New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-02
THE TR4ySV4AL CONSTITUTIONS.


Memories of Lord Durham's days in Canada
and Of the Reconstruction period in our own
Southern States suggest to the reflective mind
something of the difficulties which confront the
British government in its task Of formulating a
constitution under which the Transvaal may
pass from the status Of Crown colony to that
of a self-gOverning commonwealth. Theoreti-
cally II might seem easy TO some to perform the
task on the equitable basis enunciated by Mr..
Winston $. Churchill. Of treating Brit0n and
Boer alike Practically the crux Of the situa-
ton is found In the attempt 10 do that very
thing. For BritOns and Beers have each shown
themselves intent upon gaining the advantage
over the others. and Of the alternative schemes
OF suffrage and representation proposed one
seemed obviously in favor of the one and the
other of the other
The Beers have been campaigning for Il sys-
TEN OF representation based upon the gross pop
ulallon rather than upon voting strength. and
perhaps also for land owning qualification for
suffrage such as prevails elsewhere in South
Africa, and even. according to some for plural
voting such prevails in some European conn
tries, under which the head of IA family would
nave TWO or three votes against bachelors
one. They have also demanded the division of
the country into constituencies on the old Dutch
magisterial lines. with the districts made eaual
not in population, but in area 50 that a hundred
square miles of veldt, with a hundred scattered
families Oh it, would have the same representa-
ton and power in the legislature as Il similar
area Of crowded town and city. with tens of
thousands Of inhabitants. Under such = svs-
TEN, not I'm it's EXTREMIST form. but sDIIy on
the population basis. the Beers estimated that
in a legislature Of sixty members they would elect
thirty-fve members 10 the British twenty five
and that then they would he able to refashion
the constitution at will and make the Transvaal
a Dutch state again. 1t was such prospect
which inspired Mr.. Kplings strenuous muse
20 the utterance of his latest political verse On
the other hand. the British party strOve for a
system Of lone man. vote; one vote one
value" with the country divided into cOnstit-
uencies equal not in geographical area, but in
voting strength Under that system it was esti-
mated there would be a small British majority
in the legislature, though Of not more than two
thlrty-one BritOns TO twenty nine Boers-in q
house OF sixty members.
So far as can be determined from the sum-
mary disclosed, the British government is seek
ing 10 pursue course of compromise II pro-
poses TO adopt the principle of ''one man. one
Fole' ana thus 10 make the British bachelor
ana tenant the peer OF the BOer paterfamilias
ana land owner. So far its scheme will he ac.
ceptable 10 the British party. On the other
hand, IL proposes 70 deny the principle Of conc
vote. one value" and TO grant one Representative
iof each OF the old Boer maglsteriaI districts.
regardless of population That, there is reason
10 think, will result in marked INEQUALITY 90
representation, such now exists among vari
GUS constituencies in the United Kingdom. ana
also in Congress districts in the Northern and
Southern states Of this Union; and such ineaual
fly, IL is believed, will be greatly TO the adyan
tage Of the Beers.
Under this system the result Of the first cleo
ton must be regarded as most uncertain The
Beers are not likely 10 win by so large ma