The Newtown bee., 1899-11-03

few persons - for the Bolr-, who form
~ per cent, of the white population,
make laws for 70 per cent, who are Uit-
landers (Outlanders, or f0reigners), de-
privipg them Of all political power.
Now, there is, OF course, reason fer
this state of things in the history Of tht
country, and 1t may be BRIT fig outlined.
The Dutch settlements In South Africa
began in 1852, and spread slowly until
the beginning of this century. One of
the results of the wars which convnl Led
Europe at that date was the cession by
holland to Great Britain Of her South
African possessions. The independent
Dutch settlers had been restless under
the government of their people and did
not take kindly to their new rulers.
They were for the most part ignorant ;
by nature they were unproRressive and
disinclined to change; and, scatter ed
thinly over q wide territory, had little Of
the contact with their kind which shar-
pens mems wits and promotes healthy
growth. The British made injudicious
changes In methods of government; they
enforced a stricter rule than had existed
before; they substituted English, which
few could understand, for the Dutch
language in legal proceedings; and they
occasionally protected the natives in the
the neighboring Kaffir tribes. To the
great indignation of the Beers, they
we're checked in their harsh and cruel
treatment of their Hettentet slaves.
These slaves were finally emancfpated
| by the British, TO the serious loss OF
their owners, many of whom were thus
deprived of the bulk of their property
and received made quate compensation.
This action was universally resented by
the Injured class, who believed slavery
to be divine institution; and smarting
under what they Il 1t to be unjust treat
ment, the Beers emigrated in numerous
small parties into the wilderness to the
north of the Vaal. Paul Kruger, then q
child 10 years, was with one OF the groups
that travelled north in 1886, the pioneers
Of nearly 10000 who followed In the
course of the next 10 years. The British
still regarded them as subjects, while the
Beers claimed to set up q government OF
| their own, which was very loosely or
ganized. The main bond between Their
| small scattered communities was their
spirit of hostility to the British, Wit
cared little what they did, so long ae
they did not stir up trouble with the ma
| tives.
In 1852 the Boer Government was rec
oguized, and the right to manage their
|
guaranteed by the British, on condition
that alliances should not be made with
other nations, and that slavery should
neither be permitted nor practiced. Dis
| order prevailed In the new republic.
There were some internal dissentions,
| but the main trouble arose from inces-
SAINT con flicts with the native tribes. The
farming Beers would not pay taxes ;there
were therefore no public funds with
which to provide for the public needs or
defences of the country. By 1877 the
disturbances had become a source OF
danger to British settlers in and near TIT
| Transyaal, the state was bankrupt and
trade had ceased. Ks ff1rs and Zulus
threatened to overwhelna the whites. Al
this iuncture the British commissioner
proclaimed the annexation Of the Trans
vaal to the British crown, q step which
while 1t provoked protest from the Boel
leaders, was accepted with little resis-
| lance by the peoLls who felt that they
were not strong enough for self-protec-
tfon from their savage neighbors.
The policy then pursued by the British
showed lack of sound judgement, and
ignorance or disregard Of the wishes and
needs of the Boer peoIls. However,
| they subdued the native tribes who had
| terrorized the community, and restored
the peaceful conditions under which
alone an agricnltur people can thrive
But no sooner was the presence OF this
danger removed than the Beers threw of
the British rule, which had been submit.
ted TO by some and accepted by others