I do not suppose there are any people in the world so well represented
by a single prominent man as the Boers of South Africa are represented
by Mr Kruger. He is pre-eminently the Boer of Boers in character, in
intellect, and in disposition, and that is one reason why he has such
absolute control over his people. His obstinacy--and no man with a face
like his could be otherwise than obstinate--his people call strength.
Age and its infirmities have intensified it. His reserve--born of
self-pride, consciousness of force--limited ambitions, and
self-reliance, they call a diplomatic gift. His disposition, morose
from birth, breeding, isolation fostered by contact with his kind, is
unyielding and selfish, and has been hardened by contempt of the verbose
weaklings who have measured themselves against him.
"Dense, Ignorant, and Impenetrable."
This is the man whom the Johannesburgers hope to weary with their
prayers and petitions; but they never will do it. Nor will they
convince him by their arguments, for he is too dense, ignorant and
impenetrable. This is the man our new High Commissioner hopes to soften
with his cultured letters and amiable allusions to the possibilities of
restoring concord in South Africa. I feel a reluctance to say it, but
his labour will be in vain. This is the man to whom the accomplished
and lovable British Agent at Pretoria has been sent with a view to
obliterate the memory of Jameson's raid, and smooth the way to a kindly
and humane consideration of his countrymen's grievances; but he cannot
make any impression on an unimpressible nature like Kruger's.