The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-23

vernacular. Under the leadership of Pre-
torius the Natal Beers. reinforced by dis
contented Beers from Cape Colony, Went
west TO join their countrymen, who III
1887 had "trekked' to the regions OF the
Vaal and Orange rivers. There the Beers,
formerly scattered united in organizing a
new commonwealth, which they called the
Orange Free State The governor of Cape
Colony was again on hand with his claim
that Beers, as British subjects, must rec
ognze, wherever they settled in Africa,
British sovereignty and must maintain
British administration Again the argu-
ment of arms was resorted to. In the
awful slaughter at Bloemplaats the Beers
were vanquished, and they We're compelled
to recognize British sovereignty for the
Orange Free State.
This defeat caused great number of
the Beers to trek" again Led by Pre-
torIus. they crossed the Vaal river and
undaunted and sturdy, they created a
home for the fourth time since their orig
called their new settlement Transvaal, the
present South African republic.
In 1872 Thomas Burgers was elected
president of Transvaal and under his ad-
ministration the title OF South African
Republic was adopted. The successes OF
the English in continued wars with the
Kaffirs and the successful colonization
of Natal by English speaking immigrants
cut the South African republic of from the
Indian ocean, and President Burgers sought
European support, His attention was
naturally directed to Germany which had
just then defeated what was supposed to
be the greatest military nation of Europe
But England promptly notified President
Burgers tnat any approach to Germany
would result in the immediate and COM
plete subJugation of Transvaal
Burgers policy, however, warned Eng
land that the independence OF Transvaal
might be dangerous TO British interests
in South Africa. and steps were imme-
diately taken to prevent such independ-
ence. A protracted war between the South
African republic and the Kaffirs of swazi-
hand gave welcome cause for English in
tervention. Some of the English land
owners in Transvaal. the Uitanders were
induced TO petition England for annexa-
ton, an election was held in which the
English sympathizers OF johannesburg
Pretoria, Heidelberg and other consldera-
bic cities had almost the exclusive rom
troll, and April IL, 1877, Governor Shen-
stone declared the South African republic
annexed, and TO be part of Cape Colony.
rms blow struck the Beers so unex-
pectedly that they at first offered no re-
sistance. Soon, however the old courage
ana dogged opposition to England got the
upper hand, and the assessment of a direct
tax by the English was the signal for a
revolution, which started in November.
1881, 1rst as protest against levy made
upon personal property for nonpayment
OF the obnoxious tax. Upon the call m
arms by Paul Kruger 1000 armed Beers
assembled at Potchefstroom declared the
rehabilitation of the South African re-
public, and began the war of independence
winch ended August 4, 1881, in the treaty
Oh Pretoria, by which the British govern
sheht recognized the independence of the
sou.n african republic so far as the in
terhal administration is concerned hut
maintains suzerainty in regard TO rela-
lions between the republic and foreign
powers. This latter point was defined In
lssi 10 the effect that treaties which Tho
| south African republic wants to conn,udo
with foreign powers must first be suh-
| nltted for the approval OF the British gov
eminent.
During the same year a new war be-
tween the Beers of the South African ra-
public and England was narrowly ayertea
In Zulu Land, southeast OF TransyaaI a
war had broken out between several
hahir chiefs The Beers supported one
OF them, the famous Dinizulu. on condition
tnat in case of victory he should cede IN
me Beers territory bordering on the
inalan ocean Dinizulu was victorious and
hept ms agreement. whereupon the Beers
formed OF this part of Zulu Land senas
rate state, whinh they called Vryheid
Liberty The English objected, but hos
tiitles were ayerted by negotiations ar.
eofding to which England obtained the
seaeoast while The rest OF the new ter
republic.
scarcely had this difficulty been settled
Mnen new one arose. The Beers had
obtained from the chiefs OF the Zulu tr,has
N swat Land. east Of the South African