The Newtown bee., 1899-11-03

Of good faith and permanency before
they can be trusted by people that in
the past have seen solemn engagements
ignored or violated. a few of the
changes that have been made may be
indicated. In 1876 the custom common
to South Africa prevailed In the Trans
vaal; that is, the requirements for citi-
zeDship were one years residence, pos
session or certain amount of property,
obedience to laws, and good behavior.
In 1882 the conditions were five years.
residence, with liability to military serv-
ice, afte r giving notice of desire for
ra'uraliz .tioD; strict form of oath :;
aid fee OF $125. Since then, the at
tainment of citlze nship by the Uitlauder
has year by Year become more difficult
until, as matters stand now, no alien can
obtain equal rights with the burghers
unless, being 40 years Of age, he has re-
sided in the country fer Il years, has
severed relations with any other country
for at last II year, possesses moder-
ate fixed amount Of property, has rem
dered military service, and has received
the consent of two-thlrds of all the
burghers of the district to his enfran-
chisement. This last condition ia q prac.
teal prohibition, for such q proportion
OF votes is never cast at any election.
Sir Alfred Miner proposes on behalf of
the Uitlanders that any man of good
character who possesses the requisite
property qualification, has resided in
the Transvasl for five years, and has
taken the oath of allegiance, shall be
able to obtain vote. He also demands
redistribution of seats In the Rad.
The Boer population is so scattered, and
the Uitlauder population is go concen-
trate6 In the towns in the vicinity of the
mining districts. that at present, il the
latter had full voting powers, they could
secure only two seats in the Rad of %
members, with bare possibility of two
more. With more than two-thirds of
the popul ltfon, they ask for one-third or
one-quarter OF the representation, which
will give them substantial minority to
present their views in the Rad.
The position in which the Trangvaal
Government has placed the Uitlander is
distinct violation in letter and in spirit
of repeated treaties made with Great
Britain since 1852. The aim of each of
these tr4aties has been to secure that
equality of rights II T white men in the
Transvaal whichsis the rule everywhere
else in South Africa, In the Orange Free
State, which ia an independent Dutch
republic, as well as in the British cello.
MES. For 25 years British subjects set
thing in the Transvaal were on the same
footing "a burghers, and In the conven.
ton of 1881 1t was stipulated and agreed
that equal privileges and protection
should be enjoyed by all. The radical
alteration of the system was introduced
in 1890, and is thus less than 10 years
old, and in every respect an
innovation. The Uitlanders went
to the Transvaal IS settlers under
certain conditions, which have been ar
bitrarily altered; they went depending
on the good faith of pledges, which have
not been fulfl led. The Transvaal gov
eminent (Which ID only another name for
Mr. Krugerl has thus deliberately decid-
ed that large majority Of the population
shall retain their allegiance as subjects of
foreign power. Every possible OBJ
stacle has been put In their way when
they have desired to become citizens. AS
foreign subjects they have no choice but
to appeal TO their own Government when
they believe themselves to be wronged.
They have no claim on the TT ansvaal, no
legal means of approaching it's authori-
ties when they seek redress. As citizens
or burghers they could have recourse to
constitutional means. and no other gov
eminent would have right to interfere.
There Is no proposition fer annexation
Of the Transyaal by Great Britain at
present. South Africans look forward to
q federation of states in that region, of
which Great Britain would be--as she is
noW--the predonlinating power; but
there is no reason why ADglo-Saxons and
Dutchmen should not live side by side In
harmony and nfldence in such q fedora
ton, with a mutual respect for each 9TH
er's rights and each others authority,
such as now prevail. everywhere except
in the Transvaal. The intrigues that are
being carried on among her Dutch sub
jecss In Cape Colony and elsewhere may
compel Great Britain to interfere. It Is
evident that she is unwilling to resort TO
force. tor otherwise war would have been
declared long ago; and the mixed popu-
lasion OF her South African colonies has
much to do with this reluctance. British
and Dutch live In absolute equality un-
der her CT lonis laws; they share In the
government and are IS one people. Great
Britain cannot afford to have antagonism
aroused between the tw0 races which are
so closely intermingled. Such antago-
nism Ia being stirred up by the Beers by
every means In their power, 60 the great
danger of their own State. Persistence
in such tactics must result I'M war, which
would surely end Ia the annexation of
their country BY the stronge r power, and
the loss Of their independence. Neither
need be endangered IL the South African
Republic ID verify of her name, and be-
comes actually, as well as nominslly, q
free government Of the people. By 3he
people and for the people.
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