The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-06-29
THE TRANSVAAL AND
IT'S TR0U BLBS.

-
The eye of the world is at the pres
emit time on the Transvaal. the little
South African republic, which has prae-
ticAlly thrown down the gauntlet in the
face OF mighty England. About the
size OF the State OF Nevada, mere dot
on the map when compared with the
British Empire, it has nevertheless
successfully defed that power once, and
may do 50 again.
The present trouble is the outgrowtb
of the past history of thelepublic. The
Dutch farmers, or Beers, who form the
ruling population, have no love for
Enpllshmen. Their ancestors, the or
iglnal settlers OF Cape Colony, We're
conquered By the BRUSH, ana in de.
SPAR Of living where they we're in con
sIAnJ Jeopardy from tlss natives, and.
as they claImed, prosecuted by the Eng
lish. these Dutcu and Hugnenob farm
ers resolved to abandon their homes
and esta blish new colony in the inter
ior of Africa. The result was the great
trek, or emigration, OF 1851 80, Ii
which more than T., UuU Beers took part.
Those who made this memorable exc
dus have transmitted TO their descend
ants bitter memories of much suffering
from hunger, thirst, and peI'ils from
wild beasts and still more mercilesss v
ages, who again and again ma-saered
men, women and children. Regarding
their English UppfessOrs as directly re
sponsible for these suifrrings, they hate
them with as intense Il hatred as the
Jews had for the Egyptians. Driven
forth from their resting places in tn.
Orange Free State, and IN Natal, itwa-
not until they reached the far country
OF the Trallsvaal that they found al
abiding place at the cost OF Wrestling
the lan1 from The savage Zulus.
In 1877, The Beers we're worn out
with fighting The natives and the Eng.
fish caule in, appointed Governor ano
declared their sovereignty over the
Transyaal. This did not suit the Beers
and in 1881 they revolted. A war fol-
lowed which The British regulars will
never forget. The DuJch farmers We're
successful in every battle and, so accu-
rate was heir aim. that IN every en-
gagement the English retired with The
loss vi ne4riy haf their men. 1t Is a
literal fact mat the great majority oi
the dead soldiers were found TO nave
been shot through the head, "a hole 1t.
the helmet OF each of the fallen showing
the mark ut which the farmer rihelueu
had aimed. The English soon had
enough and conceded the practical in
dependence Of the Transsaal, which
the Beers have maintained ever since
or late years, however, u social revo-
luton has been IN progress in the Trans.
urkt ~ - -
To the present crisis. / he discovery oI
tie great gold deposits ON the Rano
has led 10 "A great influx OF foreigners
mostly English and Americans, calico
by tho Beers. Uitlanders. These Tit
landers, though they greatly exceed
the Beers in numbers thrOug hout the
mining district, and would make the
very best class OF citizens, have never
been allowed 10 have any voice in the
Government, while, at the same time,
revenue llws have been 50 constructed
as to plice the principal burden Of tax
alton on the foreign population. Num-
erous attempts have be n made to COR
rect this wrong, one Of which culmi-
mated in the famous jameson raid that
came to such Il speedy end. A recent
conference betweei President Kruger
of the Transvaal and Sir Alfred Miner,
Premier of Cape Colony and Special
Commissioner appointed by England IN
behalf of her mistfeated subjects, re
suited in failure. England must now
withdraw her demands fur the enfran-
chisement Of the Uitlanders and other
reforms: or Kruger must Yield what he
has sworn never 10 grant, If war is to
be avoided. Both are stubborn aud
any day may bring news Of the out
break Of hostlities. There is little
doubt as to the result of war If Eng
land goes at it in earnest. but she win
know that she has been in II fight, for
the Beers are as good marksmen to-day
as they were in 1881, and they are sup
piled with the vel best Of rifles, rapid
fire guns and ammunition that money
will buy. A strong fortress has also
been built overshadowing Johannes.
burg. the headquarters Of the Uitland-
ers.