The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-01
BRITONS GENEROUS
TO .BOER PEOPLE
100 go
Plan for Government Of Transvaal
Outlined in the House Of
Commons.

London, Aug. lin . speech Of great
moderation. carefully designed to pro-
gitiate his opponents, Winston spencer
the colonial department., in the house
Of commons yesterday, explained the
government 3 plans to confer consti-
tuition upon the Transvaal.
Dwelling on the urgency Of the cues
ton, he described the Transvaal as the
nerve center Of South Africa, and said
that the new country reproduced in
miniature all the dark and tangled
problems Of the old established Euro
ne p siaeip haS Bssn e treat ua the
Boer and Britain alike and to mako no
distinction in granting the boon Of Brit
ish citizenship.
Manhood Suffrage.
The government decided for the prin-
ciple Of manhood suffrage against any
property qualification. Therefore every
adult male q years Of age, who had
Africa, except members Of the British
garrison, would be entitled to vote un-
der the secret ballot system. Proper
tional representation is not popular and
Is incomprehensible lin the Transvaal.
so 1t had been decided to 90 straight
Tor single member seats.
In regard to electoral divisions argu.
ments existed both for equal areas ana
the old magisteriaI districts. The Boers
had expressed a strong desire to pre-
serve the latter, and as it would save
precious time and expense the delirnita-
ton Of the old districts system was
adopted. f"
The population of the Rand, Mr.,
Churchill asserted, equaled that Of the
whole Of the rest of the country. and
on the basis Of the census Of 1904 it
had been. decided to allot thirty two
members to the Rand; one to Krueg-
the rest of the country. =
Lord selborne, the British high COM
missioner in South Africa, Mr.. Church
i'll explained, had expressed the opinion
that this arrangement was perfectly
fair to the British vote.
L. Either Language. IN
| The Transvaal assembly would con.
sist Of sixty-nine salaried members,
elected for Eve years. Either the Brit.
lsh or Dutch languages would be used
| in public business. sa 49,. i : =
Mr.. Churchill declined to speculate
on the outcome of the elections, But
said that there are undoubtedly more
British than Dutch voters. He hoped,
however, they would produce. coai:
tion government. Such a solution would
be a godsend to South Africa. f,
| An animated debate followed the
close Of Mr.. u Churchill g remarks
Among the participants was Alfred Lvt
telton, former colonial secretary. who
said he thought the proposal premature
coming as it did only four years afte,
the war, and the experiment a hazard
| Gus one. a.:.- . -
Sir Gilbert Parker conservative,
contended that the government ' wa,
gambling with the administration q
the colony and had taken upon itself
an almost terrible responsibility.
Mr.. Balfour, winding up for thu
unionists, declared it to be q rockies,
and audaclous experiment. He argued
that IT was toosnear the war TO expecl
the Dutch to forget what they had suf
Tered, and more than human natur,
Go 1al.gg grant R to expect them to be loya
Sir Henry FCampbe Ill -Bannerman. III,
that never III the course Of lis nari;a
mentary career had he listened 10 ,
more unworthy, smischievous and unpat
riotic speech. " - >s>>-'''
An exciting scene followed these re-
'ne r apolosise Shouting shame
etc, but the chairman promp 1tHof eaile,
division on the question Of the colo
nal sse9eeetary's salary, which was car
While this was transporting in tn
commons Lord Elgin, secretary Of stat
Tor t9a the colonies, had made the sam
sGS b'eni?'t in the. house Of lords as MI
mons: While Mr.. Churchill was nreis rail-,
ing the new constitution his cousin. th
duke OF Marlborough, who was colonia
under secretary in the late fovernmeni
was denouncing it in the upper house
LORD Lansdowne said there WINS
dread in the minds of most mel, tha
re Boers would gain the upper hand i
ne me elections, and then goodbye to Enc