The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-26
JAMES BRYCE's TESTIMONY.
1t Was Given Before the Boer War
Broke Out.

1t Was Given Before the Boer War
Broke Out.
In 1881 when the republic recovered its
independence there were neither roads,
railways, nor telegraphs in the coun-
try. tie town were rough hamlets
planted round little church. It's peo-
pie had only the bare necessities of life
The taxes produced scarcely any reve-
nue.. The treasury was empty, and the
government continued to be hard press
ed for money and unable to construct
public works, or otherwise improve the
country till 1885, when the discovery Of
gold on the Witwatersrand bega.A to
turn stream of gold into it's Golfers
Riches brought new difficulties and new
temptations. Immigrants rushed in
capitalists, miners, and traders, AS the
produce of the gold field Increased, 1t
became plain they would come in ever
| increasing numbers. The old Beers took
alarm. The rush could hardly have been
stopped and to stop it would have in
volved check in the expansion Of reve-
nue.. 1t was accordingly determined to
maintain the status quo by excluding
these newcomers from political rights.
The Grondwet declares (Article VIZ that
"the territory is open to every foreign
err who obeys the laws of the repub-
lic," and as late as 1881 an immigrant
could acquire the electoral franchise af-
ter residence of two years. In 1882,
however, this period was raised to five
years, and in 1887 to fifteen. In 1890,
by which time the unenfranchised
strangers had begun to agtate for the
right to be represented, a nominal con-
cession was made by the creation of a
new chamber; called the Second Vclks-
raad, for membership in which new
conner might be eligible after taking an
cath of allegiance, the right to vote at
elections to this chamber being attain
able after the oath and a two years
residence This Second Rad. however,
is limited to the consideration Of GER
tain specified subjects, not including
taxation, and its acts can be over
ruled by the Fret Volksraad, while its
assent is mt required to the acts of that
body. 1t has therefore turned out
little better than a SHAM having, in
fact, been created only as tub to
throw to the Outlander whale. The eff
feet of the legislation of 1890 and sub
sequent years down to 1894 Legislation
too intricate and confused to set forth
In detail here) has been to debar any
immigrant from acquiring the right to
vote for the First Voksraad until he
has paesed the age of forty and resided
for at least twelve years in the country,
after taking the oath and being placed
on the local government lists, lists on
which the local authorities are Eaid to
be by no means careful to place him.
Nor does birth in the republic confer
citizenship, unless the father has taken
the oath of allegiance. President Kru-
ger, who has held office since 1881, wac
chiefly instrumental in passing these
laws
In 1892 an association called the Ma
tional Union was formed by a number
of Outlanders ito obtain, by all con-
stitutionaI means, equal rights for all
of the republic and the redress
of all grievances. Although nearly all
thotsa who formed it were natives either
of England or of the British colonies,
it did not seek to bring the country un
der British control, but included among
its aims "the maintenance of the in
dependence of the republic" Neverthe-
less, it incurred the hostility of the |
hostility of the president and his friends
and it's petitions were unceremoniously |
repulsed.
The middle class people, traders, pro-
fessional men, engineers, and the like, |
either belonged to or were in sympathy |
with the National Union. 1t was they
who had formed 1t. They had recently |
to the Volksraad a petition,
signed by thirty-eight thousand nom
residents, asking for re-
forms, and this petition had been scorn-
fully rejected, one member saying. with
no disapproval from his colleagues, that
f the strangers wanted to get what they
called their rights they would have to
fight for them.
Both they and all the other Outland-
srs had substantial grievances to re-
lress. Food was Unfortunately dear, be-
cause high tariff had been imposed
IN imports. Water supply, police sani-
alton, We're all neglected. Not only
vas Dutch the official language, but in
he public schools Dutch was the only
Medium of instruction; ard English
children were compelled to learn arith-
netic, geography and history out of
Dutch textbooks 1t was these abuses
'ather than any wish to bring the
Transvaal under the British flag, or
wen to establish a South African con-
federation, that disposed them to re-
yolt against a government which they
lespised. impressions of South Africa.
Died nj she Hospital