Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-06-24
The BOERS.
Something About the People Who Are Hold
ing Out Against England.

Something About the People VINO Are dolu-
ing Out Against England.
Atlanta Journal.
The civilized world is watching the
course of events in the Transvaal with
intense and increasing interest.
The probability of war between
England and the Boer republic seems
to grow stronger. The animosity be-
tween the two governments grows
steadily, and there is no indication
that either will yield except to force.
A resort to force will of course result
in defeat and disaster to the Beers,
brave as they are admitted to be.
Ever since they went to Africa and
set up a government for themselves
the Beers have dreaded annexation to
England.
In 1885 they removed from Cape
Colony to Natal. England few years
later absorbed that country and then
the Beers moved again, this time going
to the Transvaal, and in 1852 they Sc
cured the recognition of their present
republic.
In 1877 the region including the
Boer republic was annexed by Great
Britain but in 1880 the Beers instead
of moving again revolted against the
authority which had been imposed
over them.
They fought with courage and skill
and had decidedly the better of the
war. A treaty was ratified in 1881
which gave the Beers control of local
affairs, but conceded to England con-
troll of the foreign relations of the re-
public.
In 1884 upon the instance of the
Beers a supplementary treaty was
framed and ratified by which it was
expressly stipulated that British author
ity over the republic should be re-
stricted to it's foreign affairs.
The Beers have shrewdly managed
to keep the control Of their home gov
ernment in their own hands despite
the fact that for years past they have
been in a minority in the Transvaal.
Their constitution gives to the first
chamber of their parliament the power
to veto any measure passed by the
second chamber. The members of the
first chamber can only be elected by
the burghers of "the first GLASS;" who
are whites, who lived in the republic
before May, 1876, or who were active
in the war for independence of 1881,
and in other wars in behalf of the re-
public, or who are the children of such
persons. Naturalized burghers by spe-
cial resolution may become first class
burghers IL years after naturalization.
The president and commandant gener-
al are elected only by these "hrst
class" burghers. The naturalized alien
population form the burghers of the
second class, and burghers of the sec
ond class and of the first class together
elect the members of the second class.
By the veto given the first chamber,
composed wholly of Beers, no meas.
ure enlarging the rights of the Out
landers, or foreigners, can be passed,
and under the present constitution no
person not Boer is likely ever to be-
come president.
The constitutional provisions make
the recent offer of so-called conces-
sions to the Outlanders practically of
no value. The proposed conditions up
on which the Outlanders may obtain
full citizenship are palpably such as
they could not comply with.
The Outlanders compose a large
majority of the white population and
most of them are British. Besides be-
ing in the majority they pay four-tfths
of the taxes of the government and
vet have no voice in it. The restless
ness of the ostracised Britishers in
creases every day. 1t is evident that
things cannot 60 on as they are in the
Transvaal much longer.
All prospect of settlement of the
difficulty by arbitration seems to have
vanished. 1t was announced in the
British parliament last week by the
secretary of state for the colonies that
"a new situation" existed in the Trans
vaal and this has been very generally
accepted as a declaration that Great
Britain has determined to force her de-
mauds upon the Beers.
Diplomacy, it appears, has been ex-
hausted, and unless one or the other
4 - l hn