Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-10-06
CONDITION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

,rtt 3 p =
At present the little Dutch Republic
in South Africa, known as the Tran.
svaal, has sprung into prominence by
its controversy with England. A brief
review of the history of the: present
trouble may be of interest to some the
readers of the LEADER Long before
the period Of the American Revolution,
a band Of Dutch emigrated to the south
of Africa. Here they lived and pros
pered enjoying the luxuries which ma
lure had endowed that part of the
world. But here again the pathetic
story of Acadia was to be witnessed.
In 1906, Cape Colony. which was the
name given to this territory by its set
tiers, was captured by the English who
saw in this desirable corner of the
world over which to exercise authority.
In 1909, il was again secured by the
Dutch, bnt in 1906 wassubdued by the
British arms English ponp, haugti-
ness, and perverseness could not har-
monize with the virtuous, God-fearing
and domestic nature of the Dutchman
The Dutch, therefore, concluded to
leave the English in unmolested enjoy
ment Of the land and fought his way
further north and. east against the
black men, who were there years pre-
vious to the colonies. This emigration
began in 1886 and resulted in founding
The Dutch commonwealth in Natal
and Transvaal. Here the Dutch en-
joyed the quiet Of their homes for some
time unmolested. This little republic
has not been one of the powers Of the
world. but has merely lived for itself,
enjoying life as suited her people. But
soon very rich diamond beds were dis
covered which yielded immense wealth
to the adventures who now began to
crowd themselves upon The older set
tiers. The rush to Transvaal was a
repetition of the rush to California, and
the result was that the republic which
contains about one hundred and twen-
ty square miles had a population Of
$50, 900 people, a great majority
Of which are either English, Scotch, or
American. Possibly not more than one
fifth of the population today are Dutch
but the latter have so far succeeded in
controlling the political affairs that the
government is completely in their
hands, Notwithstanding that they are
vastly i'll the minority as to members.
in order to maintain this supremacy in
political affairs, the Beers have legis-
lated in such manner as to make it
difficult for the "Utlanders' to qualify
to participate in political affairs The
result is that these '.Utlanders" are
compelled to pay their share of the
taxes to support the Dutch schools and
institutions without being allowed a
voice in levying the taxes in governing
these institutions. In 1881 migrants
could be naturalized after residence
of two years. but as t,e tide of ina
grafton began 70 threaten the Republic,
this period OF residence was changed,
in 1881, to u period of five years and in
1887 it was extended 10 fifteen years.
For this reason and for the reason
that they are mostly English these "Ut-
landers" have applied to England to
compel the Beers to Grant them equal
political rights. England under the
Old doctrine that once an Englishmnn
always All Englishman' basses her
authority over the Boer Republican on
what she calls her fright of suzerainty."
The Beers they agree. were conquered
by the English while OCCUPYING Cape
Colony and before their migration,
hence the authority OF England having