The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-27
The Transyaal.

The nope wnlcn humanity always
cherishes that war may be averted
"springs eternal" in the hearts of men
that diplomacy will settle-and settle
right-the questions pending between
England and the little but stubbornly
independent South African republic.
Current advices, however, DO not en-
courage this hope. The outlook for
peace is not growing bright. Nego-
tations appear to be deadlocked. The
English cabinet was in session again on
Friday and in tits hands are the issues
of peace and war-and war seems TO be
in the asce ndant.
Out of the multitude of reports, OF
note and counter note, reply and
counter reply, this situation appears to
have been evolved: September 2 the
Transvaal government proposed to En-
gland that Outlauders should be given
the franchise after a Gve-years' resi-
dence, that this provision should be
retroactive, that Outandcrs so enfran-
chised should have the right to vote IN
an election of President, that they
should be given equal political rights
and increased representation for the
gold regions. The condition attached
to these proposed concessions WAS the
abso ute independence of the Trans
vaal the Withdrawal of the semblance
of British sovereignty the London
Convention of 1884 reserved to Great
Britain.
Mr.. Chamberlain, the British colo
NAL secretary, rejected these PROPOSE.
tions, made on the assumption that the
South African Republic is n sovereign
international State. The Imperial
Government repudiated this view of
the political status of the Transvaal,
but expressed willingness to accept
the proposed reforms, taken by them
selves, on the condition that an inquiry
into their scope and nature revealed
no purpose to attach multiplying condi-
tons. Great Britain further assumed
that the new members of the Volks-
raad would be allowed to use their own
language. With these privileges &C.
cured to them the Outlsnders would be
able to secure the redress of their griev-
ances without the direct Intervention
of England.
Upon the rejection by England of
the Transvaal's offers, the Beers with
drew them, and fell back on the Lon-
don Convention, under which they are
guaranteed absolute independence in
internal affaIrs, and in foreign matters
are subject to the control Of Eogland
only in treaty making with foreign pow
ers-exccpting the Orange Free S ate
the east and west of the Transvaal.
President Kruger defends the with
drawal of the five years franchise offer
on the ground that the conditions at
tached thereto bad been refused consid-
Grafton, but he expresses entire willing
ness Tor joint commission to discuss
the pending questions at issue, or to
refer them to arbitration.
The demand for the franchise the
Beers regard as mere rretext. I'm
der the control, or "suzerainty," upon
which Great Britain is insisting as her
right, any naturalized British alien
would have double citizenship, and
there would be no doubt as to which
would be the dominating one. 10y
atty to Great Britain would transcend
allegiance to the Transvaal. A natur-
allied British citizen would have nc
expectation of bearing arms in defense
of the Republic. Great Britain's pur.
pose, the Beers understand, is to seize
their country, and to this end one thing
text. The proposal of the five years
franchise was met by the further de
mand of Eugand to be allowed to in
quire into It's terms. So fast ns one
concession has been made, or there hal
been prospect that conct ssions wou't
be granted, Mr.. Chamberlain has pilet
one requirement above another, till
seems clear that Great Britain intend
TO be satisfied with nothing short o
the extinction of the little republic
TO this purpose England adheres will
a frmness inspired by the developing
prospect of union of the Transvaal
Natal, the Orange Free State and Cap
Colony into the United States of Sout
Africa. Such a union would interfer
with England's colossal scheme of a
African empire extending from tn
mouths of the Nile to the Cape of Goo
Hope. The suppression of the Tran'
vaal is the first step Tor the preventio
of that union. Aud it will be remors'
lessly taken. Hence the thickenip
MAR nlou1a