Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-08
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION

and protection to all who would 60 to the
Transvaal the South African Republic)
and invest their capital, or contribute in
any way to the development of the coun'
try. An influx of foreign population re-
suited, and this was largely increased by
the finding of new gold-felds, the Wit
watersl andt, discovered by Uitlanders.
Oae result of the development of mineral
resources and of interests subsidiary to
mining was that the State revenue In
creased from less than million dollars in
1886 to upwards of twenty millions in
1899.
After the discovery of the Witwaters-
randi the Boer Government began adj
versely to change the franchise and other
laws affecting the immigrant population,
or Uitlanders as they were called, until
(up to last July, when the Volksraad, the
Transvaal Parliament, halved the term) a
residence of fourteen years was requisite
for the foreigner to obtain the right II
vote. The applicant must present writ
ten petition from majority of the Boei'
in his district, and must have it approved
by the Executive Council. Furthermore,
during his time of probation he WAS liable
to military service, just as if be were al
ready full.hedged citizen Of the Repub'
lie. In 1894 the Boer Government went
SO far as TO communicable is, fOrclbly
to conscript-British subjects to fight
against the native tribes They were com
PEELED to abandon their work and to buy
their own arms. Not until after the war
WAS over did the English Government
show enough spirit to force the Boer Gov
eminent to disclaim any intention OF such
procedure in the future.
Maladministration and corruption were
now rampant in all governmental depart
ments of the Transvaal. We addressed
petitions for the removal of grievances
but President Kruger replied You may
protest as much as YOU please, but have
the guns. That settles il" This was,
unfortunately, the fact; the UiIlander'
were not allowed to import arms.
All constitutional efforts having failed,
in 1895 a Reform Committee was formed,
of which | was member. We organized
to obtain an honest republican, and not
British, government; we pledged our
selves distinctly against a change OF nag
We started secretly to import rifles and
cannon with a view of being prepared to
enforce our demands by arms if necessary.
An arrangement was made.with DR.. Jane
son, then Administrator CT the South Al
RIGA Chartered Company, to come to the
Transyaal border to assist us, if so called
upon. Bee luse of Mr.. Rhodes's connec
ton with the Chartered Company 1t has
been supposed that he was at the back OF
our organization, but although Mr.
Rhodes, in common with other capitalists
contributed to our funds, we did not or
ganize to further the personal, CONNER
cial, or political aims of Mr. Rhodes or OF
any one else; indeed, many of our mem
bers were opposed to MIR. Rhodes's inter
ests. Our sole aim was to insure some
elementary civilization at johannesburg
That aim had the approval of many pro-
pressive Boers; we thus had already be
gun to conquer racial hostility.
We used every effort to prevent Dr.
Jameson from taking the initiative, but
he disregarded our protests, and is solely
responsible for the failure of our move
ment. We 6rFt learned through ne@s'
paper of his departure for Johannesburg
His action alienatei sympathy from the
cause of reform, as it was supposed that
he had interior motives which did not
conform to the expressed wishes of Oul
Committee. The Beers suspected that
he would try to seize the country for the
Chartered Company aud ultimately fol
Great Britain. This would have directly
violated the pledges which we gave to the
people of Johannesburg, We declared
that the movement was only to rid the
country Of corrupt oligarchy. We repu-
dated any subversion of Boer sovereignty
At that time it would have been impossi'
BILE to have hoisted the British or any
other flag upon the inhabitants of the
Transvaal. The Anglo'SaxOn members Of
the community themselves would have
forcibly resisted any such attempt.
An agreement was finally reached be-
tween the Reform Committee and the
Boer Government to accept the arbitration
of Sir Hercules Robinson, British High
Commissioner for South Africa. Before
his arrival, however, DR.. Jameson's small
force had been overpowered by the Beers.
To the charges that we had betrayed DR..
Jameson, he and his officers have been
compelled to confess that they had re-
ceived messages from US protesting against
his movement. The raiders were I'M
prlsoned. Sir Hercules Robinson request
ed the Johannesburgers to disarm, which
they did, sin order to save the lives Of
Jameson and his men," At the same
time the British Government guaranteed
to the Reform Committee that not hair
of the heads Of any of its leaders should
be toushed. Despite this, the arrest Of
the Reform Committee took place, in the
face of promises to the contrary from the
Beer Government. This arrest also de-
monstrated that, at times, the British
Government is not above repudiating its
obligations, After few months impris-
onment our trial followed, the jury being
composed exclusively of Beers. Under
an agreement between the attorneys for
the prisoners and the Boer Government
attorneys, it was agreed that a nominal
fine only should be imposed on us If we
pleaded guilty. We accordingly pleaded
guilty, when, to our CONSERVATION, the
-