Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12

money that flowed into the exhausted ex
chequer they took steps to preserve their
independence by restricting the privilege
of the ballot. The probationary term of
qualification was raised first to five years
and then to fourteen. During that proba-
tionary term the prospective citizen had
to fdrfswear allegiance to any other state.
Even at the expiration OF that term his
admission depended upon che will of the
president and of the voiksraad, or legis-
lative assembly. Thus, he might remain
forever a man without country. His
children, even If born in the republic. were
aliens, who could only gain the rights of
citizenship by the same uncertain processes
Decentralization. Meanwhile, to increase
the preponderance of Boer domination, the
ballot was thrown open to native children
as soon as they had reached the age of
sixteen.
Naturally the Uitlanders protested. They
pointed out that though they constituted
the majority of the state. owning half the
land and at least nine-tenths Of the prop
erty, and paying more than nine tenths of
the taxes yet in all matters affecting their
lives, their liberties and properties they had
practically no voice. In 1890 concession
was made to them A second volksraad
was created, for the members of which
aliens might vote after taking the oath and
residing Tor two years in the country. But
as all the DEGREES of the second volksraad
are subject to the approval of the first
vClkSraad, this concession conceded little or
nothing.
This discomfort reached a crisis in 1896
The leaders among the Uitlanders had
formed national union at Johannesburg
which threatened to fight for its rights. Al
this juncture came DR.. Jamesons raid from
British BechuanaDtnd, and his subsequent
defeat, followed by the disarmament of Jo-
hanneSburg The belief that the British
colonial Office had connived at the expedl-
ton, and the certainty that Cecil Rhodes
had inspired it. increased the Boer distrust
of their hereditary fees and their unwilling
ness to make any further concessions. For
the moment, Jameson's fasco cast damp
er upon the Uitanders. 1t injured the pres
tfge of Great Britain in the eyes of the
world. 1t raised the belief of the Beers in
the justice of their cause and in the con-
tinuance Of Its triumph.
The Edgar Incident.
Great Britain has recovered from the
temporary setback Of the Jameson raid.
Again she has turned attentive ear to
the protests of her citizens in the Trans
vaal. Matters were precipitated by the
shooting of one Of these citizens, a miner
named Edgar, while resisting the unlawful
entry into his home Of a Boer policeman,
who, without warrant. sought his arrest
on the charge Of assault. 1t was shown
that the assault had Keen committed in self
defense upon an abusive drunkard. Never
theless. the policeman was not only acquit-
ted, but praised by the presiding judge.
1t was this incident that led up to the
present agitation. The flame was famed
when Uitlander meetings of protest were
broken up by organized bands led by gov
eminent officials. A body known as the
Uitlander council was formed, with repre-
seEtatives from the mines and the towns. For
the first time in its history Uitlander Jo-
hannesburg stood firm and united Appeals
were made to Sir Alfred Miner, who, in
1897, was appointed governor of Cape Colo
ny and high commissioner for south Africa.
In reviewing the situation he declared that
1.-The case for Intervention was overwhem-
ing" Sir Joseph Chamberlain and the Eng
lish government sustained his view.
The result was a meeting between Sir AL
fred Miner and President Kruger on May
20. 1899, at a conference at Bloemfontein,
the capital Of the Orange Free State. The
conference left matters in statu quo. Pres
ident Kruger had been empowered by the
volksraad to propose comforting the fran
chise upon aliens five years after eligibility
to the second raad, thus substituting a nine
years residence in the territory for the
fourteen at present exacteds He proposed
that other questions in dispute should be
submitted to arbitration. Sir Alfred's re-
ply, in substance, was that ON any vital
matter there could be no arbitration be-
tween a suzerain state and Its dependency.
Kruger refused to consider any terms
which did not recognize the independence
of the Transvaal.