The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-09

ser for the first time directly denies
Great Britain's clam of suzerainty.
Then, by accepting the proposal Of a
conference, he thinks to put the british
government in the wrong II 1t should
now refuse To confer. on the other hand
IT Great Britain shall enter into q con-
ference under the circumstances she
Will tacitly recognize the Transvaal as
a complete and unabridged sovereignty
absolutely her equal. and independent.
In fact. "Oom Paul" has adroitly mar
rowed the issue down to this one uues-
tion, and has made it equally embar-
RAISING for the British government to
accede to or to reject his latest pro-
posal.
The demands of the Outlander ele-
ment, which England indorses and
makes the basis of her present atti-
tude, are indicated in the following
facts: In 1881 the franchise was OBJ
tainable in the Transvaal after one
years residence. A treaty with Eng
land signed in the same year, guaran-
teed equality of treatment for all
whites. Then came the gold discov-
cries, the inpouring of foreigners and
the Beers made a new franchise law
requiring of the Outlanders fourteen
years residence, the consent of two
thirds of the Boer voters and the ap-
proval of the government. This law
was enforced by the Beers until within
two months ago. Under recent pres
sure the Beers have offered to make
the residence period five years and to
enfranchise one-third of the Outland-
ers; but as the Outlanders number
three-fifths of the population and pay
nineteen-twentieths Of the taxes this
proposition, they contend, does not
concede enough.
There are other grievances, apart
from the franchise; the outlook sum-
marizes them thus: The Outlanders
also ask (2) such a redistribution Of
seats for the gold-felds in the volks-
raad (or Transvaal parlamenD ash will
give to them a proper representation
At present there is none at all. The
Transvaal now offers one-fifth, but the
Outlanders representing three-ffths of
the population, demand a larger rep
resentation than one-fifth.
go The next demand is that for a
constitution safeguarded from sudden
changes. At present an ordinary reso-
luton of the volksraad may change the
existing constitution.
ca A fourth demand is that the heads
of the government shall be responsible
to the volksraad.
(5) A fifth demand is that for inde-
pendence of the courts. At present, il
a judge does not respect any chance
vote of the volksraad, he is dismissed
from office. The chief justice was so
dismissed
90 Cancellation Of monopolies consti-
tutes the next demand. There has been
much oppression from the railway,
| liquor, match, brush, and soap monopo-
| lies, and, above all, from that on
| dynamite. as mining is the great Out
lander industry. In Cape Colony dyna-
mite is imported at a profit for sixteen
| dollars a case; in the Transvaal it costs
twenty-five dollars to the mine-owner
| ca The Outlanders also ask that the
English language shall be put upon the
! same plane of equality with the Dutch
| Nine-tenths of the Transvaal's business
| is transacted in English, yet the offic-
ial tongue is Dutch.
(S) The eighth demand contemplates
| the removal of religious disabilities.
Other demands are (9) for a reOrgan-
izatiOn of the present corrupt civil SER
vice; 0O) for an untrammeled press
| Q1) for educational reform, and 02l
for free trade in South African pro.
| ducts.
The nub of the contention, however
is whether England has the right tc
demand that the Transvaal shall in.
stitute internal reforms. The English
claim in the affirmative is based upor
an Interpretation of treaty provisions
which makes out that the Transvaa
has violated the pledge of equal treat
ment for whites; and upon the broad
right of England to protect her sub
jects anywhere against injustice. L
would seem from the foregoing state
ments of fact that England has quite
as much right to intervene in the
Transvaal as the United States had tC
intervene in Cuba-peaceably, if pos
sible; forcibly, if necessary.