The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21

for Majuba Hill But. II II had not been
! for Shepstone's annexation. there would
have been no Majuba Ill., and no revenge
for Maiuba Hill would have been called
| for"
Kruger was a member Of the deput al ion
J which in May. 1877. left the Transvaal for
England for the purpose Of procuring the
| repeal OF the annexation. He says that
shortly after our departure. Shepstone
wrote to Lord Carnarvon, then the Colonial
Secretary, stating that ! myself had told
| him that. If the deputation failed. would
become a loyal subject Of the new Gov
eminent. even as I had been Of the old
He also knew. he said, that DR.. Jorissen
lkr1ger's fellow deputy had declared
that the annexation was inevitable. and
that its repeal would he a public misfort-
une. A. far as l am concerned. ] declare
this statement to he absolutely untrue.
] never told Shepstone this nor anything
OF the kind: moreover. my further actions
Of themselves give the lie to any such as
sertion." On arriving In England. Kruger
found that the impression had been created
by means of newspapers and letters that
only a handful Of irreconcilable-. with
himself at their head, had declared against
the annexation. He denied this report
with the utmost emphasis, and said that
1t was easy to arrive at the truth by taking
Q plebiscite Of the whole Republic, which
would show whether the ajority were
for OF against the surrender OF ndepend-
ence. The British Government resented
the proposal for a plebiscite. and declined
to repeal the annexation. When the depu-
ta,ion returned To Pretoria a committee
was appointed by the burghers to institute
q plebiscite OH their own account; and the
result was that. in April. 1878, 1875 petitions
bearing 6.S9i signatures we're presented
against the annexation, and thirty-one
petitions bearing only S87 signatures in
Its favor. To appreciate the significance
Of these figures, we should bear In mind
that the total adult male white population
OF the Transvaal. AZ given in Shepstone's
report to the Colonial Secretary, num-
bered al the time only about 1900. and II
is reasonable to suppose that. among those
who were unable to attend the meetings
at which the petitions were signed. there
were many more opponents than advo-
Gates Of the annexation. Armed with
these petitions. a new deputation COM
posed Of Fiet Joubert and the author OF
these memoirs was sent TO England and
in July, is7s. presented to Sir Michae, Hicks
Beach, then Colonial Secretary, a memorial
setting forth the right Of the South African
Republic TO an independent existence and
the iniquity Of the grounds on which an
attempt had been made to justify the an
nexation. Sir Michael refused to accede
to the wishes of the Transvaal, and the
lala Lol
without fulfilling the hopes Of their fellow
countrymen.
On his arrival at Durham our author
found the British Government at war with
the Zulu King Cetewayo. and he was re-
quested by Sir Bartle Frere to assist the
British Commander in Chief with informa-
ton as to the best ways Of waging war
against the Kafirs Sir Bartle Frere also
asked him TO accompany one Of the British
columns. He answered: Il will take 500
burghers and hand Zululand over to you
II you will give me the reward I want"
II seems that Sir Bartle was a little offended
when Kruger offered to do with 500 men
the work for which England had placed
80 many thousand soldiers in tho feld
do you mean to say he inquired. that
your people are 40 much better than our
soldiers'" mot that was the reply, but
our method Of fighting ia better than yours,
and We know the country" Sir Bartle
then asked what reward was required
KRUGER answered: The Independence Of
my country and people, whereupon the
High Commissioner refused to discuss
the subject further. Later. Shepstone
asked our author by letter to bring Boer
commando to the assistance Of the English
who. it will be remembered, suffered a
bloody defeat at Isandlhana In which about
200 soldiers were cut to pieces. KRUGER
declined to render any assistance TO those
who paid no attention to the urgent en-
treaty Of the Beers that their independence
should be restored to them.
At various times during the year 1879
MAS meetings, each embracing Thousands
Of burghers. were held in the Transvaal,
in order TO urge upon the representatives
Of the British Government the expedienoy
Of repeating the annexation. Sir Bartle
Frere, who was present at one OF these
meetings. seems to have acted with the
utmost duplicity. Such. at all events,
was the charge made by Kruger at Cape
Town, whittier he had gone to oppose the
project for a confederation Of South Africs
under the British nag. 1t seems that
during his stay there a member Of the
upper house Of the Cape Parliament
came to him with an invitation to pay a
visit to Sir Bartle Frere. He refused;
I but when the invitation was repeated
and he was told that Sir Bartle desired to
speak to him privately. he answered.: Il
will come. II you can tell me which Sir
Bartle Frere it is that wishes to ace US:
for know four Of them. The first came
to us at Kleinfontein and assured VA that
he had not come with the sword, but a. a
messenger OF peace. But. later on, read
in an English Blue Book that, on the same
day, Sir Bartle Frere. the second, there
fore, had written to the British Government.
II only had had enough guns and mon
| would have soon dispersed the rebels
| made the acquaintance Of the third SIR
Bsrtle Frere through his answer to our
petition for the repeal Of the annexation:
he then said that he hEh informed the
British Government that be had met some
| Ave thousand OF the beat Beers at Klein
fontein and that he had recommended
their petition to the Governments earnest
consideration. Afterward. I saw in the
English Blue Book that, on tho same day.
| Sir Bartle Frere obvoualv n fourth