New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-23
THE BOER REFUSAL.

The Transvaal Government has rejected the
British proposal for a settlement OF the con-
troversies between the two Governments, and
has made a counter proposal which is sure to
be rejected by the British Government mas
much as It is n mere renewal of one already
thus rejected. This is generally regarded as
bringing the whole case nearer TO violent
crisis Doubtless it has that effect. Yet, for
perfectly obvious reasons, we are still inclined
to think there will be no war Mr.. kruger is
merely "bluffing"; or, If that worldly phrase be
obnoxious to the Dopper patriarch, let us say
"sparring for wind" He wants to defer settle
ment Just as far as possible. But in time he
will Yield with JUNCTION If not with grace.
Now this is the status of the case: few
weeks ago the Boer Government adopted a
new franchise law. It did not seem quite to
meet the reasonable demands of the Outland-
ers. yet It might have been accepted as com
promise had there been any certainty as TO
what it really meant There was the rub. 1t
was so involved and vague and muddled that
there was no telling just what Its effect would
be- A shrewd Milesian's attempt to eucidate
It was as follows: "If man comes into the
Country before the law is passed he can get
"the franchise nine years after he has been
"the law was passed, or within five years after
"he has been here two years, provided he has
been here seven years after he came here
mine years ago. . He must then give six
months notice that he intends to apply hve
years after he has been here nine years or
two years after he has been here seven years.
land the Fieldcornet shall then take his name
"and address and forward the same to the
"Commandant, who shall forward it TO the
State Attorney, who shall forward 1t TO the
"Landdrost, who shall forward 1t TO the State
Secretary who shall call a special meeting
'Of the Executive Council" That was meant
for satire, but it really was no exaggeration of
the labored absurdites and uncertainties OF
the act. The British Government, however,
with the spirit Of extreme patience and con
citation that has ever marked its attitude tow
ard the Beers. did not reject the law. but pro-
posed that joint commission Of Britons and
Beers be appointed to examine the act and
determine what was its purport and what
would be it's effect. That moderate and rea-
sonable proposal is the one which the Pretoria
Government has just rejected.
The grounds of this rejection must be re-
garded as illogical and untenable. The fran
chise law, says Mr. Kriiger. is purely domestic
legislation and therefore Great Britain has no
right to NEEDLE with It, Yet at the same time
he admits or at least does not deny, that Great
Britain has a right to demand some modifca-
ton Of that aw Certainly II she has right
to demand a modification Of the law she is en-
titled to inquire what the effect Of the modica-
ton granted will be. But Mr.. Krlger's major
premise is faulty The franchise law is not a
purely domestic matter. For. In the first place,
It has to do with the treatment and the status
Of British and American citizens in the Trans
vaal-a matter in which the British and Ameri-
can Governments are certainly concerned And
In the second place, II must be remembered
that at the very time when and in the very con-
vention in which Great Britain granted internal
autonomy to its Transvaa province, the Trans
vaa with equal explicitness and solemnty
promised to grant equal rights TO Outlanders
and to Beers alike Great Britain has kept
her promise The Transvaa Government has
never yet fulfilled its promise. And the prom
Uses mutually conditioned upon each other.
So II the Transvaal refuses to fulfil its prom
Use Great Britain may. with the most perfect
legal and moral justification, withdraw and
abrogate hers, and thus relegate the Transvaal
back to the status Of Crown colony.
1t is not TO be believed, however that so ex-
IRENE a course will have to be pursued The
Transvaal Government will temporize and bag
gle and make dilatory motions as long as pos
sible But when the British ultimatum comes
the Transvaal will yield. And that, we be-
lieve is so because the Beers are contending
not for principle, but for plumber It is not
the liberty OF their country which is at stake.
but the revenues Of the Pretoria ring" The
Transvaal politicians are now growing rich be-
yond the dreams Of avarce out of,the tribute
they exact from the oppressed and disfran
chised Outlanders and out Of such iniouitous
jobs as the dynamite concession They would
like to continue in the enjoyment Of such
booty But they are not likely to fight for 1t,
for the simple reason that, as they well know,
If instead of fighting they yield they may yet