The Irish standard., 1899-09-16
THE BR1roNs AND THE BoERs.

The Chicago Tribune of last Sunda,
contained an editorial on the Transyaa
question which shows English AFRO.
gance and duplicity in clear and i'm.
partial manner. We are surprised tina,
such an article appeared in the Anglo.
American organ OF the Windy City, and
as it is in agreement with Our views we
give it the benefit of our circulation
throughout the Northwest. The fol-
lowing is what the Tribune says:
English interference in Transvaal at.
fairs would be justi6able if English sub.
jects domiciled there were barbarously
ill-treated. They have not been. As
President Kruger says, Everybody
knows that here British subjects are
better off than in their own country
They form the most prosperous part o.
the inhabitants OF the republic" Eng.
land would have legal right to make
suggestions as to the internal affairs oil
the Transvaal if it were the suzeraiu
and the latter only dependent, semi
independent power.
But there is no suzerainty. The con-
vention of 1881, which restored to the
Beers their independence, reserved in
the preamble to Great Britain the right
to tender friendly counsels" to the
government of the republic in regard
to its internal affairs. OF course no
absolutely independent nation will re-
ceive such advice from any foreign gov
eminent. But when the revised con-
vention OF 1884 was drafted every phase
savoring of claim to suzerainty as re-
garded internal affairs was omitted by
Lord Derby at the urgent request of the
Beers, who felt more deeply about that
point than any other. As President
Kruger says: TT has been conclusively
proved that England's suzerainty has
been abolished since the convention OF
1884. Lord Derby himself erased it
from the draft OF the convention which
was mutually accepted"
England did not give any advice 10
the Boer government concerning inter
nal affairs between 1881 and 1884. 1t
did not do so after 1884 until 1896, at
the time OF the Jameson raid, when
those lawless invaders had been cap
tured and it was feared they might be
executed. The claim of suzerainty
would not be resurrected now if it were
not for the belief of the mining experts
that the Rand will yield gold indefinite
ly. The English are determined to get
those mines under their jurisdiction.
England has no more right to advise
or order the Transvaal government to
enact naturalization act for the benefit
OF Englishmen than it has to amend the
laws of the United States on the same
subject. The only supervisory power
England has over the Transvaal con-
Germs the treaty-making power The
latter can make no treaty with any
country except the Orange Free State
or with any 81 the native tribes without
the consent OF England. That agree
ment-the anti-slavery clause included
the Beers never have violated, and
they have no intention of doing 20.
England has no legal right to extort
naturalization act from the Boer legis-
lature, even though that act were in
itself harmless or just. But the law
which England insists shall be enacted
is neither just nor harmless. 1t is an
other wooden horse, not stuffed with
armed Greeks, but with Englishmen
armed with the franchise, ready to de-
prive the Beers of their liberties. The
demand and the object have been stated
succinctly thus:
England demands that the South African
republic grant to outlanders naturalization
and the right to vote without forswearing
allegiance to their foreign governments. OF
course, after being naturalized, these out
landers will vote to become part Of the Brit
ish empire, and as they already outnumber
the Beers three to one the whole thing Is a
farce.
The English uitlanders are to become
burghers without ceasing to be Eng
lishmen. They are to owe dual allie
giance-a paramount allegiance to
Queen Victoria and secondary, subor-
dinate allegiance to the Transvaal re-
public. Wherever the interests of the
two clash they are to be English sub
jects. Where there is no clash they
will call themselves burghers as long as
it suits their convenience. AS these en-
franchised Englishmen will outnumber
the Beers they can elect one of their
number president and can elect major
ity OF the members of the Legislature.
They can annex the Transvaal to Great
Britain, and thus put an end to that
farce Of divided allegiance.
England is playing transparent
game. 1t is trying to secure the Trans
vaal by intimidation, under cover OF
claims OF suzerainty which it abandoned
fifteen years ago. If intimidation fails
England will be likely to resort to force.
The bullying civilian will step aside to
give place to the soldier. If England
does resort to that last argument and