The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-07
rHE TRoUBLE ~ rR4NsyAi1.
II Is of Long Standing and Wa Precipi-
tated 10y the Discovery Of Geld.

The New York sun gives the following
history Of the South Africa troubles:
The trouble i'm the Transvaal is Of long
standing. and has become acute since
the rush of foreign aQVeutuTcrs. attracted
by tho discovery OF gold, began. The
BOcrs OF the VransVaal direct dcscen-
dants Of the original Dutch settlers and OF
French Hugucuots Who fed. 10 the Cape
OF Good Hope from the prosecutions or
Louis NN., have steadily refused 10 be-
come subjects OF England After the
cesslOn of the Cape TO Great Britain IA
1910, as they were not strong eno-gh
10 resist they decided to itaudOn their
old homes and seek new ones IN the
wilderness Taking what movables they
could with them, they travelled across ihe
Orange river ln lsp6, which was then
The British boundary. and established Int
ue cOmmonwealths beyond that river and
IN Natal
The English followed them up. driving
them out Of Natal in 1872 and defeating
those in the Orange Free state IN ISIS.
The Beers who would not submit again
cmigrated, this time beyond the Naali
establishing the Transvaal Republic, or
the South African Republic, a. IL Is now
called Fear of the attacks of the kaiiirs
and Hottentots led England 10 acknowl-
edge the independence of the Transvaal
49,. IS i''- ""' 0' ''' 1''7' : ''' ''''''' '''
In 1877. TO prevent close alliance be-
tween the Beers and Germany. England
seized on the BOer republics, leading 10
war that lasted four years. At MaJuba, IN
1881. The Beers inflicted a crushing de-
feat on the British regulars, when the
fear OF a general uprising of the Dutch
colonists and Of active Interference by
European powers, made England patch
up peace by which the inde9entence
OF the TWO republics in all internal mat
tiers was acknowledged. on their agree
ing TO leave the conduct Of these external
relations 10 Great Britain. This equitable
settlement of the dispute caused much
grumblng in England and great discon-
tent in the aggressive portion OF the
English settlers at the Cape, OF Wnom
Mr. Cecil Rhodes is now the head. IL
is this party that has pushed forward
the extension of British territory TO and
beyond the Zambesi. SO that the trans
Vaal Is shut in by British territory on
all sides save The east where Portugal
for the moment has been able 10 uphold
her rights 10 Delagoa bay and the dis
The Beers Of the Transvaal are natural
ly jealous of British immigration. By
their Constitution the Government Is in
the hands. OF g. President. elected for
five years. and Legislature OF two
houses each OF twenty-four members,
who must be PrOtestants and property
holders the upper house having veto
on the action Of the lower house There
are two classes Of burghers or citizens.
the first consisting Of whites who We're
resident in the republic before 1879. or
who fought IN the war OF independence,
and their children. the second OF natural
izcd aliens who have resided in The re-
public at least two years and have taken
the oath OF allegiance.
The hrst-class burghers alone can vote
for and are eligible as members OF the
upper house The secOud-class burghers
may Doe advanced 10 the first class after
twelve years Of residence. ill then they
com only vote for members Of the lower
house.
iucse restrictions have been extremely
irksOme 90 the crowd Of adventurers who
have rushed into the gold-bearlug dis
tricts and made johannesburg, which did
not exist nine years ago. town OF over
$4,000 white inhabitants For two wears
past these men have appealed 10 England
TO interfere. and now, 10 seems. have
taken matters into their own hands
Or. Jameson the leader OF the raid OF
johannesburg, was "a Scotch physician
pracuCine in The diamond district, who
was appOl,ted administrator of MashOna-
land bv Mr. Rhodes chartered company
when the attack upon 10 BeHgula and his
Aiatabcles was determined on two years
ago. During that campaign ne showed
great energy and ability as well as un-
scrupulousness. 10 is now known that
before the determination of his tribe 10
Benguia accepted the terms offered hy
the English and sent large sum Of
gold 10 the ncgOiatOrs. The troopers
were tried and convicted for taking The
gold and suppressing the King s. message
n
Imprisonment bat recently news came
that they had escaped from Jail in Eng
land 10 was strongly suspected that the
leaders were not ignorant OF the King
offer 10 submit. but after q show OF Nir-
fuOus Indignation the results were ac-
.eDtcd. and last year Or jameson was
made a Companion OF the Bath. and Mr..
Cecil Rhodes d Privy Councillor
Dr. jameson is generally believed 10 be
Nr Rhodes right-hand man. II is difl-
,ult TO believe that DE has acted without
bis chiefs connivance. objection was
made 10 the appointment OF Sir Hercules
Robinson as Governor Of the Cape. too.
lu the ground that ne had been con-
lected with Mr Rhodes speculative COM
0anies and was likely 20 De his tool
The President Of the South African
he rs Familiarity called. now serving his
third term Tie was one OF the leaders
u the war of independence one or the
legOtiatOrs sent 10 Europe who secured
-he Acknowledgement of the republic ana
a man OF character and ability The
BOers are hardy race Of farmers, Gear
less riders. dead shots, stubborn. and
brave as Dutchmen. and have shown
themselves 10 be- a match for Engli shmen
n the field, even against heavy odds
johannesburg the town on which Or.
Jameson IS marching is the centre Of the |
mining region S26.OnOO00 OF gold more
han a sixth OF the worlds yearly produc-
iOn. was sent out OF IL IN 1898 IL is
bout sixty miles south OF the capital |
Il the Transvaal Pretoria. with which |
[ is connected by railroad lts popula-
ion includes the larger part Of the for
IGN element in the republic with which |
Or. Jameson Wiil combine against the |
Government unless the Beers get ahead |
4 him