The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-04
ORGANIZED 1892

ASSETS, 100000
w. H. PALMER, President
". II. MCCARTHY, Secretary
consolation that the Beers would see that
Justice was done them, when they saw
the nagnanimity of Great Britain
The Government Of the country was
vested in Mr. Stephanus Johannes Paulus
Kruger, and he at once started ms ilah-
chise alteration by depriving the towns OIL
representatives, as he thought they might
be too enlightened for his purpose, bat
it would be too tedious to go into the
franchise question:; but I shall call your
attention to these outstanding lactS III
1898 a petition was signed by 1S,V0o allens
in favor of granting the extension OF
the franchise, but was received by the
Raad with great laughter But not With
standing this encouragement, during the
following year another was presented,
signed by 35.4s5 men of age and of suit
Gent education to qualify them for q vote
In any country. Sir, the qualifications re-
Qulred before one could procure the IRAN
chise was too humliating for any self
respecting person to undertake; IN TACT
it was Mr. krugerS intention to keep
Lie COuAlIy anu ultidHueIS u opShSS'
which he could squeeze when he wished,
and which would make as little noise as
the aforementioned article. But 1t is not
-one Of the characteristics of the Saxon
race to be bulied. or see others abused
without justly resenting the same.
It would be too much in this short sketch
going into Mr.. KruSer's treatment OF
the natives. but he became SO arrogant
that even Mr. Gladstone, the Boer bene-
h,3 and G%De-
dition which cost over one and hait
million sterling, before the sly fellow
would give way
The beginning Of the emigration for
gold was in 1882, when the property
known as "Moodes'' was thrown open
to prosrectors. The Republic was again
in a bad way, and drifting backwards
after the first squirt.
In 1854 Kruger and Smith proceeded
to Europe to endeavor to raise funds,
which were badly needed and they nc
gotiated the London convention which
liked hitherto underlined boundaries and
secured the consent of the British GOV
errment to the alteration of the title
Of the country from the IransVaal State
to the South African Republic Mr..
Kruger stayed at the tAibemarle Ho-
tel. where, after a week. they found
themselves in the uncomfortable posi-
ton Of being unable to pay their hotel
bill In their extremity they applied to
Baron Grant. a Scotch Exchange man,
who asked in return that some publlc
assurance Of good will or protection
should be given to British settlers in the
Transvaal. MIR. Kruger responded on
behalf of the Republic by publishing
cordial invitation to all who would go
to his State.
Even at this early stage Of the Repub-
lie the Doors rave striking DroOf of their
corruption.
FIELD CoHNETs.
The field comets are officials who act
as petty justices, collect taxes, register,
&c. The registration should be of great
Importance, as the period for naturaliza-
ton and enfranchisement is reckoned
from the date of registration in the
field comets books. These officials
collect taxes imposed by law, omit to en-
ter the names of new arrivals in their
books and thus secure themselves against
having to make good these. amounts in
the event of an inspection of the books.
Many of them were barely able to write;
had no offices, and the chances for cor
rect entry were very remote.
In the country districts justice was not
a commodity intended for the British.
Many cases of actual murder may be
cited, hut think it enough to draw your
attention to that of Mr.. Donaldson. of
Lydenburs, in 1SS5. which was such
glaring case that the Imperial Parlia-
ment demanded justice, and on receipt
Of the representations the men were ar
rested tried and fined. The fines were
remitted at once by the Government.
But shall simply hastily call your atten-
ton to 4 few cases as Illustrations. I
have not the space al my disposal to go
into the Netherlands Railway Company's
monopoly, concession in which Mr.. kru-
gers son-in-law "hawked" about for the
highest bid the vote of the Executive
Council. and sold. and duly delivered the
aforesaid vote. There is the famous Ii
bel case in which Mr.. Eugene Marais,
the editor of the Dutch paper, Land en-
Volk, successfully sustained his allegation
that the president had defrauded the
State by charging heavy travelling ex-
penses for a certain trip on which he
was actually the guest of the Cape Col
ony Government.
In the election of 1888, General Jou-
bert opposed Kruger and the latter mas
terly used his position in office and his
authority over the officials. and convert
ed the civil service OF the country into
an election organization. 1t has been
openly stated and never contradicted. and
is accepted in the Transvaal as an IN
questionable fact. that at least three
properly elected members of the Vol
keraad were 'jockeyed'' out of their seats
because they We're known to favor Jou-
bert. On various pretexts newly-elected
members were debarred from taking their
seats. In one case a strong supporter
of the General, who was returned by
majority of something like six to one.
was kept out of his seat by the mere
lodging OF an objection by his oppnent;
there being law that the Volksraad
shall hear objections, and that the mem
Der last elected for the constituency shall
continue to represent it.
That the objection lodged in this case
was ridiculous in the extreme had no
bearing on the immediate result The
president said that before all things we
must support the law, and that pending
the decision the old member Ga strenuous
supporter of His Honor) shall retain his
seat.
To further illustrate Mr.. Kruger's cleo
ton tactics, I refer you to the election of
Mr.. Essein; thus kruger, with the aid
Of ,his little tricks, was enabled to get
himself returned with 1851 as against
Jourberts 1909. The commission appoint
ed to investigate matters was constltu-4
ted chiefly Of Kruger's supporters, and