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In 1877 Sir Theophilus Shepstone, High Commissioner of England in South Africa, announced the annexation of the country. But the Boers objected and decisively defeated the British at Majuba Hill. The independence of the Boer's was recognized and confirmed at the London Convention in 1884.
But English greed would not let the matter rest. Promoters founded the "British South African Company," better known as the "Royal Chartered Co.", which soon obtained an importance—and quite as ominous—as the "East India Co." possessed in Asia. One of the leaders was the son of an English dominy: Cecil Rhodes, who possessed all the qualities of his English prototype Robert Clive. In a short time he had amassed an enormous fortune, becoming known as the "Diamond King." In 1890 he was made Premier of the Cape Colony, and conquered Matabeleland and prepared, in collusion with the English mine owners of the South African Republic, the invasion undertaken by Dr. Jameson. This raid, put in action with 1200 men on Dec. 30th 1895, had in view the taking unawares, and the abolition, of the government and the annexation of the State. But the Boers had been made aware of this design and, surrounding the insolent intruders forced them on Jan. 1st, 1896 to surrender. President Krueger, an all too mild man, instead of making an example of the raiders by having them shot, delivered them to the English Government for punishment. But the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, the true type of a modern English pirate in dress coat, treated the conspirators not only with great leniency, but saw to it, that Jameson was indemnified properly, for the fright he had suffered, by a brilliant position in South Africa. Jameson as well as his conspirators were praised by the English press and, by the public, lionized as "heroes." Not less was this the case with Cecil Rhodes, the intellectual originator of the raid. When summoned by the Parliament, he denied not only all knowledge of the scheme, but moreover acted as accuser of the Boers. As a matter of course he was allowed to return to his post as Premier of the Cape Colony. It was only after the Government of Transvaal had proven his guilt beyond all doubt, that he resigned as Premier. But an English Official can remain a gentleman in English eyes, even if he is a proven liar and has perjured himself before the Parliament of his own country.
However this did not free the Boers of their grudges. As is everybody's memory, England in October 1899 started that disgraceful war against Transvaal which lasted until 1902,
