New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

1t is now possible to review with something
Of historical perspective and philosophy the rise
and fall of the Orange River Free State which
sprang from the Orange River Sovereignty and
has now subsidized into the Orange River Colony
II had its origin simultaneously with the Trans
yaal, IN the Great Trek. 1t was erected into an
independent State only two years after the
Iransvaal made locally autonomous And
finally it relapses into colonial estate at the
same time and in the same circumstances with
its larger northern neighbor. Between the two
besides this parallel, there have been some radi-
cal differences. The Beers who settled in the
Orange River country were far different in
spirit from those Of the TransvaaI They were
domestic, not nomadic; farmers, not huntsmen
and herdsmen; progressive, not retrogresslve
reasonable, not cantankerous While in 1852
the Transvaal Beers were clamoring for indie
pendence and dreaming OF universal conquest
their Orange River kinsmen were in 1854 re-
luctant to be severed from the British Empire
and on being thus severed against their will
they insisted on maintaining British institu-
lions far as possible and on keeping on the
closest possible terms Of relationship with the
adjacent British colonies. Similar has been the
record Of both States ever slnce-the Transvaal
quarrelsome non-progressive, restless, morose
and the Orange State peaceful, progressive, con-
tented, amiable.
The beginning Of the end came when the
wise and good President Brands half-paretic
successor, the unhappy Mr.. Reitz, was in turn
succeeded by the ambitious schemer President
Steyn. 1t was Mr.. Steyn who, against the bet
ter sentiment of the people, invegled the State
into the fatal federation with the Transvaal
He was mad with the virus of the Afrikander
Bond, Intent on making all South Africa a
Dutch Confederation, with himself, in succession
to the aged President Kriiger, its Dictator His
sinister schemes were much assisted by the
Jameson raid, and were irrevOcaby fastened
upon the State when the compact of federation
with the Transvaal was effected OF the dpo-
matte negotiations which preceded the present
war he was the evil genius. He contributed
largely to the failure of the Boemfontein con-
ference between Mr.. Kriger and Sir Alfred MIL
ner. 1t should by the way, be noted that while
the Orange State might, in other circumstances,
have played the part of mediator at that time,
it was absolutely disqualified and debarred from
so doing by President Steyn's own act in max
ing it an ally Of the TransvaaI Thereafter
Mr.. Steyn supplied every possible Indictment
and encouragement to President Krger to re-
sist the British demands and to maintain de-
liant and bellicose attitude, and in the ultimate
crisis Of war his prOclamatOns were of all most
violent. and his appeals and intrlgues to incite
a general instruction of the Cape Dutch were
of all most earnest and persistent. Indeed, he,
and not Mr.. Krtiger. seemed to be the real
leader Of the anti-British campaign.
Thus the Orange River Free State was IN
volved in a war in which 1t had no real interest
and in which a majority of its people had no
heart. Nevertheless its people fought as
bravely though it had been their own war.
From first to last they bore the hl1Int Of the
pamn9iQD
Of the orders of the Transvanl Government that
the Orange troops should be put in the fore
front Of the battle When the Beers were
driven out Of the Cape and Natal it was the
Orange State that suffered invasion, and since
that time the vast bulk of the fighting has been
on Orange soil. There has been no more strik-
ing feature of the war than the stubbornness
Of the Transyaal Beers as long as they were on
British Orange soil. with the Orange troops
on the firing line, and their sudden collapse and
flight the moment the Vaal was crossed and the
scene Of war transferred to their own soil We
shall see If they redeem themselves by a last
stand in the Lydenburg hills. AS for President
or ex-Presdent- Steyn, it needs to be said in
conclusion that he has at least shown the cour-
age Of his ambition He has not run away, rs
President Krtiger appears to have done but Is
still holding out, stubborn and defiant to the
bitter end
The conclusion of the drama is now in hand,
and it brings disaster to both of the actors The
Orange State, or ITS ambitious President,
grasped at extended conquest through the alli-
ance with the Transvaal but instead is con-
quered by the conqueror of the Transvaal The
State loses its independence, the President his
Office. In uniting it's fortunes with those of the
Transvaal ii involved tself-so far as indepen-
dence goes-in irreTievabe ruin. On the other
hand the Transvaal, which eager to drag
the Orange State into its quarrel, thinking thus