The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-02

themselves according to their own laws
without any interference on the part
OF the British government" In 1854
another convention was made at
Bloemfontein, by which the Beers liv-
ing in the Sovereignty between the
Vaal and Orange rivers were declared
to be a free and independent people"
and the future independence of the
country and it's government was qua
anteed.
The treaty of 1852 was approved by
the cabinet of Lord Derby; the treaty
of 1854 by the cabinet of Lord Aber,
deem. From these two re%cognitions
of Boer independence" say Mr.. Bryce,
there sprang up two Boer republics.
After 16 years of practical but legally
unacknowledged independence the en-
igrants who lived beyond the Vaal, and
now begun to be called TraEsvaal peo-
pie, were at lenth masters of their own
destinies." The Transvaal Beers, at
first divided into several communities
and factions, united to form one state
in 1864. The Orange River Beers gave
their republic the name of the Orange
Free State. 1t adopted a short and
simple constitution, which has proved
satisfactory.
ANNEXATION OF THE TRANS
VAAL.
The Transvaal Republic remained
independent until 1877. Mr.. Bryce tells
us that il was then not only bankrupt,
but virtually unable to enforce obedi-
ence. Again the British government
interviewed. The condition of the re-
public, it was held, constituted a dan
ger to III surrounding territory by
inviting native attacks A British
commissioner, Sir Theophilus Shep-
stone, who had been sent to the Trans
vaal, used the discretion which the
Colonial Office had intrusted to him and
proclaimed the annexation of the coun-
try to the British crown. Mr.. Bryce
says Britain had no more legal right
to annex it h she had to seize the
n~eighboring territories of Portugal. .
The event proved that Sir The
ophilus Shepstone had acted foolishly
because precipitately. If he had wait
ed few weeks or months longer it is
possible, indeed probable, thai the
Beers would have asked him to prom
Use them a British protectorate."
Upon this point Mr.. FITZPATRICK
says; IF the passive acquaintance
in the annexation conceded strangely
with the republics failure to defeat it's
enemies and pay it's debts, it is no whit
less d that Lord C~arnarvon's anxi-
ETY. for the republics safety synchron-
lied witt his attempt to confederate
South Africa"
1.-The real mistakes of the British
government" in Mr.. Fitzpatrick's opin-
ion, began after the annexation. The
failure to fulfill promises, the devia-
ton from old ways Of government, the
appointment of unsuitable officials
who lie not understand the people OF
their language, the neglect to convene
the VolkSraad or to hold fresh cleo
tiOns, as definitely promised; the es-
Establishment of personal rule by mill
tary men, who treated the Beers with
and contempt and would
make no allowance for their deepseat-
ed prejudiceS, and. if you like, their
stupid opposition to modern ideas
these things and others caused great
dissatisfaction"
WON INDEPENDENCE BY WAR
A large majority Of the citizens Of
the TransVaal signed a memorial to the
British government praying that the
annexation be reversed, while the au-
thorities of the republic entered solemn
protests. Their protests and memo
rial were ignored by the British gov
eminent. The discomfort of the Beers
eliminated in revolution, and in 1881
they recovered their independence aft
er a resort ito The British troops
were defeated in several engagements,
and, although reinforcements were sent
to South Africa in sufficient numbers
to crush the Beers, the British cabinet
AIT the head of which was Mr.. Glad
stone, decided not TIC continue the war,
but ITO Ind the annex lion of 1877.
In August, 1881, a convention was
concluded by Great Britain with the
provisional government which the
Transvaal people had established. BY
this instrument Great Britain recog-
nized the Transvaal state as autono-
nous reServing, however. the control
of all foreign relations and declaring
the suzerainty of the queen.
The war;" says Mr.. Fitzpatrick.
left the country as wars will, divided
into two parties, with feelings toward
each other that are deplorable enough
in themselves and not easily allayed.
The curtain was rung down and the
scene was lost to the view Of the world
but the play went On all the same be-
hind the curtain. And this is what the
new Tranvaal government said to the
world OF August 8. 1881, when they
took over the administration of the
country:
ITO all inhabitants, without excep-
ton, we promise the protection of the
law and all the privileges attendant
thereon. 3 We epeat SOlemnly
that our motto is unity and reconcilia-
ton"
- ~ IN NoA IN IL
duced the British government to agree
to a new convention, whose articles
superseded those of the convention of
1891. President Kruger went to Lon
don and persuaded the late Lord Der
by, then colonial secretary in the Brit
ish cabinet, to omit all reference in
the new convention to the suzerainty
of Great Britain. In this convention
the title OF the country was also
changed from ~Transvaal State" to
South African Republic" TIL omis-
sion of any mention of s~uzerainty, in
Mr.. Bryce's opinion, was an error on
the part of Lord Derby, but it was ar
error which would have signified little
but for an event which happened i'm
mediately after 1t was committed
namely, the discovery in the Transvaal
in 1885 of the richest gold field in the
world"
GRIEVANCES OF OUTLANDERS.
The alleged grievances Of the out
landers were the nominal cause of the
war between the South African repub-
lie and Great Britain. Up to the time