The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-02-22
BRITISH CLAIM OF AUTHORITY.

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BRITISH CLAIM OF AUTHORITY.
II. What led the British Govern
ment to assert this claim of authority
In 1867 diamonds were discov
cred in the neighborhood OF Kim
berley, on the borders of the Orange
Free State, and within the last twelve
years very rich gold mines have beer
developed within the Transyaal at
johannesburg. These have attracted
crowds Of Engllshmen. who have made
two complaints against the Transvaal
Observation-Disclosures taxation and
the denial OF suffrage.
l. Let us suppose chat these com
plants are just and that Great Britain
is the unquestioned suzerain. Sup
pose that Canada should levy an ex-
cessive tax upon Manitoba or Quebec,
and should impose arbitrary and un-
equal restrictions upon the right of
certain Inhabitants to suffrage; would
this justify Great Britain In sending
fleet to Canada to right these wrongs
Suppose that Massachusetts should pass
an act making her Inhabitants, whose
incomes exceed $1,000 pay all the taxes !;
or Virginia should put burdensome re-
strlctions on the right to vote In her
State elections, would the United
States Government be JUSTIFIED in COM
pelling these States to abrogate these
laws?
2. The United States, by the tariff
laws, force the consumers OF this coun-
try to pay excessive prices for many
in order that certain producers
may be enriched; they also forbid
Cinnamon to come to this country and
deny them forever the right of suf-
frage shall the countries whose products
we prohibit by protective duties, or
shall China, force us to change these
3. Are the Transvaal rates of taxa
lion upon the gold mines unjust by
their excess? This Is, at least, ques-
tionable. They haye not prevented
The rapid increase OF mining there,
BY which the output has become the
largest in the world nor have they
gold mining from being the
most profitable business of the Trans
raal.
4. Are the Boer restrictions upon
he Suffrage unj.'st? UHquestionably
miners are row: Z set, birds of pas
age tn it seldom, ta.,:sa permanent
1ome ia the mining district. I'm
the English miners in the
rransvaal are there merely to make a
ortune, intending to return 10 England
20 enjoy it. Under these conditions
8 it wrong for the Transvaal to de-
nand, as indispensable to bona fide
citizenship, that the foreigner, the Out
anaer, shall! renounce all allegiance to |
my other Government and shall haye |
'CCA d 1Cslu0uI Ill Lu0 CCuDIIy lOT = |
,ood long period?
1t Is known that the English rarely |
yer expatriate themselves, no matter
low long they may live in foreign
1t is exceptional tor one of
hem to become citizen in this coun-
ry. Why then were they eager to
faturalize themselves so speedily In
he Transvaal? Manifestly their pur-
'ose was to control, if not subvert, the
Government.
They refused to renounce allegiance
o Great Britain and wished to be cit
zens of both countries at once; this,
+ course, could not be done except up
n the plea that the Transyaal was 4
o!ony or province of Great Britain.
'or this reason the British Govern
nent put forth the claim OF suzeralnty.
The issue, therefore. OF the contest
J the independence of the Dutch re-
ublics. Upon this issue thu question
} simple and undoubted to all repub-
cans, to all believers in the right of