Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1900-02-17

tasteful to many of the colonsts and weighing
the peril, the poverty and the hardship of home
making IN an UNEMPLOYED world, they chose the
broader blessings of untrammeled freedom, and
faced the dark interior of Africa and contended
with savage beasts and more savage men in
search for new home But no sooner had they
established themselves safely than the British
appeared and asserted sovereign rights over the
new territory
Again the Beers preferred to trek rather
than to submit to despotic rule. They forded
the Vaal river and pass into wilderness which
they named the Transvaal. Here they secured
an absolute and indefeasible title to the soil by
bartering with the natives. to whom the land be-
longed by right of occupancy. Eventually, I'M
der the name of the South African Republic.
they formed democratic constitution, recogniz-
ing and making secure all the rights of property
and person. England thought this desolate
country was not worth the cost of defense against
the terrible Zulus. To bring such burden
upon the empire would be loss instead of
gain. Gold had not yet been discovered in the
Transvaal.
But as the rugged hills and valleys began to
yield wealth under the toll of the Boer British
greed for territory again became manifest, and
England in her vision saw universal South
African Empire joined to her imperial India,
and her poet
Dreamed his dream, by rock and heath and pine,
OF Empire to the Northward. Ay, one land
From Lions Head to Line
So stealthy attempt was made to annex the
farms to the Empire. The Beers refused to
sacrifice what they had bought at so high price
and made this bold declaration: 1--WE declare
before God, who knows the heart, and before
the world, that the people of the South African
Republic have never been subjects of Her
Majesty, and never will be-" The declaration
was supported by brave and determined arms
and the attempted annexation failed. Gladstone
was then prime minister. In the face of
storm of English wrath and before an en-
pres injured pride he made peace with
the Beers which was just and righteous and
honorable. By the Convention of London, Eng
land for the second time recognized the indie
pendence of the South African Republic. Joseph
Chamberlain then a member of the Gladstone
cabinet uttered these significant words: "Ihe
Beers are not warlike race; they are home
81,
mated by deep and stern religious sentiment;
they inherit from their ancestors, the men who
won Holland independence from the tyrannlcal
rule of Philip II of Spain. their unconquerable
love of freedom and liberty. Are not these
qualities which commend themselves to men OF
the English race? Are they not virtues which
we are proud to believe form the best character
isrics of the English people?" Thus spoke MIR.
Chamberlain. Gold had not yet been found in
the South African Transvaa!
Eighteen years have passed and MIR. Cham
berain is Englands colonial secretary. Gold
HAS been discovered, and hordes of foreigners
have poured into the country in the mad rush
for fortune. In a day the land has become worth
everything to the British Empire. Englishmen
now ask themselves: How may we claim this
territory? We have entered into a solemn
treaty by which we have recognized the indie
spendence of the Transvaal and promised never
to interfere in its internal affairs. Do not the
terms of the treaty offer single channel OF es-
cape? Is there no way for England to acquire
the Transvaal9 Yes, there is way. Our spec
ulators are gaining control of the mines, thous-
ands of our subjects are flooding population;
they will soon outnumber the few Burghers and
vote the country into our hands. Thus we will an
mex the Transvaal. Thus shall we be spreading
civilization and fostering progress. thus shall
wetake up the white Mans Burden"
The Beers perceive the British purpose and
become alarmed for the safety of their country.
To protect their institutions against this great
ingress of foreigners they increase the length OF
residence obtaining the elective franchise from
seven to fourteen years. In this action they
rely upon the universal principle that every
nation has right to Judge of the qualifications
of its own citizenship. For well grounded pre-
cedents they look to the laws prohibiting Chinese
immigration to the United States and the treat
ment of foreigners by Russia-nay, to the natur-
alization laws of England herself.
Defeated in their scheme of gaining the T rams
vaa through the votes of their enfranchised
Subjects the British ministers proceed to break
the agreements of the London Convention by in
terfering in the internal affairs of the Republic
An opportunity presents itself when 2I,ooo Uit-
landers petition the Queens government for re-
dress of their alleged grievances. The ministers
now have apretext for most severe programme
Refusing to listen to the appeal of the Beers for
the medium of arbitration, they insist that the
time for obtaining the franchise shall at once be
reduced from fourteen years to FIVE. The Beers
assent upon the condition that Great Britain
abandon all claims to suzerainty and promise
never again to interfere in Transvaal affairs.