Washington sentinel., 1899-11-18

The True OOn nditiOn in south Africa
We find the following interesting
communication from a Canadian
resident at Durham, in the Toronto
Citizen and Country. 1t throws
needed light on a much vexed
question:: at is difficult for per-
sons living now in Canada to
realize the state Of public affairs in
South Africa; and concerning the
action Of the Dominion Parliament
in expressing approval Of Cham
berlain's demands upon the Trans
vaal, in my opinion Canadians may
yet have cause for regret. There
are ominous gTumblings among
the Cape Colonists OF liberal ten
denotes against the aggressive atti-
tude OF the Imperial Government
that are sure 20 burst forth into
open hostility il persisted in, for it
is the conviction ofall disinterested
colonists that tine Boer is the VIC
tim of a foul conspiracy. They
would have made the most loyal
OF British subjects il they had been
treated as England treated Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. The
wealth of the Boer has been too
great a temptation Tor the gold
field exploiters. ! have just come
in from Natal, where l find the
same feeling Of unrest exists, and a
good deal of hostility IS expressed
regarding Mr.. Chamberlain. Pre-
mier Schreiner, than whom there
is no more sincere Britisher, has
the majority OF the people OF the
Cape at his back, but has the op.
position OF military officialdom.
which is represented by Sir Alfred
Miner. Depend upon it, the task
OF bending the will of the Boer to
the wishes of unscrupulous capi-
talists, even though it Is backed up
with the full force Of British power,
will be no easy one, If, indeed, it
does not utterly fail in the attempt,
because 1t has not a shadow of
justice on its side. 1t does not
deserve to succeed.
"In the meantime the country is
on the verge of a financial crisis.
/ attribute the whole evil 10 the
Vaccinations and intriguing of the
South African Company, whose
stock is largely held by the aris-
tocracy and influential capitalists
of Europe, who are endeavoring to
call to their aid the resources OF
the British Empire. Could any
thing be more infamous than thisP
The South African Company, at
the head of which is Cecil Rhodes,
owns thousands oi square miles OF
country under the same kind OF
title as the old Hudson Bay Com
pany held the land Of the Canadian
Northwest. This is the disturbing
element in South African politics
today. The South African Char
tered Company have no assets, and
they covet the Transvaal gold
fields, which would enhance the
value oftheir shares and enrich the
holders OF its stock. The talk about
the oppressive laws Of the Trans
vaal is kept up by those interested
in ousting the Beers from their
possessions. The royalty exacted
by the Beers on gold taken from
the mines is 2H per cent, while ir
Rhodesia il is 10 per cent. (Ir
Alaska and Yukon tis 10 per cent,
The dynamite monopoly, which
mas been represented as so oppres'
sive, is not so bad as the dynamite
monopoly OF Rhodesia.
The stockholders OF the South
African Chartered Company are
the chief conspirators and the cap
italists OF England and Germany
are interested as owners of stock
Dividends have been promised tc
be forthcoming 10 avert impending
financial loss 90 the stockholders
Attempts Of various kinds hav,
been made to get control Of tn,
mineral resources Of the Ira nsvaa
by the South African Chartere,
Company from time TO time; whel
one plan failed another was tried
There was the agitation for the ful
franchise without foregoing allie
glance Of Britain a few years age
and it failed, because the maiorit,