The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

The Trnnsvnal and It's Wonderful
Development in the Past Five
Years. ~ Il.
The territe1y comprising the Trans-
vaal or South African Republic covers
an area larger than that Of France. 1t
is peopled by the Beers, who fled from
the tyraunica1 form of government
which the English sought to impose
unon them further south. The beers
are the descendants Of the sturdy Meth
erlanders, who constituted Holland a
republic and formidable power in the
sixteenth century, and Of the Hugenots,
who were driven from France by the
edicr Of Nantes in 1855 by Louis XIV.
Thus in the Beers of South Africa there
is a combination Of the characteristics
Of two people who are conspicuous in
European history for TIL, struggles
they waged for political and religious
liberty Since the days when the first
band of hardy imnig grant Beers crossed
the Vaal river, where England's tyran-
Dy stopped at following them, and
planted their cabins on the broad and
sunny slopes of the Transvaal the
country has gone through the. changes
and throes which mark the life Of i'll
dividual and nation alike Within the
past five years Il marvellous develop
ment of population, resources and in
dustries has followed on the success
which gold mining has achieved. Rail
way communication now connects
johannesburg via the diamond mines
Of Kimberly with the Cape Of Good
Hope, a distance Of 945 miles. Other
connections are rapidly progressing
from Natal and Delagoa bay, centraliz-
ing at Pretoria, the capital and seat Of
government in the Transvaa1.
The constitution Of the South African
republic, says Goldthwaite's Magazine.
is based on the Roman Dutch The leg
islative power is vested; in the volks-
raad, and the members Of which are
elected by their constituents for four
years. The elective constituents of the
president. elected for five years by a
general election throughout the state,
thc'state secretary elected by the voll1s-
raad for four years, and four unofficial
members chosen for three years by the
vOlkSraad. The chief officer in each dis
trict is the laDddOrst, who acts as mag
istrate and civil commissioner, With the
assistance Of q clerk. who is at the
same time public prosecutor and dis
tributor of stamps. Each district is
further provided with 4 baljuw or sher-
it,, gaOler and a staff OF cOnStaDleS.
With the exception of Il corps of
mounted artillery and police. command
ed by three officers with about sixty
men: the republic has no armed force
The president, with the concurrence Of
the executive, has the right to declare
war and call up a commando, in which
the Durghers are placed under the field
comets and commandments Of each dis
trict. The whole force is commanded
by the commandment general, who is
elected by the country for the term Of
ten years. All inhabitants of the state
between sixteen and and sixty years of
| age, Lot exempt according 20 law, arc
! liable to service on commando. Presi-
dent kruger is now occupying his office
| for the third term. He is a patriot, a
! man whose heroic life postcrity will
! honor. Among the Beers he is known
! exclusively us ''Oom Paul. Uncle
Paul." Though man of rugged cxter-
loi. CntutoreG even rs regards the most
| elementary branches of education, he
has shown a practical capacity for GOV
| trl,ment that has been a. match for
| the most finished diplomacy Ind states
| craft. For the conservation of the in
| terests of the mining classes, almost
| entirely English, he influenced the
| volksraad to est;, tlish Il second cham
| Der, to which they could send their rep
rcsentatives. This chamber legislates
! in the interest Of the English class and
| for the local interests of the country.
the volkstaad holding the right of veto
over it's proceedings.