The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-06
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
vigorous Defense ofEnsIsnd by REV.
Fla. Leftch.
70 TIE Editor Of The Frees.

10 the Editor Of the Press:
In view Of the many misconceptions
entertained regarding some Of the basal
and fundamental principles which have
been the indirect cause OF the present
rupture between England and the Beers,
1 beg space In your paper, in order to
present an Intelligent and impartial
statement Of some OF the main facts Of
the contentious which have led to clash
OF arms. From current reports many
good people believe that the gold and die
mond mines OF south Africa, togsthsr
with the subterfuge Of willy and scheming
politicians, who seek TO subvert justlce
and by an appeal to arms, wiring from
the Beers concessions which will event.
uaily disrupt and undermine Boerish
prestige and their government In the
Transvnal. This 10 evidently the opinion
eutertained by many. and su oh Views are
frequently substsntinted BY editorials aud
general items scattered throughout the
press. Il 10 therefore pertinent to inquire
how far such idsrs are supported BY facts
Of the Gaze, Furnished by reputable author
ity. Such facts cannot all be suumsd
up In few words. sufficient for intelli-
gent comprehension, regarding Ethsir reia-
tive merits In an artiole Of this nature;
consequently, only somea Of the latest
phases OF the question and those about
which dipiomstic relations were severed
will be reviewed
After the Jameson Raid, the 10. OF the
Uitlanders became harder. President
Kruger had solemLly promised when
these men laid down their arms that
their grievances would be inquired into;
and these grievances were Of such q
nature a. to warrant q recourse to srms,
which although untiusly and disastrous,
was justifabls ON the ground Of personal
liberty and freedom for the oppressed.
When Kruger's promises were thrown to
the wind, . petition signed by 2i,64s
Uitlandsrs was forwarded BY the High
Commissioners to her Majesty, praying
that she would intervene and secure just
treatment for these peopls who were pay
ing five-sixths Of the state taxes and had
NO voice In the government. The main
facts melting the petition were kruger's
perfidy regarding the dynamite monopoly.
the subjugstion Of the High Court to ex-
ecutiye authority, the dismissal of the
chief Justice, the selection OF none but
burghers to sit on juries, the insolent at
tituds Of the police towards the Uttland-
ers, ending in the murder OF one named
Edgar, by police burgher, taxation
without representation, and the with
holding OF educational privileges from
the Uitianders This petition led to
conference between the High Commits
sioner of South Africa. Sir Alfred Miner
and President kruger. 1t was pointed
out that the existing franchise law re-
quired twelve years for naturalization.
and even then 1t was doubtful " citizen
ship would bs granted. II was also
shown that promises made regarding
those who had come into the republic IN
1855, and had been guaranteed Citizen
ship at the end OF five years, were broken
and that a new law was passed, calling
for seven more years OF waiting. The
nigh Commissioners. exceedingly dssirous
Of an amioable agreement, proposed
franchise for every white man who had
been In the country i've years, who
would take oath to obey the law, under.
take all obligations OF citizenship and
defend the independence OF the country,
thus rsnopncing allegiance to any other
country. To this proposition. law was
framed by Kruger and paissd the v olks-
Rad, granting the franchise on the basis
of seven years residence. but was pre-
faced with such Intrioacies as to become
absolutely ufeless and which admirably
clcsei the door of naturalization to all
outside OF Beers. This law being practi-
cally unavoidable. Mi. Chamberlain
asked again for the appointment OF
Joint inquiry, to discuss the question and
see II the law would effect the needed re-
forms. This point was waived, and
years Retrospective basis. The following
conditions were attached by the volks-
raal: (a). non-interferenoe In the inter-
ual affairs of the South African Republis;
ID the abrogation OF British suzerainty;
(c) the ssts blishment Of . court OF arbi-
tratiou. The answer of her Majssty's
government was that as long as the Beers
treated the Uitlanders according 10 agree
ment, interference would Re unnecessary,
and that the rights OF the Conventions
would Le maintained. In that the ordi-
nary obligations Of = civilized power de-
manded the protection OF its subjects
manning contention regarding suzerainty
was not debatalle as the South African
republic was not a sovereign Inter-
national state, and that arbitration was
desirable ana horss expressed for an early
conference. The settlement OF these quss-
tons now seeineu iMuluents uAi poluts
of contention had been covered and ex-
listing difficulties were to be forgotten,
while those of the future were to he re-
ferred to tribunal Of arbitration. The
unexpected happened, negotiations were
broken off q. this juncture, and hostili-
ties have commenced. The real question
now &c fssln has ,res5Tyed Itself into q
struggle for the supremacy of south
Africa. Kruger took the initiative and
delivered the ultimatum. after an slabor-
ate and secret PIC paration for war. which
now reveals the Hupidity and deception
of the man, VINO when prssuping SINGER
ity in diplomatic controversy with
friendly power onnnived ut armed resist
ance, while proposing unworkable plans
for expatriated and oppressed subjsots of
o sovereign state. Can 1t be sustained
that England acted in an unjust and ar
bitrary manner towards ths Boerss Facts
demonstrate that unusual patience was
manifest in dealing with this question,
excant parhans tho dispatchiug Of troops