Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-01

London, Oct. 30.-AIt is understood
that the Kruger Memoirs Of which
first installment Of extracts has al
ready been published In The Times,
give narrative Of the eX-president's
career, but do not go deeply into po-
litical or diplomatic aspects or advise
the Beers as to the best policy to be
pursued after Mr.. Krugcr's death.
a striking feature of the memoirs is
a revelation of the jealousies which en-
listed before the war between the in
habitants of the TranSvaal and the
Orange Free State and the Cape Col
ony Beers, which prevented anything
like a satisfactory mutual understand
ing. Mr.. Kruger takes pains to lrove
that lie did his utmost to smooth I.at-
ters over and prevent the war, but the
Beers inborn antipathy to foreign in-
terference proved too strong for him.
The installment Of the memoirs pub
lished by The Times this morning con.
tains some interesting lights concerning
MI. kruger's opinion OF various men
prominent in South African history.
The ex-president was once invited to
meet Sir Bartle Frere. He replied he
would be quite willing to do so if he
We're told which Frcre it was. He de.
clared he knew four Frcres. and eX-
planned this remark by describing diff
ferent aspects of Sir Bartlc Frere's
character, as presented by blue books,
etc., saying some of his characteristics
We're friendly while others were in
imical to the Beers.
Mr.. Kruger describes the "Jesuiticar'
Cecil Rhodes as the Course of South
Africa" He says: mo matter hsw
base or contemplate, be it lying, bribery
or treachery, all and every means were
welcome to him."
Lord Miner lie describes as "a typlcal
Judge, autocratic beyond endurance
Mr.. Kruger declares that Colonial
Secretary Chamberlain was undoubt-
edly the late Cecil Rhodes acco H.
plice in the Jameson raid and that Mr..
Chamberlain appointed Lord Milner
British high commissioner of South
Africa with the direct intention of
driving matters to extremes. "This
tool Of Mr.. Chamberlain" says Mr..
Kruger, carried out his mission faith
fully and turned South Africa into q
Wilderness"
British policy in general Mr.. Kruger
sums up in the following sentences:
Lies, treachery, intrigues and
secret investigations against the gov
ernments of the republics these have
always been the distinguishing marks
of English politics."
Mr.. Kruger declares that the Trans
vaal National union was under Mr.
Cecil Rhodes paramount influence
from its very inception and describes
1T as having, from the very outset, used
the demand for the franchise as Il cloak
for designs against the republics. lie
describes how, after the Jameson raid,
when the republic was practically tie
fencelesa, he became convinced of the
necessity of preparing for war and
gradually accumulated war material.
This was especially the case after the
British parliamentary inquiry into the
raid, which. Mr.. Kruger says. showed
Mr.. Chamberlains completely. Mr..
Kruger contends that his institution of
reforms in 1899 probably startled Mr..
Chamberlain and impellcd Great Brit
ain to hurry on the crisis for fear of los.
ing pretext for war.
The author of the memoirs asserts
that the signatures to the petitions of
British subjects in the Transyaal
Against the so-called grievances were
obtained by the greatest fraud III de-
scribes how the franchise rcr aimed the
question at issue, until, writes Mr..
Kruger, In spite Of all concessions, all
patience and the indulgence of the re-
public, war broke ont
Mr.. Kruger says that enormous de-
mands were then made upon his in
dustry; all persons came to him for d.
rectlOns, advice or comfort. There was
not night during which he slept I'M
disturbed and when the burghprs
grew discouraged he himself went to
tho commandos to restore the con-
f1dence of the combatants.
The former president writes that he
looked upon the war not 50 much as an
event, but rather as sign of the times.