The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-26
WHY THE BRITISH SHOULD WIN.


there is little doubt that public senti
ment in the United States would have
been practically unanimous against
the British. The press of this coun-
try would have been outspoken in its
condemnation, public meetings would
have been held and our Government
would have found it hard to preserve
even the appearance of neutrality.
The friendliness of England during
our war with Spain has made such
Outspoken hostility now impossible,
fortunately, and yet tits no doubt true
that, much as they may wish to re-
ciprocate the good will shown us,
considerable m majority of our people yet
find it impossible to withhold their
sympathy from the Beers in the pres
ent struggle. And on the surface of
things, this feeling is natural. On the
surface of things it seems to be plain
case of strong power forcing unjust
war upon weaker power, with no
better motive than rank and undis-
gnised covetCu sness. "What right
has England" is the natural inquiry,
TO NEEDLE in the affairs of the Trans
vaal? Suppose the Trausvaal does
deny to English residents rights which
is gives to its own citizens: Is not
that it's own affair? I he English went
of their own accord into the Boer
country. fthey don't like the way
things are run, let them leave. What
right has England to say how the
Transvaal shall treat the foreigners
within its borders?n These are very
natural questions. and if we go no
farther back in history than the be-
ginning of the present war there
seems but one answer.
But there is long history prior to
rrhe present war, and that must be
taken into account before intelligent
Judgment can be passed. To recite
that history in detail would far eX-
coed the limits of newspaper article,
but its salient points may be briefly
sketched.
The Dutch, following the Portuguese
first landed at Cape Town about the
middle of the 18th century. AS re-
suit of the Napoleonic wars the Colony
became a French possession and in
1906 II was attacked aud taken by the
English, then at war with France. A
few years1ater, by treaty with the
Netherlands and upon payment of
thirty million dollars, England ac-
.quired clear title to Cape Colony and
the other Dutch colonies which now
make up British Guiana.
For awhile the English and Dutch
,colOnists lived together in peace. But
In 1867, when England abolished
slavery in the Colony, the Dutch felt
themselves aggrieved and about 5000
of them migrated to the north, estab-
fishing eventually what came to be
known as the Transvaal and Ithe
Orange Free State, the independence
of both of which was acknowledged by
the English government in 1852.
From 1852 to 1877 the story of the
1Transvaal is one of continual strife
and discord. The Beers were divided
among themselves and formed four
little republics which were continually
quarreling with one another, the
Transvaal Beers being especially OBJ
nOxious to all theirneighb Among
other things, Notwithstanding an eX-
press agreement made to the contrary
at the convention at which their indie
qpendence was granted, the Transvaal-
ers persistently practced slavery and
made habit of raiding the native
villages and carrying Off the women
and children. At the same time they
were unwilling to pay taxes even to
support their own government. And
so things came to such pass at
length, through the inability of the
Beers to govern themselves together
with their faculty for stirring W
strife with their neighbors, that the
peace of all South Africa was
threatened. The situation was Sc
menacing that England deemed some
measure necessary to protect her owl
citizens, and i'm 1876 commissioner
Sir T. Shepstone, was sent to visit the
Transvaal and to inquire into its con
,ditiOns. He found condition o
practical anarchy, The government
svas powerless to control either III
white citizens or it's native subjects; i
was incapable of enforcing its laws o.
collecting taxes; its white inhabitants
were split into factions and its nativ,
population on the verge of revolt. Tit
result of the visit of Lord Shepstou,
was the formal annexation Of tn,
Transvaal as British territory. Thi
action was taken upon the recon-