Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
ENGLAND'S SOUTH AFRICAN IRE.
LAND
Genesis and History of the Dutch
Colony i'm Africa.

The great proportion OF the European poDu.
iation IN south Africa IS Dutch. and THESE
British flag. are bound by the closest ties OF
blood and sympathy to the Transvaal Beers.
cape Town, the capital of South Africa, is a
Dutch town. There Is more Dutch than English
spoken in its streets at this very dag. Toe
whole OF the western province OF the Care Col
ony is Dutch III language, IN habits, Ia opin-
ions, The wine. growers, the waeat growers,
the wealthy farmers who live for generatiln
after generation on their Immense eState-gho
form. 10 fact. the solid and lasting element OF
the popuiatlon-are as conservative n resp scr
OF maIters affecting their nationality as the
most conservative OF English landowners are
10 respect or their feudal traditions SoY,
eighty years ago. as they know aud remenh
wei, me English flag was. not without resist.
since then their forefathers had to bear the
Yoke or an alien government, administered by
men whose power was pretty nearly absolute
ana whose sympathy for themselves was less
IMAM nothing. They have IN course OF tune
submitted TO their position; but nowhere does
their regard for the British flag go beyond a
nearly toleTatlon. In the eastern province OF
the Cape Colony the population Is less Dutch
1t is true. But. except in some two or three Of
the larger towns, II is by no means English In
the agricultural districts the German element
largely prevails, and the German settler, though
not sharing the Dutchman's traditional enmiiy
TO England, is by no means an enfhusia,tlc
Briton. IN the Free State-which thoup,, not
at this moment under British rule cannon Ia
left out OF aocount-three- fourths OF the poono
lat1On are likewise Dutch who still cherish their
Inherited bitterness against the government
Whicn prosecuted them out Of the Cane Colony
pursued them across the Orange River, and.
ai.er hanging some OF their most patriotic
men, shook them on again into fniependance
In Natal, again, one halt of the European nm.
uauon Is MISUNDERSTANDING OF the emfgrant
pand who, coming some fifty years ago into Natal
h in Us 1ne praGensseeIg met the English com
vowed In conflict which was only ended
through the ct and moderation OF one of their
OWL Owl leaders In Natal, as elsewhere, the
population. They speak English when IL is
necessa airy: they read English newspapers when
they read newspapers at all But in their
thoughts, their habits, their traditions, they
are Dutcn 10 the marrow. They come little
into public, preferr1ng the shade OF their own
vine and their own fig tree to the gossip OF the
market place and their real wealth is hardly
ever suspected Now let It be borne in mind
VINO, exclusive OF the Transvaal, constitute
more than half-and by far the richest half
OF ef is european population are In respect Of
They regard the annexation as griey-
Gus Apd crying wrong-as further
aCC OF persecution by the government
whose oppression they have all felt and resent
HL Iney regard the present resistance by
their kinsmen In the Transyaal as noble aud
patrlouc assertion OF their Just rights. The
nnois SUI OF a Dutch flag at heidelberg and
LIDO SCut d vi DtU6F eXutta-
lion through The hearts OF thousands of Euro.
geanS living under the British government.
Inc news OF the defeat near Pretoria viii
awaken Chiefly regret that such defeats were
LOt more common In the past The troops that
go Out TO reinforce Sir George Coliey's command
VIII be received at Durham, which Is almost
purely English, with reclamation. But there ia
Lou Dutchman In South Africa who
Will not view these reinforcements with
sincere aversion. There is not a Dutch.
man who VIII move hand or foot. who
VIII, II he knows 1t, supply an OK or
wagon, 10 help them forward to the scene of
operations. Do people in England. VINO tn dsV
ak elioiy OF putting down the Dutch. under
stand what this means? Do they realize the
iact that they are driving wedges into rift in
mere. may prove the complete ruin OF an i'm
Polaht part OF the British empire?-PaU Mar