The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-23

political grievances there even though
there be commercial opportunities. AS
South Africa could not come to nlr. 20
seph Chamberlain, Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain went to South Africa. Obviously the
Uitlander grievances have not been COM
pletely removed by the overthrow OF the
tyrannical and corrupt Boer government
by the annexation OF the two South At
rican republics, and by the establishment
of free institutions in the new colonies.
This must be seriously disappointing to
those who believed that the cause OF all
the trouble was the Boer, and that the
Uitlanders were a simple and oppressed
body.
There Is, too, another reason for his
| going to South Africa. From all that
hear, things are not going well there. In
Cape Colony the Duach still resent the
| manner in which they were treated during
the war, and by no means disposed to be
gerrymandered out of political existence,
whilst the loYalists are doing all that they
can to render constitutional government
impossible. In the Transvaal and In the
| Orange colony things are not settling
down. The Uitlanders are bitterly disap-
pointed at finding that our rule will prove
more costly to them than that of Mr..
Kruger The National Scouts-those con-
temptable creatures who fought against
the independence of their couptry-are
surprised that they are not given farms
and fat government appointments. and
] vow that never again will they fight for
u.s. Business at johannesburg is at
standstill The natives decline to engage
! in underground work. The taxes are al
| ready higher than before the war, and
| the newcomers are indignant at the
| thought of being called upon to pay any
! thing for 1t. johannesburg Is full OF
swaEgering ex-National Scouts, and of
/ adventures seeking whom they can
fleece and finding no opportunities to
fleece any one Rents have been put up
to impossible figures, and there Is no
! money to pay even moderate prices. The
JJitlanders are as hostile to us as they
were to the Beers The whole country is
a desert, and the Boer farmers are with
! out the means to rebuild and restock the
farms that we have laid desolate. Lord
Miner is losing his popularity with the
Uitlanders, although he implies that If
he only were master all would be well.
Mr.. Chamberlain is himself quite astute
enough to perceive that he is the wrong
man for his place, and yet cannot well
replace him, because he has SO often de-
clared him to be indispensable. Under all
these circumstances he will find his work
cut out for him In South Africa, though
whether he himself Is precisely the per-
son to create harmony and good feeling is
by no means certain.
|
Lady Biddulph, who was for many
years the intimate friend OF Queen VIC
toria, died recently. She was daughter
of Mr.. Fredk. Seymour. and sister OF
Lady Spencer and of the late Lady Gilt
den. She belonged to family which has
been closely associated with the court FOL
more than q. century. Lady Biddulph wal
for some years a maid of honor to Queer
Victoria, and in 1887 she married Sii
Thomas Biddulph, who held various
highly confidential offices in the house
hold. and was keeper of the privy purs'
at the time of his death In 1878. LADY
Biddulph and her husband were grea
fayorites with the late Queen and witt
Prince Albert She was the last OF TIL
band of Queen victoria's intimate AM
trusted friends which included tn
Dowager Duchess of Athole. Dowage
Duchess of Roxburghe. Dowager Lad,
Ely. Dowager Lady Churchill, and Lad.
Augusta Stanley. Sir Thomas Biddulpl
was a most valuable official and his In
fiuence over the late Queen which wa
/ very considerable, was always exercis
ed for good. His death was greatly re
GREETED In 1879, when In certain importan
matters the court appeared to be drift
ing about without rudder or compass
Lady Biddulph was kindly, sensipl
woman, and as the late Queen observes
with truth she was thoroughly ois
I l,creet" After the death OF Lady August
stanley. Lady Biddulph became the re
cinient Of almost daily letters from Quee
victoria, who wrote to her very con