Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-12-22
SIDES With ENGLISH
w. H. Gold of Valley City, Former
Resident Of the Transvaal, Tells Of
Beers and English.
Inclined to the Side of the Latter and
Thinks the Cause of the English
is Just.
Some Incidents Cited to Show the Dis
position and Character of the
Beers in Power.

w. II. Gold of valley City, a former
resident of the Transvaal, furnishes an
interesting communication to the
Times-lsccord with regard to the rela-
tive merits of the causes Of the Eng
lish and the Beers. He says:
The writer has spent between four
and five years throughout the country
and should have Il pretty good idea Of
the situation. l don't think l an
biased in my feelings and l trust |
shall not be considered so: but it is
impossible for a foreigner to live in the
country for any -engtu Of time and not
find himself the subject of oppression
to an almost unbearable degree. Yet
he dares not complain or hold up a
finger in his W behalf lest worse be-
falls him. Should any trouble arise
between himsen and IL Boer, no matter
Oh how unpleasant Il nature, there is
no redress for him; it is grin and bear
it, no matter how great the insult. Any
attempt on his part to gain reprisal
will only pace him in a far worse po-
sitlon, and he may consider himself
lucky if he escapes even with his life.
You are not allowed to protect your
self with weapons of any kind, vet
every Boer is armed to the teeth, and
there are none who delight more in the
use OF their weapons. Many Il for
elgner during late years has been shot
III cold blood on account of some trivial
quarrel. and that is about the last that
is heard of it. 1t is but Il short time
ago since the papers of this country
gave you an accOunt Of the shooting
down in the streets of Johannesburg
OF II ~Edgar-shot in cold blood on
one of the principal streets in the first
city of the country. His murderer
was arrested, but in Il day or so was
set free, the courts having declared
that he had committed no crime
against the state-he had only shot a
uitlander. This is not an isolated
case. but it is all it VIII he necessary
10 speak OF here, many of YOU having
heard OF these horrible facts before. |
am mentioning these incidents merely
to show how unbearable things had be-
come there. And any who read this,
who have spent any time in the coun-
try, Will verify my statements. No
matter Wha your grievance may be.
or now strong your case, it is useless
10 take your case to a court of Gus
tlce,' for they are such in name only.
Here is Il case where al employee of
II of the large mining companies,
holding a position of trust, had stolen
Il large amount of gold. The golden
metal was found in his possession. and
ne confessed all to his employers. But
when the case came into court, his
counsel pleaded not guilty, and to the
surprise of all. after Il few minutes
(DnSllIfGfiNn hofv-nnn i,,1<.D .-1 o-...
sci. the case was dismissed with costs.
His accusers were a British concern
Ills is Il sample of justice as admin
lstered there. 1t is a case of which,
ever side is able to pay the costs being
made to pay them, regardless of the
merits of the case.
~ few years ago. before the advent
OF the uitlander in the Transvaal. the
boer government was Il pauper gov
eminent. The officials had not been
paid for years more than the most
mcagre portion of their salaries: they
We're. II and all, from the president
down to the meanes Boer. in a state
bordering on destitution. Within a
few short years, President Kruger is
reputed to be worth EDS 600, 600, and
most OF his officials to he millionaires.
Yet not one penny have they expended
towards the development Of their
country.
The hatred which existed in this
country between the north and south.
during the years Of the civil war. was
AKIN TO o in comparison to that en-
tertained by the T%ransvaal Bocr
towards the British, and this hatred
has existed ever since England COM
PEELED the adjustment of the slave
trade in South Africa. Yet, even to-
Jay, While they dare not openly prac-
tlce slavery, their servants, Kaffirs.
iottentots and Bushmen) are held in
Il slavery that would bring the blush
OF shame to the cheek of a Legree. I
can understand it as one of the easiest
things in the world. to live ten or
twelve thousand miles away and SYM
patllize with those people. not knowing
really anything of the conditions ;s
they now actually exist, but to be a
resident among them for ever so short
a time and love them would be, | think.
impossible.
AS a people they are ignorant, big
oted and selfish; less than ) per cent
OF them will allow their children n
education. and it is Il rare exception
to find one who can write his own
name. Nor is a foreigner allowed
the privilege Of educating his children
in his W language.
While the list Of grievances is long
and varied. have mentioned only a
few of those which has led up to the
present struggle. The franchise, of
which we have heard so much, being
a factor in the case only inasmuch, as,
had the uitlanders been able to get it
they would have been able then to Sc
cure their rights. Or something akin
to them, without the use Of shot and
shell, and this was undoubtedly earn
estly sought after. But it seemed to
matter little how long a man lived in
the country. or how good a citizen he
had been, there would always be some
excuse given as a reason why he
should not be given a franchise.
have never been able to find a foreigner
who had succeeded in securing citi-
zenship. Imagine johannesburg, a
city of about 125, 900 inhabitants, with
only 200 voters in either municipal or
federal affairs.