The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29

~islaturs was >. much stronger as against
him than are the two-ohambered Letis-
latures Of America, which a and ire
quently do, differ In opinion. 80 thai the
President or Governor can play on one
against the other Again: An American
Federal President has a Cabinet OF ad-
visers whom he has himself selected, and
an American State Governor has usually
officials around him who. being elected by
a party vote at the same election. are PROB
IDLY his political allies; whereas q South
African President might possibly have an
Executive Council OF opponents forced on
him by the volksraad. And ever In ne
Qotiations with foreign States he could not
act apart from this Executive Counc Mr..
Bryce goes on to indicate the distinctive
note OF both the South African Constitu-
lions, which was the kind Of relation they
| created BET the Executive and the
Legislature. These powers were not dis
Joined, a. in the United States, because a
South African President habitually adj
dressed, and might even lead, the Volks-
raad. Neither werc they united, as In
Britain and her colonies, where the Ex-
ecutive Ia at the same tim dependent on
the legislature, and also the leader OF the
Legislature, for the South African Prcsi-
dent was elected by the people Tor a hxed
term, and could not be displaced by the
Volksraad. He combined the indepen-
dence Of an American President will the
opportunities of influencing the Legislature
enjoyed by a British, or British-colontal
Ministry. For nearly all practical pur-
poses he was at the mercy OF the Legs
lature, because he had neither n veto, IKE
the American President. nor a power oil
dissolution, like the British Ministry. The
yolksraad could take all real power from
him. should il be 80 minded. But he wa
strong by the possession Of 1.-TWO advantages
lie could persuade his Volksraad, which
had not, by forming Itself into organized
parties, become inaccessible to persuasion
He could influence the opinion OF his peo-
ple. because he was their choice. and a
single man in a high place fixes the at
tention and leads the minds OF a people
moro than does an assembly
Our author reminds us that the twin
South African republics. though not pure
but representative deInocracies, were
nevertheless from one point Of view com
parable with the Greek Commonwealths,
The Orange Free State had in 1895 only
some II 900 voting citizens. and the Trans
wal not many IlbIt, "Hi' h'h''' Wv
DAYS Of Themistocles had about 10000.
After noting this numerical resemblance
between the Greek and the Boer democ-
racies, our author Expresses the opinion
that any one who, knowing little or nothing
about the social conditions the history
of the two South African republics, should
have tried to predict the working OF Their
governments from n perusal of their
constitutions. would expect 10 find
them producing a supremacy. perhaps a
tyranny, Of their representative assembly;
few checks upon it's power being discover
able within the four corners of either in
strument. He would have been prepared
to see party government develop itself in a
pronounced form; to sec power concen-
trated In the party majority and its leaders;
to see the Executive become the humble
instrument of their will; and to see, finally,
the courts of law. especially in the Trans
vaal. with it's flexible constitution, unable
to stem the tide OF legislative violence.
As n matter of fact, what ~happenedy
Party government in the English and
American sense did not make its appear
ance. The Legislature did not become
the dominant power. subjecting all other
powers 20 itself. In general. II followed
the lead of the Executive. The courts of
law. though lin the Transvaall at one mo-
ment menaced, administered justice with
fairness and Independence From ls03
TO 1865 the Legislature Of the Orange Free
State was guided by the counsels OF Presi-
dent Brand. whom the people elected for
five successive terms. His successor. Mr..
Rei,z. who was obliged by i'll health TO re-
tire from Office in 1895. enjoyed equal re-
spect, aud almost equal influence with the
Volk-raad. while President Steyn, who
was elected in 1896. was believed 10 possess
the qualities which had endeared his pro
d.-essors TO the community In the South
African Republic. President burgers. who
heId Office from 1872 til 1911. was, like Presi-
dent NJ ". Pretorius before HIM. prac-
ucally more powerful than the Nolksrasd.
and. after 1881, President Kruger, thrice
reelected. wa the ruling fore" nihe politics
Of the country The Legislature, there
fore, did not have ~ "a" 1ranSvaLl. any
more than In the Orange Ere" state. the
career ~ triumph over the other authun-
tee 10 the Commonwealth which might
have iaen pr'-tictad Tor H.
Ia a postscript o. this ss-ay the author
recognizes that the drrtulctlon OF al all
.,ruts. IA. drastic transformation. II th"
Consultations 81 the 1fan-ynal and th"
Orange Fr-s State vii D. one outcome q
the pr--ont val Ia Ssuih Africa We oau-
mot hnls. thsnrfurr o. watch "a" normal
dA.latanent Il NuAt pfuuilr"d o. 10" az
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