Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-07-13

! the southern extremity OF Africa, was
first settled long ago by the Dutch. 1t
passed to England by conquest, much
to the dissatisfaction Of the Dutch set
tiers, many of whom withdrew to the
northward and founded the province
of Natal. This in turn was taken by
the British, and the Dutch, still deter
mined not to yield submission, but I'M
able to defend their territory, once
more "trekked" far to the nOrthward,
through wilderness and desert, until
they reached an inhabitable section.
They drove ont the natives and again
founded a republic. far enough from
the hated British. as they supposed, to
insure their permanent independence.
This republic is known as the Trans
yaal Republic and Paul Kruger is its
president. The Orange Free State is
a kindred republic near at hand, whose
population is also mostly Dutch, and
which is allied with the Transvaal to
resist British encroachment.
From their fancied security, the
Beers. as the Dutch settlers are called,
were reused by the British again
knocking at their doors. After
fierce resistance the invaders once
more triumphed and the Transvaal
was annexed to the other British col
onies to the southwark. But this time,
instead of emigrating, most OF the
Beers remained and bided their time |
The British had not long been in oc-
cupancy when an instruction broke /.
out and the British troops were speedi- F.
ly run out of the Transyaal. Return /
ing in force. they suffered one Of the /.
most serious defeats in all British his
tory at Majuba Hill, their column be |.
ing practically destroyed by the sturdy /
Beers, whose unerring craftsmanship /
moved down the invaders, with little /
loss to themselves. For the second .
time in her history, (our own was the /
first instance), Great Britain was
obliged to relinquish a colony she had .
once conquered. She unwillingly re-
cognized the independence of the
Transyaal Republic, except as TO its
foreign relations, which she still claims
to regulate. though it amounts to
Ever since her ignoble eX-
pulsion, England has sought opportu-
nifty to retrieve herself and again place
her heel on the neck Of the Boer. The
latter has been on his guard, too, and
the Transvaal has perfected a military
system that may make England no
end OF trouble.
Fate seems to decree that the poor
Beers shall never enjoy immunity.
Gold was discovered in immense
quantities in their new territory. Where
gold is, thither flock the worlds ad-
and notable among them are
the British. These poured into the
Rand gold district by thousands and
with them came Americans, French,
Germans and others, but the English
largely predominated. 1t was soon
apparent that trouble was i'm store for
The Boer republic. The natives looked
with jealousy and suspicion on the
gold seekers and the latter had moth
NO but hatred and contempt for the
Beers, who are mostly farm
,rs and herdsmen. The status of the
new corners became living and seri-
,us problem. They assembled in
great numbers in the Rand district !
md built the thriving city of johann
now the largest and richest
,ity in the republic. The Boer govern {
nent has laid a heavy burden of taxa l
ion on the Uitlanders, as they are {
allied, and by depriving them of the
light of suffrage until they had been J
many years residents, has kept them /
rom representation in the Republic or t
aving any voice in the expenditure
f the money wrung from them in :
axes, most OF which has gone to the a
evelOpment of the Boer army. b
This is the Uitlander view. The 0
ioers, on the contrary, do not mean :
hat the freedom and independence e
rhieh they gained with their blood
hall be taken from them in the indi- :
ect way Of peaceful conquest by the (
islanders. They foresee that it is
My a question of a short time when
hey will be largely outnumbered BY
he cold seekers and if suffrage is
ranted to all who come, with repre- !
accordingly, they win be in I
he minority and their beloved repub-
C viii pass into the hands of the
ated British and probably become a
ritish province. In view Of all that
as happened, who can blame them
'bais. ,+ia,,- l. fbat Tho T~ftl.rIa.. 49,. !