New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-24
EFFECTS OF KRUEGERISM.

Reaction means loss. That Is generally true
in the physical world, and II Is equally true In
the political and commercial world. For proof
of it we have only to look at the state OF al
fairs In the Transvaal since President KRUGER
developed his always conservative policy into
one of extreme reaction and repression. Or we
might perhaps say the whole OF South Africa
since the Transvaal troubles have directly af-
fected all regions from the Zambesi to the
Cape.
Commercial statistics show that for the last
few years the commerce Of South Africa has
been declining at an ominous rate. If we
analyze returns according to the various States
we find that the loss Is confined to the Trans
vaal. the other States being simply at stand
STILL Last year the value Of maritime Imports
into all South Africa was only $1195lOOo0
That was less than the year before by Sl4,-
100000, showing decline Of more than 10 per
cent. The falling off in the Transvaal alone
was S14,G5O,000, so that there was slight
gain in some other places, though, on the whole,
South African commerce, so far as imports
were concerned, was at standstill The ex-
port trade suffered In corresponding ratio. And
present indications are that this year will see
the disastrous decline continued.
nearly GO per cent of the white inhabitants are
Outlanders, chiefly British and Americans
They conduct rs per cent of the business of
the country and pay nearly so per cent OF the
taxes Yet they have no moro political rights
than the Beers Kaffir slaves. They cannot
vote nor hold office. They cannot publish news
papers, save under a censorship stricter than
that Of Russia They cannot hold public
meeting They cannot even offer petition TO
the Government. They cannot become citizens
and their children, born there In the Trans
wall cannot become citizens AS for the con
cessions' offered by Mr.. Krtiger, they are quite
illusory His latest. for example, Is to let them
become voters after nine years residence, In
stead of ten years, as formerly proposed. But
that does not mean that those who have lived
here nine years will now be endowed with the
franchise No; past residence counts for moth
Ing. 1t means that those who now apply for
the franchise may receive 1t nine years hence
TO wit. In 19OS-if from now till then they con-
time to live there under the present despotic
conditions. Even then they are not 70 nave
It as a matter of right, but only In case each
Individual application for citizenship Is ap-
proved by three-fourths majority vote or all
the Beers In the district!
II the Outlanders were cattle, they might
submit to such terms. Being men, Americans
and Britons, they naturally reject and resent
them. They have resolved, therefore, to sus-
pend business operations as completely as pos
sble until political rights are granted to them
They will not work, and Invest capital, ana
swell the revenues Of the Pretoria Government
unless they can have voice in that Govern
ment. And so the commerce Of the Transvaal
declines more than S25, 900, 900. or 20 per cent,
In a single year. That is very moderate and
temperate and self-restralned course for them
to pursue Under no greater provocation their
ancestors deposed and beheaded Charles and
reyolted against George III. But we are In
c,ned to think the present method will serve.
The tenderest spot in Boer oligarch's anatomy
is his pocket Touch him there, and he squirms.
And at the present moment he is being touched
there, to the tune Of millions year, by firm
Anglo-Saxon hand.