The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-01-04
CITIZENSHIP IN THE TRANS
VAAL.


VAAL.
The San Francisco Examiner In reply
to question asked by one OF its sub
scibers concerning the franchise and
citizenship in the Transvaal, says;
The franchise in the Transvaal is con-
fined to full citizens of the republic.
The burghers of the first class WELD
practically all the powers of the elector-
ate. These burghers include all white
males who resided in the Transvaal be-
fore May 30, 1876, those who took an
active part in the war OF independence
in 1881, the expedition TO Swaziland IN
1894. agai71sss the Jameson raid in 1896,
or who took part in other wars OF the
republic, and the male children OF slch
persons being sixteen years old. Only
citizens of the first class have the right
TO vote for members of the first cham
Der OF the Volksraad. The second class
citizens are those naturalized male aliens
and their children. They share with
the first class burghers the privilege oil
voting for the Representatives In the
second chamber. Only the hrst-elass
burghers have the privilege of voting
for President or Commandant-General.
Naturalization as a second-class citizen
may be procured readily, two year,
residence only being required with regis
tration on the books OF the Field Cor
net. taking the oath of allegiance, and
paying e.. The privilege OF voting
for members of the second chamber Is
considered worth nothing, however, as
the second chamber has no powers In
the government. 1t may suggest laws
to the first chamber, but the first cham
Der need pay no attention to them unless
il chooses, and legislates without CON
sulting the second chamber. Under the
laws heretofore existing naturalized
burghers OF the second class might be-
come burghers OF the first class twelve
years after naturalization, provided the
first chamber passed special resolu-
ton OF admission. Sons of aliens born
in the Transvaal have no rights OF citi-
zenship throuh birth, but by register
ing with the Field Cornet at the age OF
sixteen, may at the age of eighteen be-
come burgher of the second class.
They cannot however be made bnrgh-
er of the first class until they reach the
age of forty years. 1t will thus be seen
that the burghers of the second class
have no power in the state and con-
seouently the Outlanders have not been
willing to surrender the protection OF
their citizenship In their native coun-
tries to assume the inferior status in
the Transvaal. The struggle of the
Outlanders has therefore been directed
to getting the full rights of citizenship
on five years residence, and without
the condition of special vote of the
upper chamber In their favor. In con-
sequence of the pressure of the British
Government, the Volksraad on July s,
1899, passed new law, offering to the
Outlanders the full franchise five years
after naturalization as citizens of the
second class. The law, however, made
such complete naturalization dependent
on the certificate ef the Field Cornet
and Landrost of the district in which
the applicant has resided for the full
time required, which must be counter
signed by the District Commandant, or,
in default thereof, on affidavits from at
least two burghers. Various other con-
ditions are added, for the most part
reasonable, but applicants are required
to abjure allegiance to all other govern
ments during the time OF probation.
The new law, like the old, makes full
citizenship depenent on the favor of the
officials. The new law required all who
wished TO take advantage of 1t to de-
clare their intention within six months
from its passage. It was not accepted
by the Outlanders. Members OF both
chambers OF the Volksraad must be
thirty years of age, possess fixed prop
erty, profess the Protestant religion,
and never nave been convicted of any
criminal offense.