Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-01
SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.
The formation OF the South African
Union, consisting OF Cape Colony,
| Orange River Colony Natal. and the
TransvaaL under British sovereignty,
II the logical outcome Of the war,
eight years ago, by which the Trans
vaai and the Orange River colony were
deprived OF their independence. The
| appointment, however,of General Botha
as premier under Viscount Gladstone
as governor general. is demonstra-
ton 10 the world Of the complete recon
Citation between the warning factions
and the establishment Of the era OF
good will. The strife was bitter and
long. and II was feared that II would
continue after the surrender OF the
Beers. But the latter have proved
themselves true to the new order OF
things. But the spirit OF the Beers
was not broken. That they are stil
n factor Of no mean Importance the
English admit by the appointment OF
their former military leader TO the
premiership Of the entire union. And
thus there is peace because one side
does not insist on enjoying every adj
vantage possible over the other side.
After the war the Beers continued the
fight on constitutional lines. and In the
elections OF 1907 and 1903 they re-
turned large majorities TO the repre-
sentative assembly and this was done
largely by the aid OF British voters who
were dissatisfied with the policy of the
home government. Today racial party
lines are almost totally eliminated, and
the majority Of the people are united in
working for great South Africa, to
build up It's Industries, and TO fiji IL
with prosperous people by fostering the
inflow OF capital and OF immigrants.
The strength OF the new ideaiism was
shown in the most striking fashion by
the movement which eliminated in the
Union. General Botha's career Is ex-
traordinRry. As member OF the
Transvaal Volkraad he often opposed
the policy OF Kruger but when the
war broke out he accepted the leader
ship Of the Boer forces, and opposed
the progress of Great Britain for over
two years. He well knew the hope
lessness OF the struggle but he fought
on against odds When the end came
II was his influence that turned the
scale in favor OF a formal surrender,
which preserved the political cohesion
and moral sef-respect OF the Beers
and incidentally insured his own SUI
premacy as their political leader In
that capacity the crown colony admin
istration found him a determined and
sometimes captious critic. But through
out he remained unswervingly loyal 10
his Interpretation Of the agreement
concluded at Vereenlging, and with a
firm hand guided his people into the
quiet channel Of ordinary British party
politics. In less than FIVE years from
the peace he was prime minister Of
the Transvaal. At the union conven-
tons he has been leading spirit.
The executive government OF the
new union is vested in the sovereign
OF Great Britain, and consists OF
governor general, an executive coun-
ell and two houses Of Parliament, named
the Senate and the House OF Assembly.
The Senate Is to consist of
thirty-two elected and eight nomin-
ated senator's. four Of which latter are
10 be appointed In virtue OF thorough
acquaintance with the wants and wish
es OF the colored races of South Africa.
The House Of Assembly is to consist OF
12t members, chosen directly by the
voters Of the union and assigned to the
various provinces. Members of both
houses must be British subjects of Eu-
ropean descent and have resided in the
union for Ave years.
The provinces, which will CORES pond
to the existing colonies, are 20 be adj
minis;ered by an administrator ap-
pointed by the governor-general. an
executive committee and provincial
council Pretoria Is 20 be the seat of
government offices and Cape Town the
seat OF the parliament The provincial
capitals will remain at Cape Town, Pre-
tor1a, Bloemfonten and Pietermaritz-
burg. Both the English and Dutch
languages are 10 be official languages
of the union, and are to enjoy equal
rights and privileges. There Is to be
a supreme court OF South Africa, Of
which the colonial and supreme courts
will be parts All South African ap-
peals viii go TO the supreme court Of
South Africa, and nm appeal shall only
lie TO the privy council from the SUI
preme court OF South Africa in cases
where the privy council has granted
special leave.
Isn't thers going TO be anv hack