The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-13

Points Of Interest About the South
African Republic,
The Irrepressible Conflict Be
tween Boer and Briton.

including the recently annexed terri
tory known a. the "Now Republic,
fragment Of tho old Kingdom OF Zulu
land, had in 1888 a total superficial Of
about 1l6, 900 square miles, with
population yariously estimated at from
800, 900 to $50, 900. As regards the
number Of natives no accurate returns
has been made except in the southern
districts, near the capital. II pos
seased until quite recently altar. smaller
number Of white settlers The dis
parity is rapidly disappearing since
immigrants have begun to flock in
crowds TO the newly discovered gold
fields
Tho white population, formerly al
most lost amid the surrounding abo-
rhymes, already constitute arespectable
minority. Along more than half Of
its periphery the Transvaal enjoys the
advantage OF natural geographical
frontiers. The Transyaal is divided
into three more or less distinct physi-
cal regions. These are the Hooge
Weld, the Bankin Weld, and the Bosch
Weld.
The foundations of this Dutch State
were laid under great difficulties. In
1887, when the first trekkers crossed
the Vaal, and settled in the part of
the territory where now stands the
town of Potchefiroom, they came into
collision with the terrible chief OF the
Matebeles, one of the most Formidable
Zulu warriors, who were at that time
''eating mp" peoples of Austral Africa.
Most of the Dutch pioneers were ex-
terminated, but the survivors sue
cseded in holding their ground, and
eventually driving the fierce Matabele
warriors beyond the Limpopo. In
1949, after the battle of Boomplaats,
which for a time extinguished the
political independence of the Orange
Free State, numerous fugitives from
that region sought refuge with their
kinsman beyond the VaaL Then in
reply to the English, who had set a
price of $40, 600 on the leader, Preto-
RUS, that sturdy Boer was elected
president of the new republic. Four
years later in 1852, the independence
of the Transvaal was recognized by
the British Government
The everlasting wars between the
Dutch and the natives was accom-
panied by atrocious massacres and
wholesale determination. Every adj
vance made by the white intruders
was marked by trail of blood. Thus
the dominant British power never
lacked pretexts, and occasionally ur-
gent reasons of state policy and hui
mainly, to intervene and arbitrate be-
tween the hostile parties. The dis
covery of the gold fields, reverses in
the field and bankruptcy and a heavy
British emigration followed. Then
10 1877, British Commissioner, at
tended by handful of armed men,
made his appearance at Pretoria, the
capital, and issued a proclamation
suppressing the republic and formally
annexing Transvaal to the colonial
possessions of Great Britain. No OPP
position was offered by the Beers.
There was discomfort, which came to
q head when the English took uniudi-
cious measures. War followed and
the British were driven out of the
state. When the British were ready
to crush the Beers the Gladstone
Ministry sent dispatch that the Beers
had been wronged and that peace was
to be concluded without further blood
shed. The Transvaal Republic re-
sumed its political autonomy, although
accepting the nominal suzerainty o.
Great Britain.
The Beers are less polished in the
Transvaal than the Orange Free State
Their English visitors often describe
them as Barbarians. OF all South
Africa lands the Transvaal is mos
sbundantly supplied with all kinds o
natural wealth.
The whole of the Transvaal is gold
bearing. The whites alone are priv
legged to acquire possession of tn
mines. The natives can not ever re
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