The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-17
THE PECULIAR CONFLICT IN THE
GREATEST CONTINENT.

A Cape Town correspondent of the
London Times" says that in South At
RIGA it is all seething and unrest; that
from Zambesi to Cape Colony there is
an unhealthy tone, an irritation and ex-
pectancy of trouble that argues for i'll.
According TO this correspondent the
chief elements of society down in that
latitude are antagonistic to each other;
there is no unity, no harmony of
thought or action, but brooding envy
and suspicion rules over all.
This intelligent writer-but who may
not be therefore unprejudiced-adds.
and We make no apology for the length
of so interesting quotation:
The British settlers believe the pre-
posterously heavy arming of the Beers
means that they intend 10 assume the
offensive. The Transvaal suspects that
an attack is about to be made upon it.
The Beers, and especially their Presi-
dent. regard Mr.. Rhodes as their inn
placable enemy They believe that the
British people and British Governement
in heart support him. and they require
IlO pIESSlilS IL ODGN MI. hltuSCt AS-
Gently expressed injunction TO Prepare
for war;
The sister Dutch Republic of Orange
Free State would like to hold aloof from
any disturbances, but feels that this
may be impossible. 1t fears that, If the
Transvaal lost it's independence. its own
independence would soon go likewise.
SO the Free State joins with the Trans
vaal in its preparations for war,
Whatever tends toward a conflict be-
tween the Dutch and the British in the
republics tends to division in the Cape
Colony and Natal, with their white pop
ulation, half British and half Dutch;
and in the former colony especially
there is a marked racial feeling which
for some years yet must inevitably ex-
list The Cape Dutch sympathiZed with
the Uitlanders in their grievances, but
the supposed attack upon the independ-
ence of the Transvaal reused all their
national sympathy with men of their
own blood. and the feeling among per-
haps the majority OF them is that, il
any unprovoked attack were now made
they would have to join their compatri-
OTIS in a struggle against British inter-
ference.
Again dissension between the two
great divisions Of the white population
of South Africa necessarily tends to
cause unrest among the more numerous
black population held in subsection by
the whites. And the restless feeling en-
gendered among the natives by the di-
visions between the Dutch and English
has been increased by the appearance
of that terrible disease which is cutting
off the,one great source OF wealth to the
blacks. SO that on leaving Rhodesia
where. rebellion had only just beer
stamped out. at the first town in Cape
Colony l entered found the people has
tily rushing to arms in expectation OF
a native rising, and a punitive expedi-
ton is now acting against the chiefs
who rose in rebellion. Travelling on tC
East Griqualand 1 found similar scare
had occurred there also, and the farm
ers in several districts had collected to-
gether into lager. In Basatoland
found a crisis had only been averted bS
the tact and decision OF Mr.. Lagden
the Resident.
The tension just now is, therefore, or
all sides so great that any display OF
temper by either party would set South
Africa in a blaze. Each one IS asking
When is this state Of things TO end
How is that confidence again TO be re-
stored?"
Remembering that this comes from s
British writer, addressing the British
public through a semi-official paper
and that it was written prior to tn,
Boer edict withdrawing the application
of the immigration laws, to which th'
English people were so opposed, ant
which they made excuse for preparation
of war against the South African Re
public and the extract from the lettei
becomes very interesting. is invested
with very considerable Importance fol
all who wish 10 keep we'll Informed o
the activities Of civilization at the ex
tremity of the largest of the continents
of earth
From the correspondents idea of th'
situation, we gather that the two dom
mating white, races in South Afric'
pull at cross purposes. One is progress
sive in the fullest meaning of tina
word as understood in these days o
push and energetic action. The othe