The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-18
Light Thrown on South
African Situation BY
ex.Consul McCrum.
EARLY HISTORY
OF THE CONFLICT
How HostiIitiss Were Opened
and the Underlying
Causes.-Letter From
Mr.. McCrum.

There is no one in Ohio, or the
United States for that matter, who Is
more conversant with the South At
rican situation than Charles e. Nc
Crum, former United States consuf to
tho South African republic. The
clear insight of Mr.. McCrum in matters
antedating the present war is shown
in the following letter which he has
written to the East Liverpool Crisis,
and which will undoubtedly be read
with interest by all persons who have
followed the newspaper history Of this
prolonged confiict:
"a recent issue of Pittsburg paper,
which has always been extremely pro-
British in its expression, contains
cabied article under the caption of
Beers Accept Terms of Peace from
British which in great part Is a It's
sue Of misstatements, and as a lover
of fair play and one who pretends and
certainly should know something of
the situation at the time of the out
break of the British war, / cannot
refrain from calling attention to some
Of the twisted facts.
"As to the terms Of peace negotia-
tions know nothing. The press CEN
sOr in South Africa is too vigilant to
allow anything of the character of
news regarding this particular mat
ter to escape from the patriots side,
so we have to accept just that which
the war nabobs Of torydoIn send over
to us, or what the be-monacled hyp-
ocrite of Downing street stusff down
the throats of our correspondents in
London.
IA MAY BE SURPRISED.
but I venture to say, from what
know of the sterling character and
freedom-loving patriotism of the poor
fellows that are fighting for everything
that should be dear to the true Amer
ican heart; for what those noble hearts
fought for on our own soil century
and quarter ago, that the peace terms
are likely TO surprise those Anglo
Americans among us who seem to
glory in the liberties the British have
been taking in country not theirs in
any sense; where darkest murder has
been committed and where reconcen-
trado camps have been established, the
very hest Of which make the memory
of the worst Spanish camps in Cuba
a pleasant dream; where women have
been violated and children starved and
beaten to. death as they cried for the
bare crust that never was offered them.
Now to the history Of the incep-
tion OF the war, as quoted in that
cabled dispatch. PresicAlt Kruger's
ultimatum of October 9th, 1899, was
not in effect demand for arbitration.
1t simply and very plainly demands
the rights of his people under the con-
ventlon of 1884, made, you will note,
by Great Britain and the South At
rican republic before any gold OF
moment was discovered in the Trans
vaal
AN OLD TREATY.
This said treaty of 1884, Of which
I have a copy taken from the original
document in the state department Of
the South African republic at Pretoria
by myself, provides under article that
Great Britain shall have supervision
of the foreign relations of the South
African republic, !. O., that when any
treaty or convention Is consummated
African republic, that the said treaty
or convention shall be submitted to
the British government and il no ac-
British government within six months
be fully effective.
ment makes objection to the said
treaty or convention 1t must also give
sufficient reason or reasons to sustain
the same. A number of treaties were
made under this article between the
80 ie
ticle. 4 of the convention of 1884 also
provides and the government of Great
Britain undertakes to abstain from all
interference In the internal affairs Of
the South African republic.
ENGLAND is PLEDGED.
1.-THE great government Of Great
how has 1t lived up to its pledges? :?
famous Jamison led party Of ruffans
through from the western border TO
seize the government Of Pretoria.
Think of that, you true Americans!
But they only got as far as Doornkop.
There Cronje and Joubert nipped
them.
What was done? They were goal
ed for O time and the leaders tried and
man of men in South Africa stepped
In and said: No, TlT not punish the
puppies when l can't get hold of the
dog that laid the plans and got these
fellows In this mess He turned them
loose, sent them to Capetown and they
were tried by this same great British
government, as also was Cecil Rhodes,
and we all know of the result OF the
trial is that this great British gov
ernment said: Not guilty, but don't
do II again
PERTINENT QUESTION.
I'VE Americans had an illustrous
compatriot In that raid; we all remem-
bar him. 1t cost our government
about q quarter OF o million dollars to
extricate him from that mess, when
lle ought to have been strung UP to the
nearest tree, Wouldn't that have been