Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-25


for the independence OF their so-called
republic. But is the cause of the Beers
deserving of sympathy from the Amer
lean point Of view? A few plain facts
will enable YOU to judge.
The question is often asked why the
CTitlanders went to the Transvaal if the
laws were unsatisfactory. The answer
Is that they were invited to go there by
the Boer government, and that when
they immigrated the existing laws We're
very favorable to the Uitlanders. 1t
| was only after their capital and labor
had rescued the Transvaal from i'm
mincnt bankruptcy that the liberal laws
were superseded by the present adverse
laws.
I'm the meanwhile millions of foreign
capital had been invested in the purchase
Of Boer farms, at that time of little
value. The status of the Iitlandeis
.oday is this: They own one-half of
the land and nine tent MS of the property
Of the country.
They greatly outnumber the Beers.
out nevertheless are debarred from OBJ
tanning the franchise. The franchise
law as it stands requires the applicant
for the franchise in advance to renounG4
allegiance to all other countries, after
which he is under a term of probation
for Il years. during which time be is
liable to military service in case of war
At the end of ii years he may obtain the
franchise, provided he secures in writ
ing the consent Of a majority of the
Boers in the ward in which he resides,
and provided that the Bocr president
and executive council do not object
The uitlanders pay nine-tenths Of
all the taxes. and have absolutely no
voice in the expenditure of the money,
and must submit to the most tlagrant
misappropriations of the bulk of the rev.
.nue. which is extracted from them by
4 most ingenious system of class legisla-
ton.
THE laws to which the Uitlanders es-
oecialiy object are: First, that de-
priving the high court of the country of
the right to test the validity of parlia"
mentary legislation. Indeed laws pro-
nounced by the high court to be at
variance with the constitution Of the
country have been enforced by the pres
!dent and executive council In some
Instances laws of a retroactive nature
have been passed and enforced
Second, the law empowering the pres
ldent to remove judges without trial.
The chief justice Of the Transvaal was
removed BY President Kruger on account
of a decision against the dictates of the
president.
Third. the power given to the pres
ident and executive council to Danish
70 a T.
erty for political offense without trial.
Fourth. the right of Transvaal po-
liceman to suppress a public meeting
when i'm his Judgment the Language used
S in criticism of the TranSyaal govern
ment.
Fifth, the law denying what is re-
garded in Il true republic as the grand
bulwark of its liberties-the right Of
rial by ones peers. In the Transraal
he Boer alone can sit on the jury. The
court records show that under these
conditions very few Beers are convicted
while, on the contrary. but few Uitland-
.rs are acquitted.
THE Uitlanders have many more
grievances attributable to corrupt ad-
ministration. The justice of the econ
emic grievances has been admitted by a
commission composed of Boer officials
which has investigated this subject
Notwithstanding their report. which
iustifies the allegations of the Citland-
.rs. no redress has been obtained from
the government.
so much for the reform cause which
vas unfortunately set back by the pre-
,ipitate action of DIR. Jameson in 1895
There is no doubt that the Boer govern
ment. intimidated as it was nj that time
=, by the belief that Johannesburg was
Croker Came to the Rescue.
New York. Nov. 25.-The mission Of
Sessrs. Talon and Redmond To this
country i'm the interest OF preserving the
Parnell homestead has been successful
Thomas +. Smith, private secretary to
Richard Croker. last night presented the
lord mayor. in the name of Tammany
hall. with a certified check for E30OO TO
save the Parnell homestead. This was
..5OOO in excess of the aEoun; Ifeeded
In accepting the check Mr.. Talon said
that Mr., Croker had saved the Parnell
estate. and that his name will be re-
membered as long as the Irish race sur.
wives.