The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-18

it unless he has considerable properly
qualification, is registered from the time
he came there, has renowned his a.le-
glance to his own country two years be-
fore he is to receive the right to vote
in the TranSvaal, is member OF FRO
testant Church, and has taken an oath
of allegiance that is repellant to him. But
the Kruger regime provides for the fuil
franchise for Boer boys at the age OF six
teen, without a property qualification.
Another singular modification of the sys-
tenn has hitherto passed without notice.
All qualifications can be waived by mere
vote of the burghers, and a body OF elect
ors taken in by the back stairs without
possessing any of the qualifications, as
though the door were left open to swamp
in number the most intelligent whites by
introducing arbitrarily a great number by
Boer selection.
But the franchise is not the real ques-
ton involved in this dispute. It has
been sought by the unenfranchised as
a means of redressing grievances, and
not as an end in itself. Had the Beers
governed WE'LL there would have been
no demand for the franchise. and yet.
everywhere, fairness demands for civil
lied man the right to participate in the
government Of the country in which he
casts his lot, and where his household
gods have been set up, as soon as tine
has proved his intention. No inEabi-
tant of the Transvaal asks for the fran
chise without renouncing his allegiance
to his own country, without having re-
sided in the. Transvaal for five years,
without swearing allegiance to that
country, or without complying with the
property qualification. These terms are
more strict than are required of Beers
when settling in the State of New York,
or in any New England State, or in the
United States, CT in England.
Nor by this just extension of the fran
chise was the country to be delivered
over to their control. It was entirely
acceptable to them that their representa-
ton should be by districts of much
greater population than the rural re-
gions where the Boers predominater as
a result of which the Uitlander repre-
sentatives in the .tirst Rad could in
no case be more than six in cham.
Der consisting of twenty-four members.
The means, therefore, for the redress.
of their grievances by their own efforts
would be the slow work OF convincing
an adverse majority of the inherent.
fairness Of their claims The proposal
involved no danger to the independence
OF the country.
The cause OF the present unrest IN
the TraLSVaals lies cacka oiE lie = q II =
chise It is in the incapacity OF the
Beers for elf-government, their want Of
recognition of the rights of man, their
hostile and miscfievous legislation In
things that concern fundamental rights,
in their blindness to those obligations
upon every civilized state to embody
justice and equity in all their instltu-5
lions, and to make possible IN the
hearts of men the allegiance winch
cannot be imposed upon then. by mere
law. In the words of Mr. Balfour. An An;
oligarchy is in power there, aggravated
by corruption. !" I.
Mpnopolists subsist there. The amen
flaw Is grievous; the press law IS an IN. IN:
sstrument for poisoning or suppressins
public opinion; there is an illicit liquor
traffic, dangerous in a high degree W l.
the majority are native blacks there
are educational disadvantages, legal and
sanitary Inal-a dmtnist an as1ncom-i
petent5 police, uncertainty in the law
: and dependence Of the courts on the
caprice and will d the gorernme Mt.
In the shifty Boer diplomacy that has
been the anazement of the world Tor
4 the last few months, nothing isnore5
confusing than the proposals which Pre-
5sident Kruger has brought forward. All
may be characterized as protesting u
give what they. in rea lfty witt DC. An
Interview 18th AR Kruger, published on
Sept. 10th, represents him as saying
ss5 Il have tried all aspng 10 place the
aliens I'll the ransyanls .oa the n ii
footing politically the burg hers. 81.