The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-01
A VOICE FROM
PRETORIA JAIL
John iays Hammond Writes
Senator John P. Jones,

CHICAGO, Jan. SL-A dispatch from
Washington says: 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 others
charged with sedition and high treason.
The circumstances are as follows.
THE HISTORY.
"The history of the Transvaal is that
of a small, unenhghtened, restrogressive
community. The government is narrow
oligarchy, with a bad Ineffective admin
tstration. The population, including many
prominent Americans, comprise more
than twice the number OF the governing
class. They are the wealthy producers cap
able OF ali industries, yet they bear nlne-
tenths OF the taxation. They feel them
selves alone, have no voice in affairs. are
excluded from franchise, have no NUM-
cipal government no participation for the
children for the pubic schools
They are oppressively taxed and badly
treated. The independence of the su
preme court IS cons lantly assalied by the
prevailed for years. All petitions for
redress of grievances and nStranceS
to the Boer legislature were treated with
soorn.
In December the leading citizens of
Johannesburg, including all me prominent
Americans, constituted a reform COM
miLtee TO obtain constitutional redress and
issued manifesto Of
THEIR DEMANDS,
having first hoisted the Transvaal flag
and sworn to MAINTAIN the integrity OF
the republic. mile agitatlng the ques-
tons conSutuuondlIy, the Jameson In
cldent occurred. 1t was quite disaSSo-
clated from the reform movement.
december 81 The government sent a
committee TO Johannesburg asking the
Pretoria. The deputaJion went and con-
ferred with the government. No under
Standing was arrived at.
The battle of Doornkoop was fought.
JAMS s Column surrendered and johann
nesburg people were asked TO lay down
their arms, which was was done on the
understanding from the government that
their demands would be faVorably con-
sidered, Which were made soleIy 10
PROTECT THE LIVES
of our women. children and property
The government agreed to this.
Inc demands OIL the government were
carried out Without any demonstration OF
violence on our part. Nevertheless, many
prominent Americans and Others. numDeF-
ing SKY, were arrested and prosecuted
Tor sediLion and treason under penahues
involving Imprisonment and confscation
of property valued at millions sterling.
The detention of all The prisoners is
unjust. fla ole and the confScatlon of prop
erly a monStrouS oppression. Ask our
government to urge on the Transvaal
government that the demands of the re
form coInmlJIele were reasonable land
based on primary principles of the re-
puphc.
PROTEST MADE.
Protest against the treatment of all.
and of the Americans in particular was
made. Ii the IransvaaI government per-
SISLS in It's present course our government
can only invoke the aid OF Great Brbta.n
as paramount South African power to
coerce the TransVaal, which then for
felts the moral support OF sister re
| puDnC. This course the Transvaal would
| fear.
First, urge the reasonableness of our
claims, then warn the Transvaal govern
ment of the consequences of the loss Of
support ana invoking aid of Great Britain,
wn.cn is much dlsIIked by the IrAnsVaAl
! government