ce Pretoria was founded. On the contrary, the real Kruger is a Boer
Machiavelli, astute and bigoted, obstinate as a mule, and remarkably
opinionated, vain and puffed up with the power conferred on him,
vindictive, covetous and always a Boer, which means a narrow-minded and
obtuse provincial of the illiterate type.

HOW THE CONVENTION WAS CONTRAVENED.

"Go and tell your people," said he once to a deputation from the
uitlanders, "that I will never change my policy."

For once he spoke the truth, and having seen him I feel convinced he
never will, but he has persuaded so well and spoken so fairly, that I
doubt if a Colonial Office official will abandon hope of him.

I recall to mind the last portion of Article 14 of the London
Convention, which refers to those persons other than natives who may
enter the South African Republic. "They shall not be subject, in their
persons or property, commerce or industry, to any taxes, local or
general, other than those which are or may be imposed on citizens of the
South African Republic."

How does that agree with a fourpenny tax on a four-pound loaf of bread?
Or a shilling tax for every four pounds of meat, or a shilling tax on
every four pounds of potatoes, or a sixpence for every half-pound of
butter eaten at breakfast by a miner and his family?

THE RACIAL WAR BOGEY.

People at home do not stoop to consider what such details mean. They
have probably more in their minds the general effect of a racial war in
South Africa, and see red ruin in place of the peace and content that
ought to prevail here. But what have we to do with racial war and its
horrors? Our business is to look at the immediate present, and not
anticipate events which need not take place. We have to abide by the
Convention; why should not the other party also abide by it? It was a
fair understanding. Kruger himself drew up the terms, and they were
mutually agreed to, and it is scarcely common sense to suggest that the
party which seeks to maintain the Convention instigates a racial war,
while the party that has broken the Convention repeatedly should be held
innocent and blameless.

THE LAWS OF "A CHOLERIC, OBSTINATE OLD MAN."

There is another point in this article which has attracted my attention
here. The first part of Article 14 says, "All persons other than
natives, conforming themselves to the laws of the South African
Republic, will have full liberty to enter, travel, or reside in any part
o