New-York tribune., 1906-08-16
rHE TRANSVAAL TERMS
onsimistic Vic.c of the liberal Gou-
crRment's Work.
London, August 8.

London, August 6.
.,,.,o.l na-tisanship is as robust and pas
q, england as in any democratic repub-
Taere nave been furious outcries this week
u .re Liberal governments new constitu-
s,- she Transvaal. II has been condemned
-. n.,,eI,, as an abject surrender Of everything
-,hieh sie50.00O.0O0 was expended i'm the
- war. and as a reckless gambling bout in
p s.,e of a cluster of British dependencies. It
=, been described by frenzied leader writers
= oouslly incorporate party orators another
.,.,,ba. in which the Beers are allowed TO
-, their saddles and to ride of in triumph.
!, ,opld be difficult 20 match these vagaries OF
-..,e,sanship in any thoroughgoing Presidential
s-.ss in the American commonwealth. What
Z. 7iberal government has done has been 10
.-..bish manhood suffrage as the basis OF self
-.-.rnnaent in the Transvaal. and that is just
pa soui;able settlement. The main grievance
-.,,s r-itIander before the war was that he was
.--s5 without being allowed TO vote or 10 exer-
- any OF the functions OF citizenship. That
-,srance is removed under the new constitution.
!. nav be an open question whether the Beers
: she English viii have majority in the new
,.,sla.nre; but il cannot be doubted that the
ss,s will be fully represented IN that body and
.,,t there VIII be no political disabilities. The
r,rlish in the Transvaal did not have political
-ehts before the war. and they will have them
r,ssr the constitution. What they fought for
.ssy will secure under a just system OF self
,,rsrnneni Otherwise il was an immoral war;
rnducted selhshly for the sake Of making South
africa "all red" and not for promoting the high
- ends Of civilization and justice.
Under the peace convention which brought
ne war to a close, the British government was
rpder obligation to provide a charter OF self
,srernmeut Lord Elgin has been IN close COM
,unleation with Lord Selborne, and has acted
m the advice Of Sir West Ri6geway, chairman
# e committee which has been conducting an
shsustive inquiry in the Transvaal. The
rnionist government had favored low property
Qualification. but this would have disfranchised
voung Beers and poor whites, and there would
have been grievances at the outset. Manhood
rFrage has been adopted with a system of rep
ysseniatian 50 closely balanced between the
Rand and the Boer districts that the rival white
rsces Will be forced to work together, under the
leadership Of moderate men There is a tenn
5orary provision for second chamber of fifteen
members nominated by the Crown. and there
hss been compromise on the language Ques-
,iou which VIII limit the choice of Speaker TO a
small group Of members. who thoroughly under
sand both English and Dutch. There are other
ranciliatory adjustments in dealing with land
settlement and the labor question; but. on the
whole the constitutional proposals are just. and
lsave both races on level of equality. There
v!l be responsible government under the CrowI-.
nd while rivalry OF races is inevitable. there are
sfeguarIs against the ascendancy of either
Brhon or Boer, a coalition government will
pobably be formed and extremists VIII be eX-
ciuded. il IS as promising a scheme of colonial
luononly as could fairly be expected. The Lib
el government deserves full credit for sagacity
and fexibility in dealing with most trouble
sne and complex subject. Lord Selbornes
Uacurrence ia the essential features Of the
Eheme ought TO have disarmed partisans and
Effected ministers against unfair criticism.
ne Boer. with his narrow conception of
ueoral state. will find il difficult to accept the
NV ideal of a composite industrial colony with
an agricultural background. Yet he cannot
ustv complain Of any lack Of magnanimity in
ibe terms OF partnership. No other race de-
ssgted in a protracted and stubbornly contested
war has ever been treated with equal generosity
and equity The second generation viii ac-
knowledge this, even il the veterans Of the war
are Influenced by narrow habits OF thought and
determineG 10 obtain a monopoly Of political
POWER Il KRUGER and his associates had been
broad minded before the war they would have
made large concessions to the Citlanders ana
welcomed confederation in the interest Of Dutch
South Africa They were moving in TOO narrow
circle TO perceive the resources OF power which
he Dutch IN Cape Colony the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal would have for controlling
confederation OF five commonwealth. II may be
Dutch south Africa yet, for when the colonies
are united as in Canada and Australia. the
hgrghers with their superior discipline and
lenacty. may become the ruling race, especially
Is the English settlers have perverse habit OF
splitting up into discordant factions. For the
present, tovev the balance Of power in the
most aggressive Boer community Is in the hands
q no5erate men, Who will be disposed to carry
OUT honorabiy The conditions Of partnership with
tie English colorists and 70 minimize raciaI
issues When confederation comes the horizon
Of he sturdy Boer burghers may have been en-
a-ge5. ana they may be as well satisfied with
heir freedom under the British crown as the
French Canadians now are in the Dominion.
Optimism is more reasonable than partisan pes
fimism ana It fits in with the moral order OF
human affairs. l. y r.
" IN ! u