The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-09

calling out of the burghers in time Of
war like the present. Under 1t every
male inhabitant of the state between
sixteen and sixty years of age is sub
ject to call and cOnscription. The num-
ber now available by this law is about
$4,000 men. The holding of burgher re-
views is provided for by ordinances.
These wapenschouuings are held in
every district in time Of peace once
in four years. They are held yearly
in each ward or sub district. Every
man from eighteen to forty years Of
age must attend these encampments
armed and mounted. The townsmen
are relieved from the necessity of par
| aiding mounted. The government fur
nishes each such burgher with rife
/ at actual cost price. This cost equals
about $21.
L. The act of 1889 established a
mounted police. There are about 125
men in this body who are under the
direction Of commandant. Their
principal duty is to suppress thefts OF
stock and to see to the proper admin
istration of the states pass laws.
5. There are drastic measures in re.
gard to insolvency, the registration of
| deeds, municipalities and marriages.
The last are virtual copies OF similar
acts in Cape Colony and Natal.
6. The Orange Free State has a sort
| of Maine liquor law. Ii was passed in
1883. This statute absolutely prohibits
| the sale of alcoholic spirits Of any kind
to the tribesmen and to people of color
generally 1t prevents its sale to any
| one except in towns. There is no Ii
drink outside of municipalities.
AN INTERESTING HISTORY.
Though only $4,000 square miles in
| area, the size of an American state.
| this republic has a stirring history
since the first white men peopled it irl
1896, sixty-five years ago. These set
tiers were refugees from Cape Colony,
hunting for a quiet, peaceful home
north of the Orange river. Some of
these emigrants founded the South Az
rican republic, or Transvaal. These
pioneer farmers found only bands Of
| savage Bushmen and Korannas in the
| new country. They organized a sort
of community band of maatschappi.
In lS47, the British governor of Cape
Colony proclaimed all territory between
the Vaal and the Orange rivers as Brit
ish country. A resident agent was
then placed at Bloemfontein. This
state OF sovereignty continued until
1854. In that year the continued trou-
bles with the Basutos and Griquas
caused the English government to re-
linquish the country north of the Or
| ange river BY the convention of
| Bloemfontein. signed Feb. 20. 1854, the
country north of the Orange river.
| known as Orange River territory, was
recognized as an independent state.
This convention freed the farmers frora
allegiance to the British crown; the
English government was to have no
alliances with any of the tribal chiefs
north Of the Orange river. with the
! exception of Adam kok, the chief OF
| the Griqua tribe. The new government
| guaranteed the rights of the persons
and property of British subjects resi-
dent In that territory at that time. Ex-
| tr ditiOn was also provided for; courts
| of law We're to be established, and
slavery was not to be allowed. The
| Orange River territory was to have
the right to purchase arms and muni-
| tions In British South Africa.
The volksraad adopted the Orange
| Free State constitution on April 10,
| 1854. 1t was based upon the constitu-
| tion of the United States. This con
| stitutlon gave any one living in the
| territory six months before April Ia
| the right to vote for president and for
members of the legislature. The pres-
dent Is elected every Ave years by all
| of the enfranchished burghers The
presidents advisory council consists OF
the landdrost (magistrtte) of the
Bloemfontein district, the government
secretary or premier. and three unofii.
cial members who are elected to tina t
service by the volksraad. The Roman
Dutch law was made the common law
of the land, The courts follow this in
the absence of specific statutory pro-
visions. Liberty Of the press and free
dom of speech are guaranteed by the
fundamental law, The constitution
cannot be amended or repealed except
by three-fourths vote at each two
| annual sessions Of the legislature. The
constitution OF the Cd Nntry was re-
vised and re-enacted on March 9, 1866,
and again on May g.. 1879. The changes
were minor. From 1854 until now the
Orange Free State has been republi :.
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