New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-08
TIE TRANSTAAL CONCESSIONS.

The autoCrat Of the Transvaal has apparently
yielded to the persuasions of his fellow Beers
Of the Cape Colony and the Orange River Free
State The latter are more in touch with mod
ern civilization than he is. They have more
respect for popular rights and for republican
institutions. They appreciate more fully, too
the overwhelming power, not merely Of the
British Empire, but Of the progress. civilization
and freedom Of which that empire Is an expo
nent, and before which no petty despot nor
bigoted oligarchy can hope long to stand. While
sympathizing with Mr.. Kriiger on grounds Of
racial utilization, therefore. they have earnestly
striven to dssuade him from n course which
could end only in disaster to him and in some
embarrassment and humiliation TO the entire
Dutch race in South Africa. There Is no exag-
geration in saying that the failure of the recent
Bloemfonten Conference was regarded by them
with much regret and with something akin to
CONSERVATION. Immediately delegations from
RlOemtontcn and Cape Town FASTENED to Pre-
toria 10 labor earnestly with Dom Paul"
The latest dispatches indicate that they have
achieved fine measure Of success.
The scheme of franchise reform to which
Mr. Kriger has apparently assented and which
is now to be ratified by the Transvaal Legislat
inent member of the Government Of the Or
ange River Free State It's chief provisions are
four in number: First-All Outlanders who
have lived in the Transvaal since before 1890
are at once to be enfranchsed That was de-
manded by Sir Alfred Miner at Bloemfonten,
while Mr. Krtger proposed that they be com
PEELED to wait two years longer The present
proposal IS. therefore, a yielding to the British
dop - ppfr1D-
chised after seven years residence. such resi-
dence already fulfilled being. presumably. reck-
oned for the purpose. Sir Alfreds demand was
for the franchise after five years. while Mr.
Kriiger insisted upon seven years hereafter,
without giving credit for the years Of residence
already fulfilled. The present plan is there
fore compromise between the two. in which
the Transvaal yields far more than the Brit
sh 1t is better for the seven year residents
to get the franchise at once, and those Of less
than seven years to get II as soon as seven
years are fulfilled since their original settle
ment in the Transvaal. than for all to have to
wait seven years longer. Third-The granting
of the franchise is to be absolute. and not con-
dtioned upon the candidates securing a two
thirds vote Of all the burghers in the district in
his favor. This is altogether yielding by Mr.
consideration Of Justice To demand that an
Outlander should get two-thrds Of all the Beers
to vote for his acknowledgements when not even
at Presidential election has a twO-thirds vote
Of the Beers been cast would he to demand
practical impossibility. Fourth-The renun-
citation clause Of the oath Is not 10 he made COM
pulsory. That. too is clear yielding by Mr..
Kriiger How much II was demanded by JUS
tlce IS 10 he seen in the fact that the Legis
lature Of the Orange River Free State recently
refused to incorporate it into the oath Of that
country and in the further fact that General
JOubert tho Vice-PresIdent Of the Transvaal.
admits that II was put into the oath for the
express purpose Of offending and Illuminating
the Outlanders and Of making the oath 80 OBJ
noXious that none Of them would take It. The
foolish talk about arbitration Is dropped. and
those concessions are 10 he made uncondtion-
ally
ON the whole, then. this scheme OF Mr..
Fischers Is 10 be regarded as n reasonable one.
the adoption of which will satisfy the Just de-
mands Of the Outlanders who form the great
majority Of the white inhabitants Of the Trans
vaaI and will give that country. and, indeed,
the whole Of South Africa, relief from nm agi-
tation that has been depressing to material
interests and might easily become most disas-
trous. II is 10 be assumed that the I.egis-
latnre at Pretoria will speedily ratify the
scheme II will certainly do so II Mr.. Kriiger
is sincere in proposing IT, or course, If he Is
merely making the Legislature play the part
Of Jorkins 10 his Spenow. the scheme may he
rejected But We look for better things than
that