The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-12-30

those who have developed the country and
raised it from bankruptcy to afiiuence.
AS to the causes leading up to the existing
war between the Beers and England my per-
sOnal impression is that the trouble is due to
dispute as to the right of franchise Take,
for instance, johannesburg my home.
About three.fourths, or seventy-five per
cent of the revenues Of the South African
Republic are paid by the Uitlanders Of that
city. Notwithstanding this the Boer gov
ernment has often refused municipal rights
to them johannesburg is still regulated as
when it was rough mining camp-that is,
as 1t was ten years ago. There are many in
stances | can quote to show the existing evils
Of the government as to the Uitlander. At
first residence Of one year was required to
entltle the Uitlander 10 become a burgher
(citizen). Then it was increased to two
years, again to three still again to four and
again and again to five years, until recently
residence of fourteen years was required be.
fore the Uitlsnder could become a burgher.
Take local form of government which is
called the Sanitary Board. The Uitander is
given but slight representation upon it. The
Beers are always the predomiuating mem
bers and. should any measure pass which the
government is not likely to countenance, the
presiding officer-(the Burghermsster as he
is called HAS the veto power, and exercises
it. The Burghermsster is also a Boer.
Take schools Of the city. They receive
government aid and are open to the children
of all residents and both the Boer and English
languages are taught in them, but Boer
teaching predominates. If English schools
are desired they must be private ones, with
out government aid, Notwithstanding three.
fourths of the revenues are paid by the
Uitlanders.
There is another form of discrimination,
which is brought to my mind by the query
as to why the Uitlanders themselves did not
rebel. The question is easily answered
How could they rebel when the most strin-
gent laws are in force, prohibiting them from
keeping. or carrying arms of any kind The
Uitlander is subject to the severest penalty
should he carry fresrm without a permit
issued by the authorities. The Boer gets his
permit almost for the asking. With the Uit-
lander it is quite a different thing.
The Uitlanders, having opened and devel-
| oped the resources of the country, and being
principal taxpayers, ask for equal rights and
representation in the affairs of the govern
,lent, and in the disbursement of the
revenues. Petitions after petitions have
beer sent to the Volksrsad pronounced
fulks-fahd) which means the House of
Congress, praying for these concessions. but
the Uitlanders have never received auy
redress. To add insult to the disappoint-
ment they were laughed at by the Voksraad
AT no time during my residence in the
South African Republic have l received the
| impression that the Uitlanders were anxious
] to have England rule over the Transvaal.
They are quite satisfied with the existing
government so long as it is liberal and fair to
those who bear the burden of the taxation,
for the Uitlanders have been instrumental in
developing the country and have brought il
out of a state of bankruptcy