The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-31
FROM HAMMOND.
A Full Clear and Suceinct Explanation
of the South African Situation.

Full Clear and Suceinct Explanation
of the South African Situation.
CHICAGO, Jan. 3L-A despatch from
Washington says:
SENATOR John P. Jones has received
the following message from John Hays
Hammond. who is in jail at Pretoria,
South Africa:
81 was arrested with GA others charged
with sedition and high treason. The cir
cumstances are as follows: The history
of the Transvaal is that of small, unen-
lightened retrogressive community.
The government is narrow
ol:garchy, with a bad ine f8E
population, including many prominent
Americana, comprises more than twice
the number of the governing class. Ihey
are the wealth producers, capable OF all
industries, yet they bear nineteen of
the taxation. They feel themselves
alone, have no voice in affairs, are ex-
cluded from franchise, have no munich
pal government, no participation for the
children in the public schools.
"They are oppressively taxed and badly
treated. The Independence OF the su-
preme court is constantly assaulted by the
legislature This condition of affairs has
prevailed for years. All petitions for re-
Dire SIS of grievances and remonstrances
to the Boer legislature were treated with
scorn.
sin December the leading citizens of
johannesburg, including all the promi-
nent Americans. constituted a reform
| committee to obtain constitutional re-
| dress and issued manifesto of their de-
| mands, having first hoisted the Iransvaai
dag, and swore to maintain the integrity
| of the republic. While agitating the
questions constitutionally the Jameson
! incident occurred. 1t was quite disasso-
! III "a rafarpn
December 81, the government sent a
| committee to Johannesburg asking the
reform committee to send a deputation
to Pretoria The deputatioR went and
conferred with the government. No un-
Outstanding was arrived at
1.-THE battle of Doornkop was fought,
Jameson's column surrendered and
Johannesburg people were asked to lay
down their arms, which was done on the
understanding from the government thai
their demands would be favorably con-
| sidered, which were made solely to pro-
tect tho lives of our women, children,
and property. The government agreed
| to this.
"There was no demonstration of VIC
| lence on our part Nevertheless, many
| prominent Americans and others num-
boring sixty were arrested and prose-
cuted for sedition aud treason, under
penalties involving imprisonment and
contiscation of property valued at nail
| lions of sterling.
"The detention of all the prisoners il
unjustifiable and the confiscation of prop
erty a monstrous oppression. Ask oul
| government to urge on the Transvaa
government that the demands of the re
| form government committee were rea
sonable and based on the primary prin.
ciples of the Republic.
Protest against the treatment of all
and of the Americans in particular. /
the Transvaal government persists il
its present course, our govern
ment can only invoke the ale
of Great Britain as paramount tt
South African power to coerce the Trans
vaal, which therefore forfeits the mora
support of sister republic. This cours'
the Traasvaal would fear.
"First-Urge the reasonableness o
our claims; then warn the Transvaa
government of the consequences of tn
loss of support and invoking aid O
Great Britain, which is much dislike
by the Transvaal government"
Kidnapped.
The attraction at Crawford's oper
house next week will be Creig's Coined;
ans, opening Monday night in skid
mapped" interspersed with clever spec
alties. The feature of these perform
ancss will be the Introduction of hig
class specialties between the acts b
special artists carried for that purposs
making really two shows in one. o
Monday evening any lady accompanie
by person holding a paid thirty Ger
ticket, will be admitted Free The eS
gagement will continue during the wac
with Saturday matinee.
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