The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-01
wmiHgso Make All safe Concessions

70 The titianderS.
London Feb. 1.-The Times this morning
has dispatch from Pretoria. containing a
iors interview With President Krueger. in
which he repeated that he had long consid-
cred how 70 meet the wishes of the Uit-
landers. The executive council held today
discussed an education scheme acceptable
70 them and against objections OF its men,
herS. He had refused 10 De influenced by
recent events, and il had been decided 10
submit his scheme to the volSsraed, and
also a scheme for local self government in
Johannesburg, lie could give no promise,
he said. on the question OF the franchise.
The government must discover which we're
the loyal element OF the Uitiander popula-
ton The franchise could not be given 10
every newcomer, for they arrived by thou
sands every year. and would soon swamp
the original population.
The Times rreSpondent adds: The in
terview left upon me the Impression that as
fas as possible without jsopardizing the in
ierests OF the hurghers President Kruger
is anxious to meet the wishes of the loyal
newcomers. Next Monday has been defl-
nltely fixed for the investigat ton OF the
charges against the political prisoners"
London, Jan. Sl-In view of the alarming
stores afioat regarding the situation at
Johannesburg. the secretary of state for
the colonies. Joseph Chamberlain, has CT
dered the British agent at Pretoria TO 20 TO
johannesburg and report the true situation
of affairs 10 the colonial oifice-
Washington City. Jan. Sl.-Senator j. p.
Joaes has received the following message
from John Hays Hammond, who is in ssil
at Pretoria, South Africa. II was ar
rested with sixty-four others. charged
with sedit,on and high treason. The cir
cumstances are as follows. The history
OF the Transvaal is that of a small, unen-
lightened, retrogressiye community. The
government Is narrow ol!garchy, with a
bad, inefficient administration. The popuia-
ton, including many prominent Americans,
comprises more than twice the number of
the governing class. They are the wealth
producers, capable of all industries, Yet
they bear nine-tenths OF the taxation. They
feel themselves alone, have no voice in at
fairs, are excluded from the franchise.
have no municipal government, no adNan-
tages for children in the public schools.
They are oppressively taxed and badly
treated. The independence of the supreme
court is constantly assailed by the .egis-
lature. This condition of affairs has pre-
vailed for years. All petitions FOR redress
OF grievances and remoastrances TO the
Boer legislature were treated with scorn.
In December the leading citizens OF JONAH
nesburg, including all the prominent Amer
leans. constituted a reform club, 10 obtain
constitutional redress, and issued mani
festo OF their demands, having first hoisted
the Transvaal flag and sworn 10 maintain
the integrity of the republic. While ag.-
tating the question: eonsututionaily the
Jameson incident occurred. Ii was quite
ASSOCIATED from the reform movemenL
on December 81 the government sent
Z committee TO johannesburg, asking the re-
form committee to send a deputation 10
Pretoria. The deputation went ana con-
ferrod with the government. NO under
standing was arrived at. The battle ef
Dornkop was fought, Jamesons column
surrendered, and the Johannesburg peo-
pie were asked to lay down their arms,
which was done. on an understanding with
the government that their demands would
be favorably considered. which were ma lie
solely to protect the lives of our women.
children and property. The government
agreed to this. The demands of The gov
ernment were carried out without any
demonstration of violence on our part
Nevertheless number Of prominent Amer
leans and others. 10 the number OF sixty
were arrested aud prosecuted for sedition
end treason under penalties lflvoIving ifn-
prisonment and contlscat.on of property
valued at millions OF pounds sterling Ine
detention of all the prisoners Is unJustifiii-
bic and the coniisc2ton monstfoas tp-
preston. Ask our government TO urge on
the Transvaal government that the de-
mands of the reform government commit
tee We're reasonable and based on the pfl-
mary principles of the republic. Protest
against the treatment of ALL and OF the
Americans In particular. II the Transvaai
government persists in Its present course.
our government can only invoke the aid or
Great Britain as the paramount south
African power to coerce the TransVaal,
which then forfeits the moral support or
a sister republic. This course the Trans
vaal would fear First urge the reason
ableness OF our claims; then warn the
Transyaal government OF the consequences
OF the loss OF support and invoke the AID
OF Great Britain, which Is much disliked by
the Transvaal government.