The San Francisco call., 1899-11-23
THE FATE OF THE BOERS.

T has been no secret that Englands pretext for de-
/ stroying the two South African republics is pre-
text only The mining laws OF the Iransvaal, the
Government monopoly OF dynamite and the iran
chise are given reasons why the republics should
be wiped off the face OF the earth The material for
contrast. which exposes the weakness OF this case
against the Beers, is present in South Africa. In
Rhodesia in the territory of Bechuanaland there
gold mines entirely under British jurisdiction In
deed their administration is devised directly by Cecil
Rhodes himself. The public tax the product 81
these Rhodesian mines is MANIFOLD higher than the
Transvaal tax, and dynamite is much more costly.
In the Transvaal foreigners have right TO vote for
the second chamber OF the Volksraad after two years
residence, and become citizens after twelve years resi-
dence. Iii many Of the British crown colonies the
first chamber OF the Legislature is appointed directly
indirectly by the crown. Turning to impost taxes
compared with Cape Colony the Transvaa tariff is
the lower sugar, rice -four lard and corn, cover
ing the principal necessares OF life that have be
imported into the two colonies.
Stripped OF all pretense the British purpose is the
undivided empire OF South Africa The Beers trekked
into the wilderness, where British conquest had not
penetrated. and by all law by all international and
public regulation precedent and right the
in sovereignty OF the land they have occupied. Eng
ldlQ Is now throwing out leeleTS 10 test the puOnC
sentiment OF other nations as 10 her designs after the
two republics are destroyed. One OF these comes
from an "Old Indian Administrator" in the Hert-
iordshire Mercury. 1t proposes that after the
the kingdom OF Great Britain shall be the paramount
sovereign power in every portion OF Africa south OF
the River Zambesi except the recognized colonies OF
Germany on the west and Portugal on the East.
Within that region there shall be no communication
with any foreign sovereign power whatever except
through the British High Commissioner. The two
Boer provinces shall be designated federal The
town OF Pretoria shall be abandoned and the capital
located elsewhere toward the OF that province
The federal state OF johannesburg shall be
marked out between the Transvaal and Orange State
and extend from Maieking the frontier OF Natal;
all property in connection with the gold mines shall
be taken away from the Tansvaa and transferred to
the state OF johannesburg under fixed conditions OF
freedom to all Europeans or natives to work them.
All forts Notifications shall be destroyed No one
shall possess arms except by permission OF the High
Commissioner. The High Commissioner, who is in
effect Nceroy, be the supreme and final author
ity the autocrat OF the Government This plan pro-
poses further that the leaders OF the instruction
whether Beers or alien Hoanders, shall be banshed
from Africa and permitted for the term
OF ten years, and then under conditions OF good con
duct.
1t will be that this scheme proposes measures
borrowed from the policy OF Genghs Khan and
Tamerlane, and resembling closely the action OF
Bonaparte when he engaged in the vivisecton OF
Europe with the sword The natural boundaries OF
the Boer states are TO be dsregarded Their capitals
be abandoned Their mines are to be taken
away and elsewhere bestowed AS these mines are
already the property OF the South African Mining
Company the pretense OF opening them to freedom
OF working by Europeans and natives is a delicious
bit OF hypocrisy. Ii will be observed that nothing is
said about changing the conditions OF the gold mines
OF Rhodesia OF the diamond mines OF Kimberley
In those mines the native blacks are compelled 10
work under system that is but little better than
slavery. The South African Company desired to in
troduoe this into the mines OF the Transvaa but were
prevented by the laws OF that republic which are con-
ceived in spirit OF justice the Kaffirs Under all
the circumstances IS to be regretted that this time
Is selected for sending American feet 10 Table
Bay We have no interests there that can be served
by the presence OF squadron nor that Justify the
large expense OF sending it. In England and in
Cape Colony this act OF our Government is at once
construed as demonstration OF approval OF Eng
lands 10 destroy two republics and while it is
reported 70 have caused great enthusiasm and encour
agement in London and at the Cape, it correspond
ingy depresses and dscourages the gallant freemen OF
the two republics, who, without friend among the
nations fighting for their birthright with the
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