The record-union., 1896-01-31

WASHINGTON, Jan Ex-senator
John p. Jones has received the following
message from John Hays Hammond,
who is in jail at Pretoria, South Africa:
I was arrested, with sixty-four 9TH
efs, charged with sedition and high
treason. The circumstances are as fol-
lows: The history of the Transvaal is
that of a small, unenlightened, retro
gressive community. The Government
is narrow oligarchy, with bad, in
efficient administration. Monstrous mo-
nopolies and corruption are rampant.
The new population, 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 af-
fairs, are excluded from franchise,
have no municipal government, no par
ticipation for the children in the public
schools
"They are oppressively taxed and
badly treated. The independence of the
Supreme Court is constantly assailed
by the Legislature This condition of
affairs has prevailed for years All pc
titions for redress Of grievances and re-
monstrances to the Boer Legislature
were treated with scorn.
TN December the leading citizens of
johannesburg, including all the promi-
nent Americans, constituted a Reform
Committee to obtain constitutional re-
dress, and issued a manifesto of their
demands, having first hoisted the
Transvaal flag and sworn to maintain
the integrity of the republic While
agitating the questions constitutionally
the Jameson incident occurred. 1t was
quite disassociated from the reform
movement.
December 31st the Government sent
a committee to johannesburg, asking
the, Reform Committee to send a depu-
tation to Pretoria. The deputation went
and conferred with the Government.
No understanding was arrived at
1.-THE battle of Doornkop was fought,
Jameson's column surrendered and Jo-
hannesburg people were asked to lay
down their arms, which was done, on
understanding from the Gov ernment
that their demands would be favora-
bly, considered, which was made solely
to protect the lives of our women,
C4t1l0ICll anu DlOpG1 lC C1ONC1Al-
ment agreed to all this.
THE demands of the Government
were carried out without any demon
stration of violence on our part. New
ertheless. many prominent Americans
and others, numbering sixty were ar
rested and prosecuted for sedition and
treason, under penalties involving inn
prisonment and confiscation of prop
erty valued at millions sterling
."Fhe detention of all the prisoners is
unjustifiable, and the confiscation of
property a monstrous oppression. Ask
our Government to urge on the Trans
vaal Government that the demands of
the Reform Government Committee
were reasonable, and based on primary
principles. of the republic.
Protest against the treatment of all,
and of the Americans in particular. If
the Transvaal Government persists in
its present course, our Government can
only invoke the aid of Great Britain as
the paramount South African Power to
coerce the Transvaal, which then for
feits the moral support of sister re-
public. This course the TransvaaI
would Aar.
First urge the reasona bleness of our
claims, then warn the Transvaal Gov
ernnent of the consequences of the loss
of support and the invoking of aid of
Great Britain, which is much disliked
by the Transvaa1 Government"