The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09

AMI wv w I1S ia w
JAMESON ON THE RIGHT, AND
In 1902, the close of a bitter,
bloody war, Great Britain had the
two sturdy Dutch republics,
Orange Free State and the Trans
vaal, down and helpless. There
followed much discussion in par
lament as to how they should be
ruled in the future.
A sportsmanlike and generous
policy prevailed. The two repub-
lies were accepted as colonies and
allowed to govern themselves.
And now Great Britain receives
her reward.
For out of far South Africa is be-
ing forged a great new British ma
tion--a nation nearly as populous
and Dutch working together. It's
the new jewel of the British
crown.
English Cape Colony and Natal
and Dutch Transvaal and Orange
Free State have joined to form one
country. They have agreed on a
constitution and laid it before the
imperial parliament.
AS soon as parliament can dis
pose of the budget and it's tariff ar
guments, the constitution will
doubtless be ratified and the new
nation will begin its formal exist
ence.
And the significant big thing
about the constitution apart
from the fact that the colonies have
agreed voluntarily on the union
is the power that the colonists
place in the English government.
England may appoint the govern
or general of the new colony, which
is to be called South Africa. The
governor general will get $4,000 a
year.
The governor general names
eight of the 40 senators, who serve
10 years. The provincial admins
traitors name the same percentage
of the provincial assemblies.
No bill or resolution can be
passed by either the colonial or the
provincial assemblies without be-
ing recommended first by the gov
ernOr general or the administra-
tors.
This vesting of power in the Eng
lish government by the colonies is
-Britain's return from her invest
ment of confidence and generosity
to the conquered republics in 1902
pears in the South African consti
Another significant thing ap-
tution--the disposition of the ne
gro problem.
That South Africa has a negro
problem is shown in the percent.
age of black population among the
-four colonies. In some places they
Outnumber the whites ten 10 one.
The problem there was much
more serious than in the United
States. Also from the fact that
the blacks, except In parts of Cape
Colony, are savage and densely ig-
norant, unworthy to be intrusted
with self government. they were
Kaffirs and Zulus.
Here's the way the new constitu.
ton solved the problem.
No restrictions as regards color
were placed in the constitution. But
certain qualifications as to property
holding and education exclude all
blacks except the better class in
Cape Colony.
Also four senators and represent
atives are to be appointed in the
general assembly who will be spe,
cially the representative of the
blacks. They shall be men who
nlnCnIv IN tn,.nh xxyifh he a
and interests of the black people in
the new colony. They shall recon-
mend measures for them to the as
semblies.
Another peculiar problem had to
be met by the trainers of the coz
stitution-a capital. All the chic.
cities of the colonies wanted it, of
course. So it was divided The
seat OF executive government was
placed at Pretoria, the old capital
of the Transvaal the seat of legisla-
tive government at Cape Town,
and the seat of the judiciary at
Bloemfontein, capital of the old
Orange Free State.
This arrangement-new in gov
eminent allayed many local jeal-
ousies.
In coming to the agreement about
forming the new colony, there was
. long debate. Part of the people
wanted a loose federation. The
rest wanted a real union with a
centralized government. The advo-
Gates Of the latter plan won.
In reaching the agreement the
men who had fought each other
bitterly with guns and bayonets 10
years ago. worked hand-in-hand for
the common good. The impetuous
DIR. Jameson. whose spectacular
rsid set the fires of the Boer war,
and latteriy president or premier
of Cape Colony, worked with Gen.
Botha, who fought the British so
bitterly in the war.
ITS for the bigger South Africa, !"
they say; the South Africa Of