The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-31
New Government for Four Colon
les is Formally inaugural
ed Today
MARKS new ERA IN HISTORY
Home Rule is Much Appreciated q,
Colonists Who Make Occasion
General Holiday-viscount Glad
stone, Governor General

N-HDt lOMI, Niiy hC t'fVf -
the four South African colonies
Transval, Cape of Good Hope, Natal
and Orange River State-became an
accomplished fact today, when the
nev government of United South Af-
rica was formally proclaimed, with
Viscount Gladstone as the first Gov
ernor- General. The inauguration OF
the new government was made the oc-
casion for general holiday. Hun
dreds of visitors came to Cape Town
to witness the inauguration ceremon-
les and the city presented a festal
appearance. The Governor-General
took the oath of Office in the presence
of an immense crowd which thronged
the vicinity of the legislative palace.
The Governor General was surrounded
nv the dignitaries of state and the Of
ncial representatives of the four colon
les which have now come under the
administration of a single central
government.
The inauguration of the union gov
ernment marks the dawn of new
era in the history of South Africa. II
Is regarded as a striking example OF
the essential vigor and soundness Oh
the British political system that with
in n decade that saw the outbreak Oh
tlhe Boer war the four provinces Oh
south Africa should. of their free mo
tion mite TO form one State, with
single parliament, under the generai
sn,reryIsion of the imperial govern
mont This is what is achieved by the
Constitution which became enec,Ne
today The Constitution provides TOT
substantial unifcation. The me-"
government Is to be strongly central
ized. following the Canadian rather
than the American or Australian pia''
in reserving all powers not especiaiiy
delegated to the provinces. Practic-
ally all the interests and anairs On
the provinces are placed in the hahos
Of the central parliament the purely
local and administrative business o'
each province only being in the hands
of a provincial council, which also Is
subject finally to the authority of par
lament.
The administrative offices of the new
government are to be ut Pretoria Ihe
capital of the Transval, while the su-
preme court and other high courts wiil
be established i'm Bloemfontein, the
chief city of the Orange River state
The sessions OF parliament are To pe
held in Cape Town, which is to be
the seat OF the legislative government
The parliament is to consist OF tw'
houses, the senate and the house VI
assembly The senate Is to consist o.
thirty two elected and eight .nomin
ated senator's, four of which latter are
to he appointed In virtue of thorough
acquaintance with the wants an'
wishes of the colored races of Soutf
Africa. The appointment of efsh
nominated senator's is to rest tn th'
Governor General in council ana the!
are to hold office for ten years Th'
elected senator's are to be chosen bA
the provincial councils, each province
being entitled 10 eight representatives
The house of assembly is to consis
OF III members chosen directly by TN
voters and assigned 10 the Variou
provinces I'm the following manner
Cape of good Hope, 81; Natal. IL
Orange River Colony, IL; Transval
&C. Members Of both houses must o.
British subjects of European decen
and have resided In the Union for nv
years. The principal of proportiona
representation. with the single trans
ferable vote, Is adopted for all elec
tions provided for under the constitu
ton. No voter is to be disqualifie
solely on the ground of race or color
The Governor General has selecte
General Louis Botha, premier OF th
Transval. to form the first ministr
cabinet of United South Africa. In
first elections will probably not b
held for several months. In the mean
time the cabinet will have TO refash
Ion to a considerable extent the whol
administrative system heretofore div
ided among four governments. tn
cabinet will also have numerous ar
pointmcnts to make, patronage
dispense, and precedents to lay dow
OF supreme Importance to the futui
character and welfare of the new dc
minion.
General Botha rs regarded as n ms
highly qualified for the important %
sition 10 which he has been chose
His career Is one of the most remarl
able examples I'm recent history. Tt
Years ago he was an ordinary memb'
OF the Transval volksraad. A fe
months later his courage and enerl
brought him to the supreme commar
OF the Transval forces For over tv
years he sustained the British strui
gle whose hopelessness he realize
from the beginning. When the inevi
able end came near II was his II
huence with his people that turned u
scale In favor of formal surrend