The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10

Ony. The Beers had migrated from Cape
Colony. founded an oligarchical republic,
and were in a state OF financial distress
bordering on bankruptcy. when the Brit
ish were petitioned for assistance, which
they afforded. In this year Sekukuni
defeated the Beers, and Sir Theophilus
Shepstone was dispatched to the Trans
vaal to find an empty treasury and the
country in a state Of anarchy. It was an
nexed to British territory to save Il
from further disaster.
In 1880. when prosperity had returned.
the flag OF the republic was once more
hoisted and war commenced with its RESI-
cuers. After the British defeat In q skir>
mish Mt Majuba Hill, Gladstone recog-
nized its Independence. and in 1894 placed
Swaziland under its administration.
Reason for the Great Trek.
The cause of the departure Of the Beers
from Cape Colony In 1856 was dissatis.
faction with the Cape government. which
would not allow them to have free hand
in brutal treatment Of the natives They.
passed beyond Orange river to the region
between It's upper course and the east
coast, within the limits of British claims.
and set up a Republic of Port Natal.s
This the Cape government opposed and
the ensuing war ended in the submission
Of part of the Beers and "trekking' Of
others beyond the Drakenberg mountains.
government and was represented by it,
premier at the queens jubilee In 1897.
Orange Free State" founded by Beers
from the Cape in 1885, was declared inde-
pendent by peaceful concession of the
British government. after being held un.l
der its dominion for some years. ~ the
Orange River Sovereignty"
Britons Liberal, Beers Marrow.
These sketches from history show that
the British have dealt magnanimously
with Cape Colony and the peoples who
have spread therefrom into the interior.
The conquest Of the nations by the British
made 1t possible for the Beers to hold pos
session OF their territory. Under the Brit
ish all nationalities are treated alike ana
have the franchise; under the Beers the
most absolute and despotic treatment II
accorded foreigners. The various sections
sufficiently advanced are in possession Of
the highest privileges accorded by consti-
4tutional government. Under the Beers
teaching in the English language Il for
hidden in schools, and the franchise In
withheld from those who pay seven-ninths
OF the public revenue. The Boer citizens
themselves are not accorded equal rights.
Tho flrst-class burghers elect the frSt
volksraad. which holds power to legislate
and to elect the president; the second
class burghers elect the second volksraAd,
which has practically no power and no
voice in Tho election Of the president. The
first-cass burghers are those resident
since prior to 1916, and their descendants.
The privileges Of second-class burghers
are very restricted. The bulk OF the white
population are without political rights.
The area of the Transvaal il 1920
square miles dncluding Swaziland, $3.50
square miles). The population exceeds
10000 total; 10000 Of these are whites.
including 5000 Tranwaal Beers and $1,000
outlanders, SO per cent Of the latter being
British subjects In 1896 the hut tax was
pad by 451,SOl natives. This tax Is 50 cents
per month, and failure to pay same SUBJ
jects the native to fifteen lashes and thirty
days imprisonment!
In face of these facts prominent citizens
from false sense of sympathy ignore the
lesson of their own great country and look
upon the Beers as being the oppressed
rather than the oppressors. and even petit
ton the president to Interfere to prevent
English oppression. when she Is doing for
the outlanders what we have been doing
for the Cubans. II we desire to interfere
in the worlds affairs let us do 1t with cons
sistency. w. H. BOOTHROYD.