The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-18
, the caprice of the home government.
The annexation of the TranSVaal

to the caprice Of the home government.
The annexation Of the Transvaal to
the British colonial domain in 1877 was
not accomplished by force, but grew out
of the treatment of the natives, against
which the Beers We're but poorly
equipped successfully to contend. The
payment of taxes had ceased, salaries
We're in arrears. the interest on the pub
lie debt was unpaid there was no public
credit the authority Of law was fire.
luently challenged by armed bands, the
treacherous murder of friendly natives
men and women, is set forth with such
detail and on such evidence as renders
belief in these atrocities imperative, and
at the same time shows the want of will.
if not the want Of power, in the existing
Boer Government TO stop it.
Forty square miles OF country had been
oyerrun by the natives, and every house
burned just before the anneXa ton.
There was much reason to believe that
Cetewayo, who had most of his forces
on tn 10: ders, would have swept the
country up to Pretoria itself had it not
been taken over by the British.
Whether at first the Beers hcnastly
acQuesced in the annexation or wheth-
er only the more conservative and pro-
perty-ownng class We're favorable to it,
is difficult to make out. There was
open acquiescence in it by many who
secretly protested against it; there was
intrigue and subtcrfuge; there was final.
tly war against the British in 1881, and
defeat for the handful of British SOL
diers. and under the Gladstone Govern
ment, by the Convention of Pretoria in
that year, the Transvaal was granted
a measure Of independence, subject to
imperial control as regards foreign rela-
lions and certain domestic matters, its
relations with native tribes, both with
in and without, and the payment OF the
public debt.
The commission appointed on the part
of Her Majesty's Government to settle
the terms of peace with the Beers had
various meetings with the representa-
lives OF the Beers, among whom was
Mr.. Kruger himself. AT the conference
of May 10. 1881, at Newcastle, the ques-
ton of the equality of treatment among
the white inhabitants of the Transvaal
was the occasion of a direct assurance
by Mr.. Kruger that before annexation
British subjects had. complete freedom
Of trade throughout the Transvaal. wera
on the same footing as the burghers;
that there was not the slightest differ
ence: that there would be no objection
to that continuing; that there would
be equal protection for everybody and
equal privileges, and that there was
and would be no difference as regards
burgher (elector's) rights. That this
promise was made is also shown by Mr.
Kruger's denial that it had been
broken, and his assertion to a represent
tative of the London Times on Sep
TENDER 18th last that he had always
been ready to treat the new immigrants
on an equality with the old burghers
but they always refused.
This distinct pledge of equality volun-s
tarily given by Mr. Kruger when taking
part in the settlement of the terms of
peace in 1851, was repeated by Mr.. Glad
stone on the floor of the House Of
Commons, as being the foundation on
which the grant of qualified independ-
ence was made. IT became. therefore.
as the true consideration in a deed
not necessary to be expressed, but sub
sistine in fact, or else the whole grant
might fall to the ground or might be
avoided.
The revision of the treaty in 1ssi was.
< rhasty work. and furnished ground for
controversy; but the British Government
IN the day and time OF 1t steadfastly re-
fused to regard the new convention as
an agreements between s. two equal con
tracing parties. and as a result refused
to admit any proposal for arhitra tion, and
refused to renounce suzeratnt
Nor are the unfra nchfsed a body of in-s
4 truders, or careless of their hlssa tons
to the country. or of their tiles 4 as
citizens nor have many the Intention 70
return to their own country fter: making
Hny.f,yra