The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-19

What the War Between British and
the Beers Il About,

st. Louis Globe Democrat: AS the
world well knows, there has been con-
slant friction between the Beers and
the English for many years. The re-
cent development Of Africa has made II
more acute and the war at hand must
decide whether South Africa Is to be
composed Of small, Independent states,
possibly conEederated. or must accept
the preponderant influence Of the Brit
lsh Empire. Beyond doubt England
would be willing to give South Africa
the status Of Canada or Australia, but
to accept this would be regarded by the
Beers as the surrender Of a national
existence. Historically. the relations
Of the Beers and the British have been
unusually complex. Many years ago,
before the colony Of Natal was annexed
by Great Britain the Beers migrated to
the wilderness and set UP for them
selves. Great Britain acknowledged
their independence in 1852, but annexed
them in 1877, proceeding the Beers
resisted with arms and with partial
success. In 1884 the British government
acknowledged the right Of the Trans
VaRi republic to govern itself In every
thing except its treaties with foreign
powers. The situation was disturbed
discovery OF gold In the Witwater-
strand. Boer territory, caused a heavy
immigration Of white men. chiefly Brit
ish, called by the Beers "Uitlanders. .
But for this unexpected access Of pop
ulation, and the questions relating to 1t
politically, there would be no war at
this time, though probably It would
have come later, for there Is little con-
geniality between Boer and Briton,
Hostllities have not been caused by
any question about foreign treaties. The
British contend that they are simply
protecting the rights Of British citizens
oppressed by Boer laws and exception
aiiy heavy disabilities. The Boer iegis-
lature Is a close corporation. In the
upper house members are chosen
exclusively by the families Of original
settlers. The lower chamber is elected
by qualified voters, but no UItlander
can vote unless thirty years old, Pro-
testant, resident Of the republic for a
long term Of years, q naturaliEed citl-
zen and an owner Of landed property.
The voting qualifications In 1891 were
Of the burghers in ward was neces-
sary. Plainly, the Beers have aimed to
exclude new voters. The gold mines
are taxed az per cent. but the miners
have been practically shut out Of the
legislature. In recent negotiations the
Beers offered to modify the qualihca-
tons Of voters, but boldly coupled this
with the demand that there should be
no further claims Of British Buzerainty.
To all appearance this Is a claim OF
complete national independence The
Beers have gone to war to end all Britt
Ish authority for themselves and for
other Afrlkanders who will Join with
them to make South Africa Boer In
stead Of British.
In the larger sense this is the ques-
ton at stake. AT the end OF the present
struggle British authority will be SUI
preme over South Africa or the Afri-
kanders will control 1t through a con-
federation speaking the Dutch Lam
guage and asserting a distinct sover-
eighty In the company OF nations. So
far as oppression IL concerned the Ult-
landers assert that they are the only
sufferers. tits perhaps unfortunate for
the Beers that they once stormed a
British position, taking It brilliantly,
and killing several hundred OF Its de-
tenders. They are Imprudent to meas
uro their prowess by that one battle.
But In any case the war they have en-
tered into will decide the problem Of
suzerainty, which Is at best an lndis-
tinct and unsatisfactory word. The
Beers have undertaken to discard II
altogether, and the only way to do II is
to night. But 1t Is a desperate venture
in view Of the odds. So far as thirst for
empire and gold Is concerned one side
has no greater incentive than the other.
Success would give the Beers unre-
stricted dominion over the gold mines
and substantially over South Africa. II
they lose they will be British colonIals,
and the Canadians and Australians are
raising troops to force that fellowship
upon them, or rather to vindicate the
idea that It has always existed to some
extent The Beers deny It. The prob
lem Is tangled, and the solution Is near.