various branches of the Colonial Government, and were able to supply
information upon any subject and even to influence elections.

There were numerous permanent agents drawing large emoluments in Europe
also, and emissaries to different places abroad, some touring in
America, England, and the Continent, as the Rev. Mr. Bosman did
recently, and also the P.M.G., Isaac van Alphen.

Much energy and money were also devoted to electioneering campaigns, as
had notoriously been done in the Cape Colony towards bringing in a Bond
majority. Large sums are spent in the diplomatic arena in Holland to
propitiate foreign statesmen, soliciting sympathy, and in coquettings
for Transvaal allies. One of these attempts that failed had been with
Germany. It would appear that some progress had been feasible some years
ago in temporarily luring Emperor William to favour a Holland-Transvaal
combination, but when that sovereign had at last penetrated the infamous
business that lay behind it all, he, as a true "_Bayard_" promptly
washed his hands clean of it, preferring to forego obvious brilliant
advantages for his people than to sully Germany's fair fame in a
connection amounting to no less than abetting a foul conspiracy.

The readers of the Johannesburg _Standard and Diggers' News_ will
remember among the staple attacks upon capitalism quite a series of
articles intended to decoy mining artisans and operatives to Boer views.
Secret agents were also employed for that purpose, and to induce the
belief that the Government was the enemy of capitalism, and would
champion its victims (the mining operatives) in the State. It would
support miners and the working class generally against attempts to
curtail the just rights of labour, and to parade its sincerity actually
passed a law constituting eight tours a legal day's labour. With such