New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-04
rsrR1BUTroN OF POPULATION.
345.GGO


prox.nately accurate, being based upon the es-
Inmates OF church membership and other data
What is unmistekaDle is the preponderance Of
the Dutch over the British in numerical
strength Natal is the only member Of the
group in which British supremacy Is based
upon population In BechuanaIand and Rho
desia there is also q British majority but Il is
Tot large In Cape Colony and the Orange
Free State the Dutch preponderance is over
E@elming. while in the Transvaal when the
refugees return 70 johannesburg the two races
viii be on terms Of equality in voting strength.
In South Africa whole there are at least
hundred thousand Dutch in excess OF the
British population IF a confederation be formed
with a scheme OF representative government
similar 10 that Of the Dominion Of Canada or
10 that which VIII be brought into existence by
the Australian Commonwealth bill there viii
be, unless all signs ral. a Dutch South Africa
with British vlceroy. The Dutch will con-
time 10 rule Cape Colony and the Orange Free
State. and IN the Transvaal they viii dominate
every district except the mining camps Of the
Rand
South Africans predict that there will be an
immense immigration Of British settlers as soon
as the war comes TO an end and the paramount
influence OF the Imperial Government is estab-
HEhec- This forecast naturally includes the de-
Veiopment Of the mining industry Of the Rand
on al unprecedented scale when johannesburg
ceases 10 pay tribute TO Pretoria and native
labor IS obtained at low prices. There will be
without doubt large Increase Of British popu-
lation II the mining district when the Transvaal
is converted into dependency OF the Crown;
bot IL is by no means certain that immigration
VIII reverse the present conditions Of Dutch pre-
ponderance IN the other colonies. The British
n South Africa have always been townsrnen
and the Dutch have been farmers and cattle
breeders The agricultural industries are likely
10 remain in undisputed possession OF the Dutch
burghers. who dislike the occupations OF town
Ete and prefer 70 remain N the country The
Dutch farmers have married in their youth and
have had large families. The Dutch population
has increased more rapidly than the British
population during the last fifty years. Probably
there VIII be no change in the relative rate of
growth during the next fifty years outside the
mining districts and South Africa will remain
essentially Dutch IN blood.
The British Government viii have at the end
Of the e Dutch empire IN South Africa and
It VIII be under moral obligations 10 allow these
communities Of alien race TO order their own
local administration and direct their political
progress. The lines OF racial cleavage will be
sharply defined, and the Dutch Will stand to-
gether and vote solidly whenever they are al
lowed 20 exercise their political rights. It may
supplanted in Cape Colony, and nothing short
Of the discovery Of fresh series of gold pow
dered reefs between the Orange and the Vaal
VIII convert the Free State into British COM
rnonwealth. The TransvaaI. with the richest
gold producing district in the world, may be
transformed speedily into a colony with more
English immigrants than Dutch burghers; but
there viii be disanection throughout the com
rnonweaIth II the Rand be armed with political
supremacy. No large manufacturing industries
are likely 70 arise in South Africa, and, apart
from the gold and diamond fields, agriculture
and stock raising seem destined TO remain the
chief resources Of the colonists, the vast
1or1ty Of whom will be of Dutch descent and
deeply prejudiced against mining camp ad-
venrurers and millionaire reef owners. Con-
federation Will only serve 10 unite the interests
Of the Dutch n South Africa and 10 arm them
with complete control over the local adrntnistra-
ton and material resources Of the country, and
the wisest British statesman knows IN his heart
that, whatever dangers there may be IN reserve
for the empire after the war, the union Of the
colonies cannot be opposed nor the subjects Of
the Crown deprived Of the rights Of self-govern-
rnenr-
The sequel to the war, which will be Of para
mount importance, is the reconciliation OF two
hostile races There has been a close approach
British triumph will be decisive the factor OF
race supremacy will not disappear from the
problem. BY virtue Of preponderance IN popu-
lation the Dutch VIII still control South Africa
and British craftsmanship will be subjected TO
the wearing strain Of a prolonged attempt 10
reconcile them 70 the new conditions Of para
mount imperial power and authority. Meier
was there a larger opportunity for rnagnaniraity
IN triumph, absolute justice in dealing with
brave and gallant foe and supreme faith in the
efficiency Of free institutions. After the Amer
ican Civil War the blue and the gray respected
each other, and reconciliation and good feeling
came more rapidly than optirists dared TO hope;
but the armies were recruited from men Of the
same race. In South Africa there are two jeal-
GUS and intoIeraut races differing in their meth
oos o. dealing with negroes. essentially unlike
IN their occupations and tastes and unwilling TO
work together on terms Of equality. British
craftsmanship has never had more difficult
task than the reconciliation Of these races after
q protrscted war with its evil passions and
ordinations and recriminations.
Perhaps the most hopeful sign Of success in
this arduous undertaking is the object lesson
which has been offered during the campaign
5y the patience Of the Imperial Government in
putting up with the Inconvenience and dangers
OF Dutch rule in Cape Colony. During the last
eight months Sir Alfred Miner has been
nsrrassed ar every turn by the Dutch govern
nent Of the colony: hut he has persisted IN max
ing the best Of a bad situation and has not inter