The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-15
THE NEW GOVERNMENT FOR SOUTH
AFRICA.

a London dispatch regarding the new
form of British government that will be
provided for South Africa say the Orange
River colony and the Transvaal will be-
come crown colonies. That means that
the government will be under the direct
supervision and control of the Foreign Of
flee at London. The British colonial system
includes at least three distinct forms or
grades of government. marked by the diff
self-government which they enjoy. Crown
colonies are those i'm which the crown has
the entire control of legislation, while the
administration is carried on by public Of
ficers under the control of the home gov
ernment. Such colonies have no legisla-
lures of their own. but get their laws from
Parliament. Next are colonies possessing
representative Institutions. but not respon-
sible government. in which the crown has
no more than a veto on legislation, but the
home government retains control of public
officers. Finally there are colonies, of
which Canada and Australia are conspicu-
Gus examples. which possess representative
institutions and responsible government, in
which the crown has only a veto on legis-
Iation and the home government has no
control over any officer except Governor.
British colonies of this class are practically
as free. Independent and self-governing as
the United States. This system is the re-
suit Of the force of circumstances and CT
experience rather than of constitutional
or legal requirement, and is subject to
change as circumstances or experience may
prove the necessity. The British Idea Of
governing is TO govern. British govern
ment aims at practical results. and, not
being based on academic theories or SUBJ
constitution, is always free to adjust itself
to a given situation. The announcement
that the South African provinces will be
governed as crown colonies means that
there will, for the present. be no elective
officers, that the executive and judicial Of
ficers will be appointed by the home gov
eminent and that the laws, which will be
few and simple, will be enacted by Par
lament.
The London dispatch above referred to
tary for colonial affairs. sent for ]. p.
Fitzpatrick. who is well known in con-
lection with South African affairs. and
spent a whole day in consultation with
him. 1t adds: "Mr. Fitzpatrick will sail
for Cape Town June 16 to join the adj
visory committee which Sir Alfred Miner
is forming This Mr.. Fitzpatrick is the
author of a work published about a year
ago entitled 'Tne Transvaal from Within"
He is a native of South Africa, lived in
the Transvaal from 1854. was secretary of
the reform committee which organized the
movement to secure political rights for the
~outlanders, and was one of fifty-six per-
sons arrested, tried and convicted for trea-
son, sentenced to fifteen years imprison-
ment and pardoned on aymen of $4,000
each. Four others paid 100000 apiece for
their pardons. His book is the most COM
plete presentation of the South African
question that has been published. ana por-
trays the tyranny, corruption, venality and
Injustice of the Kruger government by an
overwhelming array of facts. His long
residence in the Transvaal and his thor
ough knowledge of the South African situ-
alton were doubtless the reason of his being
called into consultation by Mr.. Chamber
lain. His book shows him to be a man of
broad and liberal views, and his knowledge
of South African affairs will make him a
valuable adviser in the new government.