The morning news., 1899-05-19
THE TROUBLE IN THE TRANsvAAL.

THE TROUBLE IN THE THANSh AAl4.
The trouble in the Transvaal which
seems likely to grow acute, is not new.
The Jameson raid was one effect Of the
same cause which is now threatening the
little South African republic with blood
shed, if not with extinction as an auto
nomous government. Al present Great
Britain claims only a limited suzerainty
over the republic. The Beers have self
government in the broadest sense, Great
Britain claiming jurisdiction only in the
matter of foreign relations. Ia is the
Boer system of self-government that has
been found Objectionable. That govern
ment is a closed corporation, into which
no new conner may enter and become
partner, no matter what his quahhca-
tions. When in 1881 Great Britain hand
ed the government over to the Beers,
she secured by treaty the right Of free
entry of British subjects into the Trans
vaal There were at that time large
number of British subjects in the coun-
try, and a larger number Of English speak
ing persons have gone there since. THESE
persons are called the Uitlanders, or out
landers They are foreigners to the
Beers, and the government prevents them
from ever being anything else. No mat
ter what their number, or their inteli-
gence, or their property interest, they are
not permitted to vote or 10 hold office,
or to have any voice whatever in the
management of public affairs. But they
may, and must, pay taxes; and it seems
they are taxed to the limit A recent
statement published in London showed
that the Uitlanders pay nine-tenths of the
total taxes of the republic. AT Johannes
burg the Uitanders form a large majority
of the population, but they are forced ta
submit to the rule of the minority be-
cause they are not citizens, and they can
not become citizens. The public schools
are supported by the Uitlanders, but they
have no control over them. When a UT
lander has a eese a law he is not tried
by jury of his peers. Dut by the burgh
ers, who are a hostile class. The Uit-
landers are denied the right of free speech
in their newspapers, and the right of as
sembly in public meetings. In short, ac-
oppression is simply unbearable by white
people. What they desire Is that they
shall have a fair showing, and that repre-
sentation shall accompany taxation
The Beers, on the other hand, say that
they have the right to conduct their own
government after their own fashion, and
that Is precisely what they are doing
that If the Uitanders do not like the gov
ernment, they need not stay; they did not
ask the foreigners to come, and would
not prevent them from going On more
than one occasion the Beers have proved
themselves good and brave fighters, and
they would no doubt fight well again
in defense of what they consider to be
their rights; but there isn't any room for
questioning what the outcome would be
if the British empire were to start IN to
discipline the little republic and induce
it TO change its mind respecting citizen
| ship and the rights of the majority of
| taxpayers. Dom Paurs plan of govern
ment seems to be dreadfully behind the
times. The modern enlightened, English
| speaking white man demands self-gov-
| ernment and he is not going to be salts
| fed until he gets it. 1t is not to be ex-
| pected, therefore, that there VIII be an
end of the trouble in the Transvaal until
the scheme of that government has been
so modified that the Ultlanders will bs
able to vote and hold office as well as
| pay taxes