The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02
CITIZENSHIP in TRANSVAAL
Exact Provisions of the Present Law
Which Is One of the Principal
Causes of the War.
ON The Times-Herald.

From The Times Herald.
The present law was passed by the
volksraad July of this year, ostensi-
bly, as concession to the JTitlanders,
and contains certain notifications Of
the older statute, which may best he
understood by n preliminary consider
alton Of the latter's requirements.
Before taking up the discussion of
the steps necessary to secure citizen
ship it will be well also to note an i'm
portant distinction between burghers
of the first and second class, which Is
vital part of the constitution and
seriously affects the political status
of residents in the republic.
Actual political power is vested sole
ly in burghers of the first class. This
comprises all male whites who resided
in the Transvaal before May 90 1876,
or who took an active part in the war
of independence in 1881, the expedition
to Swaziland in 1894. against the
jameson raid in 1866 and in all the
tribal wars of the republic, and the
children of such persons from the age
of l6 1t is only the citizens thus de-
fined who have an unQuestioned right
to vote for members of the first cham
ber of the legislature which, with the
executive, is in supreme control Of af-
fairs.
Second-class burghers include the
naturalized male aliens and their
children from the age Of 16. They, as
we'll as first-class burghers, may vote
for members of the inferior second
chamber.
RESTRICTIONS.
Under the old law naturalization
might be obtained after two years'
residence and registration Oh the books
of the field cOrnet by taking the oath
of allegiance and paying a G2 fee The
alien who had proceeded SO far was,
however long way from full citizen
ship. Naturalized burghers could be-
come first-class burghers only by
special resolution of the first chamber
twelve years after naturalizat tion.
Moreover the sons of aliens, born in
the republic, had no political rights.
BY registration at the age of 16 they
might at the age CT Is become natur.
allied burghers and could be made
| frst-class burghers by special resolu-
tion of the first chamber ten years af-
ter they were eligible for the second
chamber. AS membership in the Sec
ord chamber was not permissible to
men under 80 years, It follows that
they could not become fun citizens be-
fore they were 40.
Under the new law naturalization
may be had after two years residence
and the full franchise five years later.
The reduction from the twelve-year
term is a large apparent gain but
there are conditions which make IT,
practically valueless. In the first
place, though it was supposed to be
retroactive. so that residence previous
to its passage would count in natur-
alization, there was a provision that
the applicant must declare his intcn-
tion to take advantage OF the act with
in six months Of it's date. In the exist
ing state of affairs the TIitlanders
could not consent to be drummed in
after this fashion, and by this time
the clause is a dead letter.
DECEPTIVE FEATURES.
But the law is also deceptive in a
| much broader sense. Both naturaliz-
alton and the right to franchise are
conditioned on certificates from field
cornet and landrost, countersigned by
| the commandant of the division in
which the applicant resides, or, in de-
fault thereof, on afIidavlts from at
least two burghers. These must de-
clare the applicants continuous reg
stration in the field comets list, res
dence during the required time in the
republic, obedience to the laws OF the
land, and that he has committed no Of
fense against the independence Of the
republic. Furthermore, he must take
afiidaVit that he has never been sem
fenced for certain crimes and produce
further evidence of good conduct;