The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-02-08

In 1877, after Britain through Sic
TheOpOlus Shepstone had thoroughly
investigated the state of affairs in con-
junction with the Transvaal authori-
ties, the Transvaal was annexed to
Cape Colony, the present President
Kruger taking office under the British
Government. By Imperial proclama-
ton and by two different public
speeches of Sir Garnet Wolsley, then
in command of the forces, it was en-
phatically stated that the Transvaal
would forever remain portion of her
Majesty's dominions; and yet within
four years the loyal Dutch and British
COlonists were turned over to Dutch
ascendency.
In 1880 the ever dissatisfied and
short memoried Dutch rose in rebellion,
winning several small battles, ending
with Majuba Hill and the death of the
brave Sir George Colley.
In 1881 Mr.. Gladstone declared
against the acquisition of the Trans
vaal, but first declined to give back
their independence, then finally con-
sented, retaining British suzerainty.
In 1884 a second agreement was
made by Lord Derby expressly stipu-
lating that no treaty with any power
except Orange Free State could be en-
tered into without consent of Queen
Victoria.
To-Day the Beers are lighting to
throw off the sovereignty of Great
Britain. The British are fighting to
retain their sovereignty and also for
the equal rights of all men. This is
the real issue. and not as we would be
made to believe, is case of land ag-
grandizement on the part of Great
Britain. Such an idea is absurd. The
very fact that Britain on receipt of the
Boer Ultimatum, had only about 5000
troops at the Cape, and her apparent
ignorance of Boer preparation, conveys
clearly to the most anti British, that
Great Britain had not the slightest
intention of depriving the Boer of his
home or country.
On the other hand. the Beers for the
past eleven years have been preparing
for war, laying in vast stores of ammu-
milton, and mostly at the expense of
the Uitlanders, who bore in large
measure the bulk of taxation
The population of the Transvaal is
10000 $4,000 are Beers; the remain
der, $1,000, UiJlanders. While the Uit-
landerS paid the greater part of taxa
/ ton for the support of the Boer re-
public. they were deprived of having
any voice whatever in the government
of the country; and when applying for
legislation required in the advance
ment of their interests, no attention
was given them by the Boer Govern
ment.
how can any citizen of a country that
enjoys the blessings of free govern
ment, tolerate such condition of
affairs? The only recourse of the Uit-
landers was to apply to the British
Imperial Government to see that their
wants were granted, and in the event
of refusal on the part of the Beers, if
diplomacy failed, the only recourse
was to resort to arms.
[ maintain this is just, and l main
tain that the Uitlanders did not ask
for more than their rights; and am
proud of that country that stands for
the protection of her subjects-the free
and equal rights of all, irrespective of
creed or color, extending to the dark
and primitive races of the globe the
onward march of civilization, and
bringing them into the domain of the
brotherhood of man.
But with all Britain's good inten-
tions, many would like to see her fall.