New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-14
4 RFAS0y4BLE BRITISH DEMAND.

Tho outcome of the recent British Cabinet
Council is now disclosed. and is seen to be or
a character gratifying 10 lovers of justice ana
auspicjous 10 those who hope for peace The
message TO the Transyaal has been. though not
properly, described as an ultimatum. 1t "ouiu
moi have been strange had an utimatum been
uttered. for the controversy has bee. dragging
an q weary while and causing inestimable loss
and hardshipS to innocent people ana even i"
utimatum may confirm peace as well as pro
woke war. II may establish justice as well as
accomplish oppression.
The demand is for five years FRANCHISE WIFI
EQUALITY for all voters in all elections. Increased
representation for the Rand districts ana con
ference between the two Governments for draft
ing the acts in question. That is all All other
questions are laid aside or left in statu quo
Now. the five wears franchise is precisely wha'
tho Transvaal Government offered to grant, less
than month ago. and is indeed what was a'-
1ually granted by it prior 10 1870 True the
offer Of August 10 and u was made expressly
conditional" on Great BritainS Remuneration oi
s,lzerainty. And Great Britain now refuses
such remuneration But as our Lonuon cor
RESPONDENT informed us in Tuesdays tribune
tho Transvaal Government has since waived
that condition. In that case there should De
no hesitation at Pretoria in fulfilling the o1er
of last month and in restoring the conditions Of
zen wears ago The second point Is Increased
representation for the Rand. The 1ransvaal
offered last month TO increase it to one-hith
Of the whole The present British demand IS
for the same increase. That is taking the Beers
nj their own word. Surely il should not be
deemed extortionate. seeing that the Rand dis
tricts in question comprise three-ifths OF the
white population Of the Transvaal. One-hfth
Of the representatives for threeffths Of the PEG
ple ought 10 be granted without demur. Finally
there is the matter of the conference. 1t does
not seem unreasonable that, as these laws are
10 be enacted for the satisfaction Of British de
msnds the British Government should have
this means of assurance that they are salts
iactorily framed. And this demand IS nad'
with the more reason. seeing that the las' drat'
of a Transvaal franchise law was so "pscurel
drawn that nobody could tell just what il
meant. and that the Transvaals last note ''
Great Britain was likewise 50 bllndly Worden a.
10 convey exactly the opposite impression t'
that which was intended
In brief. the whole proposal appears 70 Dc
reasonable and just, and 10 be- moreover, sucl
as the Pretoria Government has already moran!
bound itself to accept Nor is the inllmauoi
that its immediate acceptance IS expected Il
be regarded as unreasonable The propose
/ contains nothing new, nothing that has not beer
long under consideration. The Beers are a
competent to pass upon it to-day as they woul'
be A wear hence. 1t is true. as we said th
other day. that State should not be hurried
into signing what is virtually the death war
rant Of its own Independence Yet it Is equally
true that every days delay means vast materla
losses and social and political decentralization; Il
view of which fact it VIII he advantageous
for all concerned 10 bring the matter to
speedy settlement.