THE ANTI-BRITISH FEELING AT JOHANNESBURG.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 31 January 1899, Page 6

THE ANTI-BRITISH FEELING AT JOHANNESBURG.

A TRUCULENT ARTICLE. Extreme anger, writes the Johannesburg correspondent of the Cape Times on 28th December, is felt among Uitlanders by the publication of an outrageous article by De Rand Post, the local Dutch organ. The Star publishes the origins,] article in Dutch, with an English translation, and announces its intention to continue to publish it day by day, so that it may be read by every man and woman in South Africa, irrespective of origin nnd I language. The article (which has several times been referred to in the cable news) was published the day before the Edgar demonstration, under the heading " Wai with England," and contains the following : — " Dr. Leyds has said in an interview with the Pall Mall that he believed Ihal in the event of Avar the Johannesburg population would be safe if they conducted themselves peacefully. It was a significant question that with reference to Johannesburg the reply given by our Ambas sador is not incorrect, for the Boer people are really very humane and civilised in the carrying out of Avar, but for all that we consider that something could Avell have been added to the reply, viz. : If, doav ever, Avar should now come the position of the people of Johannesburg is responsible for that, and therefore the whole of Johannesburg is responsible. If strife is thus kindled the recommendation will then perhaps deserve to be kept in mind by the burghers to give the Avivos and children of the less well-disposed inhabitants tAventyfour hours' time to take their departure, and forthwith level the town to thr ground. If it is in the power of England to bring 20,000 soldiers to or in the neigh bourhood of Pretoria, this is also in thp power of the Boers, and to make use of that power will, in another Avar with Eng land, not only be a fair act of warfare, but at tbe same time one that avill be given effect to in fighting, and if our friends in England knoAV now that thi? is the case, if they knoAV that their trea-sure-chamber, the Witwatersrand goldfields, Avill be destroyed, they Avill reflect a little before neAV plans are put into operation. Though Dr. Leyds may be right and the Johannesburg population safe in case of Avar, our advice is that at the first act of Avar on the English side, the Avomen and children and Avell-di&posed persons of this town should be given 24 hours leave, and then the Avhole place be shot down. (" Den cloal plat te schietan.") In the event, we repeat, of war — which God forbid — if, indeed, there must be shooting, then it will be on account of the seditious Avords and deeds of the Johannesburg; agitators and their co-shareholders in CapetoAvn and London, and the struggle will be promoted by no other object than the possession of gold. Well, then, let such action be taken that the perpetrators of these turbulent proceedings shall, if caught, be thrown into the deep shafts of their mines with the debris of the batteries for a costly shroud, and that the whole of Johannesburg, with the exception of the Afrikander wards, be converted into a gigantic rubbish heap to serve as a mighty tombstone for shotdown authors of a monstrous deed. If it be known that these valuable buildings and lives of wire-pullers are the price of the mines, then people Avill take good heed, before the torch of Avar is set alight,if friendly talks and protests are of no use with England. So force and rough violence will be opposed to intrigues and the plots of Old and only then will the Boer remain master., But if the-

Avord " Peace, peace," continues dead in his mouth it is exactly the Avay in Avhich war and doAvnfall Avill be brought about." Commenting on the article the Star says —".The barbarous and savage butchery suggested by De Rand Post has no parallel in all history. The massacre of Johannesburg, the Bulgarian atrocities, the Sepoy villainies in India Avould be insignilicant in comparison if this diabolical plan Avere to be carried into effect. The Standard and Diggers' NeAvs and Volksstem have also dropped significant hints as to the intention of those in authority in certain eventualities. To suggest, in ansAver to this projected butchery, that every male Uitlander should arm himself for the dofence of his home is absurd, for Aye cannot got arms. We are entitled to them under the Convention, but Aye cannot force the Convention, and those Avho can ■will not, but this much avc can do. Wo can show the world lioav things are in Transvaal, and refuse, notAvithstanding all threats of massacre, to be terrorised into silence. If the Dutch organs Avish to muzzle the place they have gone exactly the wrong way about it." THE DUTCHMEN'S TAUNTS. Writing from Pretoria on the 28th December, the correspondent of the Cape Times says :— " I have intervioAved many leading men in Pretoria on the present political situation, and every one of them agrees in saying that racial feeling is at the present time more bitter betAveen the Dutch and English sections of the com-, munity than ever it has been before. Most people are looking forward with some trepidation to Avhat the NeAV Year may bring torth, but all agree that something is going to happen, but Avith an equal degree of unanimity they refrain from expressing decided opinions as to what the something may be. "The Volksstem, in the course of an article on the Edgar demonstration in Johannesburg, says :— ' To three causes is it due that no blood AA r as shed at Johannesburg on the day before Christmas. The tact displayed by the authorities on that day, the calmness of the Afrikanders, but, most of all, the unbounded cowardice of the thousands of sAvaggering demonstrators, who in blind anxiety took to iiignt before a handful of mounted police, fortunately averted mischief. The last shoAvs the course to be folloAvcd on a future ocsasion, although Aye give every praise for the tact shown by Commandant Vandam and others on Saturday. It appears to vis that at the next attempt of the League people to again unlaAvfully air their quo sigrievances, the best thing will be to immediately give the mounted police ibe word. Their mere appearance is evidently sufficient to make the brave Britnns a % ho demonstrated on Saturday in tho:mn/ls seek the Avay they came. In this manner will danger be averted of the provoked Afrikander population, Avho might be less indulgent on another occasion, Avhich many a League leader would have cause to remember for years, but Avhich, on the other hand, might lead to international ties.'"