The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-10-13
3{ccd River Glacier.
FRIDAY. OCTOBER ls. ls0e.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER l3, 1899.
"A Transvaal View Of the South Al.
rican Question" is the title OF On article
in the October number OF the North
American Review by DR.. F. V. Engelen.
burg, editor OF the Pretoria Volkstem,
which gives a different phase Of the
trouble between the Beers and Uitland-
ers than the view as put forth by the
English Official reports. Either source
is perhaps not free from prejudice, but
the question, as reviewed by the South
African editor, shows that the Uitland-
ers ought to have known what to expect
when they entered the Transyaal coun-
try in search Of gold. The Uitlanders
no doubt have their grievances, and OBJ
iect to being governed without the right
Of franchise, and to paying heavy taxes
for the support Of this government, but
they are a transient population, who
work only TO get the gold from the land,
and who will have to seek other fields
when mining becomes Improbable.
Says DIR. Engelenburg, "South Africa is
poor, extremely poor, in spite of its gold
output OF nearly two millions per month
and its diamond export Of five millions
per year" The Transvaal, being high
table land, has an irregular and uncer-
tain rainfall. The country is infested
with years Of drouth, rinderpest, locusts
and fever, and its people import from
Aultralia potatoes and frozen meats,
butter and eggs from Europe, and lum-
Der and mules from America. Only the
Beers, with their sturdy endurance, can
face such unbalanced economic condi-
tons, as they exc out frugal existence
on their secluded farms. Owing to the
abrupt descent Of the table land, the
coast OF South Africa is without harbors
or inlets, except a few in Cape Colony,
which England gobbled onto in the early
part Of the century. The Transvaal
having no seaport, the English author
tiles in Cape Colony, who had their ex-
istence during that period Of Great
Dritain's colonial policy when she had
not yet learned by dear experience the
iutility Of an oppressive policy toward
her colonists, extorted from the Dutch
settlers heavy duties on goods consigned
10 the interior and squeezed as much out
Of the Afrikander republic as she pos
sibly could. To satisfy the desires OF
the English spectators, that their com
mercial and financial interests might be
enhanced, Great Britain has, step by
step, encroached upon the lands Of the
Beers. Particularly with each discovery
OF new gold fields has this been done.
The Beers knew Of the existcnceOf the
gold fields but never desired to exchange
the quietude OF their pastoral life for
the ieverish existence of the gold seeker.
The Englishmen who work the gold
mines care nothing for the development
Of the other resources of the country,
and in fact could gain a living in no
other way than By mining. Looked at
In one light, serious as the grievances OF
the Uitlanders are, the rights they de-
mand could hardly bc called "inalien-
able" since the Uitlanders are tres
passers for self interest on the lands Of a
nation whose people care more for Sc
clusion than for the enlightenment OF
an advanced civilization. But viewed
from the ethical standpoint that great
nation must OF necessity protect her
subjects the world over, then in this
case the Beers, who impose, as it is re-
reported, nine-tenths of the taxes upon
0 people to whom the right of franchise
IL denied, must submit to the inevitable,
and more advanced civilization shall
take their place.