most
vivid portions of his story are those which
tell Of his various hunting expeditions. In
one Of these he lost his left thumb through
the explosion Of his gun. According to his
own account, told with a certain simple
fulness he acted in that emergency with
exceptional fortitude and endurance. The
episode Is valuable as throwing light upon
the remarkable nature of the man.
Naturally the reader Of the political
phases of the narrative expects to find The
Boer case with England presented in Its
best light. There Is no flaw apparent IN
the record of England's perfidy as viewed
from the republics standpoint. The annex
alton Of 1877 appears to have had not the
slightest reason save England's desire to
obtain possession. Stress Is laid upon the
weakness of President Burgers Of the re-
public, the double dealing of Gov. Shap-
stone Of Natal, the British agent, and the
issue as to the failure of the burghers to
subdue Secucuni native chief. which the
English cited as a sign of the inherent
weakness Of the Boer state. Mr.. Kruger
charges the British agent with duplicity IN
btaining false report Of Secucunfs atti-
tude to forward his ends. 1t is noteworthy
that he makes no mention whatever of the
state of the republics finances which, the
British records charge, were then SO COM
pletely depleted that intervention was nee
essary to prevent the state from falling
into q complete collapse.
Similar tendencies to slight the record are
shown In other places. Mr.. Kruger's book
being naturally a special plea for the Beers
he could not be expected to weaken his case
by confessing to any righteousness in his
eneny's position. The only hint of waver-
ing is to be found on page 1873, when, dig
cussing the first complaints Of the Out
landers" in the Witwatersrand, the newly
opened gold fields, he says: Much excep-
ton has been taken to my attitude, and
perhaps I should have been wiser had l
shown more consideration for the feelings
of the foreigners" Then he hastens to
add: But we must not forget the elements
of which the population was composed, nor
the fact that population Of the same class
at Kimberley had caused rebellion, which
obliged the British government to send a
considerable force to hold it in check; nor
Ivy hot OF m nF tyh IN.
weakness had cost the republic dear"
He persistently declares that throughout
the negotiations with Secretary Chamber
lain as to the reforms for the Outlanders
he stood ready to grant everything reason
ably to be asked short Of a confession of
the British suzerainty, and on this point
he seems to have the better of the English
in his showing that the convention Of 1884,
superseding that Of 1881 In which suzerain-
ty was mentioned, specifically omitted that
clause
Two men he holds up to execration in the
strongest terms, Cecil Rhodes and Joseph
Chamberlain. He charges the former with
having acted throughout his life without
scruple and with the utmost baseness in or
der to attain his ends. He accuses Cham
berlain OF ignoring the records and foment
ing a strong anti-Boer feeling in England
by prolonging the negotiations while in
tent the while upon the annexation of the
republics.
Taken altogether this Is an exceptional
DOCK, presented with a ClearneSS OF die
ton which cannot be attributed wholly to
the care of the editing. AS human docu-
ment it must have a high place AS a his
tory 1t Is a most important contribution
from partisan. AS an evidence of a sus-
tanned faith it is rema rkable.
LA GRANpE MADEMoIsELLE; 1s27-1e52. By
Arvede Barine. Authorized English version by
Helen u. Meyer. New York: G. p. Putnam's
Sons. Washington: Woodward 4 Lothrop.
Anne Marie Louise DOrleans, Duchess of
Montpensier, was regarded during her life
as a remarkable woman. Since her death
the contradictions in her character and the
conspicuous part she played in the affairs
of France during the seventeenth century
have caused her to be noted as one of the
most extraordinary women that country
has ever produced Under slightly different
circumstances she might have become a
martyr as exalted as Joan of Arc. She had
a warriors spirit and her stature did not
deny the role. The name by which she
was commonly known, translatable as 1.-The
Tall Mademoiselle," indicates her COM
handing size. The portrait Of her in this
work depicts her in armor. She was
daughter Of CASTOR of France, younger
brother of King Louis XIII. Her father
was man of extreme moral weakness a
decadent and poseur, dreamer and weak
ling. He betrayed his friends lightly and
without qualms after they had with his
fun consent, conspired to place him on the