The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-10-19
THE BOER COUNTRY.
Remarkable Growth Of tho South
African Republic.
e.tticment of tho Trnnsvpai and Its Mar
yelous Industrial Progress-Com-
position OF tho Gov
ernmcnt.

The territory comprising the Trans
yaal or South African republic covers
an area larger than that OF France. Il
Ia peopled by the Beers, who fled from
the tyrannical form of government
which the English sought to impose up
on them further south. The Beers are
the descendants of the sturdy Neither
landers, who constituted Holland re-
public and o formidable power In the
sixteenth century, and of tho Hugue-
nots. who were driven from France by
the revocation Of the edict of Nantes
in 1895 by Louis XIV. Thus in the
Beers of South Africa there Is q COM
bination of the characteristics Of two
people who are conspicuous in Euro
pean history for the struggles they
waged for political and religious lib
crty. Since the days when the first
band of hardy immigrant Beers crossed
the Vaal river, where England's tyran-
nv stopped at following them, and
planted their cabins on the broad and
sunny slopes of the Trausvaal the
country has gone through the changes
and throes which mark the life of in
dividul and nation alike. Within
the past five years marvellous devel-
opmcnt of population, resources and
industries 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, distance of min. hundred and
forty-tve miles Other connections
are rapidly progressing from Natal
and Delngoa bay, centralizing at Pre-
toria, the capital and seat of govern
men In tho Trsnsvaal.
The constitution of the South African
republic, says Goldthwaite's Magazine,
is based on Roman Dutch. The legis-
lative power is vested in the voltsraad,
the members of which are elected by
their constituents for four years. The
executive consists of the president,
elected for fye years by a general cleo
tion throughout the state, the state
secretary elected by the vollSsraad for
four years, and four unofficial members
chosen for three years by the volks-
raad. The chief officer in each district
is the landdroSt who acts as magis-
trate and civil commissioner, with the
assistance OF o clerk, who is at the
same time public prosecutor and dis
tributor of stamps Each district is
further provided with baljuw or
sheriff, gaoler aud staff of constables.
With the exception of a corps of
mounted artillery and police, com
manded by three officers with about
sixty men, the republic has no armed
force. The president, with the concur
renee of the executive, has the right to
declare war and call up commando,
Ia which the burghcrs are placed
under the field coraets and command
ants of each district. The whole force
is commanded by the commandant
general, who is elected by the country
for the term of ten years All inhabit-
ants OF the state between sixteen and
sixty years of age, not exempt accord
ing to law, are liable to service on
commando President Kruger is now
occupying his Office for the thi:d term.
lie IS patriot, man whose heroic
life posterity will honor. Among tho
Beers he is known exclusively us "Oom
Paul" Uncle Paul Though a man
Of rugged exterior. untutored even as
regards the most elementary branches
Of education, he has shown practical
capacity for government that has been
q match for the most finished diplo-
raacy and statccraft. For the conser-
vation Of the interests of the mining
class, almost entirely English, he III
tluenced the volksraad TO establish a
second chamber, to which they could
send their Representatives. This cham
her legislates In the interest of the
English class and for the local inter-
ests OF the country, the volksraad
holding the right of veto over It's pro-
ceediugs.