New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18
THE ORANGE FREE STATE.

We might take from Lord Roberts at
BlOemfontein and call 1t the late Orange Free
State. but are not sure that would be alto
gether lust 1t may as British colony continue
TO be known the Orange State. Beyond
doubt it will as a British colony continue in
fact TO be free State. though not an indepen-
dent one. But of this we may be sure. that
Lord Roberts's grim phrase was not a thought
less nor an empty one. The raising of the Union
Jack over the Presidents House at Bloemfon-
TEN marked the beginning of n new era for that
State. Hitherto, since independence was forced
upon it against it's will forty-six years ago, it
has been Independent international State
among the sovereign nations of the world. 1t is
such no more, and will not be- Henceforth 1t is
a member of the British Empire.
1t Is impossible to avoid a feeling of sincere
regret at this or at the manner in which it has
been brought about. The Orange Free State
has had a creditable record, and has deserved a
better fate than to be extingushed in of
conquest. 1t has been in truth a free State,
with freedom for the negro, equal rights for all
white men of whatsoever race, and justice, prog
rpss and good government for all. 1t was pros
porous progressive, respected and absolutely
secure in its independence 1t might have re-
manned Independent until the end of time unless,
as is not improbable, it had deemed 1t to its
advantage 10 enter into some sort of federation
with the adjacent British States. 1t was, in
deed, strongly in favor Of taking such a step
only a few years ago, and would have done so
had it not been for the influence Of the
Transyaa
The story of that influence is the story Of the
fall of the Orange Free State 1t began with
the raid which Paul KRUGER and his fellow free
hooters made with force and arms into the
Orange State TO loot it and to annex it forcibly
to the Transvaal. Happily that bit of land
piracy was baffied. But then Mr. Kriger set
himself to win by guile what he had failed TO
win by force. During the golden age of Pres
! ident Brands administration the Transvaal
schemers made little progress. But when his
! firm hand and wise brain were known no more
at Bloemfontein they began TO have their way.
! The Jameson raid was a yeritable godsend to
! Them for Il gave them in the Orange State in
| Mr.. Steyn a President after their own heart.
! Down TO the time of that raid the Orange
! burghers had been overwhelmingly in favor of
! Mr. Frazer for the Presidency, a wise strong
! man who would have restored and maintained
! the honorable traditions OF the Brand regime
! But the raid caused q furry and gave Transvaal
! eectioneering agents a powerful lever with
which 10 move the burgher mind. The result
was the election of Mr.. Steyn, the evil genius of
| Orangedom.
The Transvaal designs upon the Orange State
| We're triumphant just three years ago. III was
! in March. 1897, that President Steyn signed the
act Of union with the Transvaal which bound
! the free, enlightened progressive and indepen-
dent Orange State, for better or for worse TO
the tyrannous, benighted, reactionary and de-
| pendent Transvaal Never was there q more
| fatuous performance. The Orange State had
absolutely nothing to gain by it and everything
as we now see, TO lose. The ablest men in the
| Orange State We're opposed to it. So 1t is be-
| lieved. the vast majority Of the people. But
President Steyn. for reasons of his own forced
! the measure upon the State. and the deed was
done. The Transvaal had thought to gain for
| itself the Orange States independence Instead
| 1: has involved the Orange State in its own lack
| of independence.
The consoling and hopeful feature of the case
is seen in the way in which Lord Roberts was
welcomed TO Bloemfontein. We are told he was
acclaimed with enthusiasm. And we know that
| If he was thus greeted 1t was by Dutchmen for
there are practically no Outlanders in the State
The Orange burghers have had no heart in this
war They entered ii reluctantly, forced into II
! by technical sense Of duty under the act of
union with the Transvaal. There is reason TO
/ suppose that most of them are at heart glad the
/ British have triumphed, and will hail with iov
the establishment of new government at
Bloemfontein. in which the ambitious ntriguas
of Messrs Steyn and KRUGER and the marplotry
Of the Afrikander Bond will have no place We
may be sure that Great Britain, on her part will
| treat them with magnanimity, and so far rs In