Cut B consists of a fragment of the Bordereau, and underneath is a fragment of part of a letter written by ex-Commandant Esterhazy. The other half of the writing consists of a fragment of the Bordereau and the writing of Esterhazy. These alternate; first are two lines of the Borderean, then two lines of Esterhazy's letter follow. The facsimiles form one complete whole. French experts in handwriting declared "The two writings are absolutely alike from all points of view. The Bordereau is the work of Esterhazy."

Affairs in the Transvaal look still more threatening than they did a week ago. It is stated that the Boers are arming and distributing arms among such of their compatriots as have made their home in the British

The Situation in

the Transvaal.

Colony of Natal.

The British are not less active. The War Office has sent word to all officers on leave to be ready to rejoin their regiments at a moment's notice, and has prepared a list of all the men available for service in South Africa.

1

In spite of these preparations for war, both sides are doing what they can to preserve peace. That a peaceful solution to the affair will be found seems, however, most unlikely, for the reason that the ideas of the English and the Boers are so opposed to each other that an agreement seems very remote.

The English claim that the foreign element represents four fifths of the entire population of the Transvaal, and that, therefore, they have a right to

1899]

Situation in the Transvaal

849

run the country to suit themselves. The Boers say that the foreigners were not invited into the country, that they have come unasked and undesired, and that if they insist on settling where they are not wanted, the least they can do is to conform to the laws.

As a matter of fact the Boers have made their laws as difficult for the foreigners as they could, and have taxed them and forced them to pay ruinous rates for the articles which they needed. But they have had a perfect right to do so, and if the Uitlanders do not approve of the laws of the Transvaal, they need not

live there.

President Krüger has decided to break the dynamite monopoly, which was one of the main causes of the trouble, and has submitted to the Volksraad the offer he made to Sir Alfred Milner in regard to shortening the length of time necessary for foreigners to secure citizenship in the Transvaal.

The dynamite monopoly seemed to be a particularly severe cause of trouble. In working the gold mines it is necessary to blast the rocks with giant powder, and without it no work can be done. President Krüger allowed the dynamite trade to pass into the hands of a few persons, who promptly raised the price so high that the miners were forced to pay exactly double the value of the powder. The tariff on the material was so high that it was impossible to import it, and so the miners were at the mercy of the traders.

President Krüger, in offering his proposals in regard to the franchise, informed the Volksraad that England had refused every concession which he asked, and that he would not make any others than those out

T

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The Mazet Committee

851

lined. He declared that he did not want to involve his country in war, but that the Boers must maintain their independence. He further stated it was his belief that God was with the Boers, and that right would prevail.

The change in the franchise suggested was that the full rights of citizenship could be acquired after seven years' residence, instead of twelve as at present, this being on condition that the applicant had never been convicted of any disgraceful crime, and had an income or visible means of support to back up his desire to share in the government of the country.

This last clause is highly necessary in a land which attracts only the gold miners and adventurers who are seeking some royal road to fortune.

It was rumored that in reply to the petition for British interference, sent by the Uitlanders to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary sent a message which could only be regarded as an ultimatum. It, however, appears through official documents which have been made public that the reply was guarded in the extreme, and left an opening for a peaceful settlement of the difficulty.

The reports from the gold fields continue to be so encouraging, and the vein of gold appears to grow richer the farther it is worked, that there is little hope for the Boers being left in peace. They will either have to fall in line with the wishes of their unwelcome visitors or be wiped out altogether.

The Mazet Committee still continues its sessions, but the net result so far has been a general regret that the

The Mazet Committee.

investigation was commenced. Dark and devious deeds have been traced to both parties, and the deep waters of Democracy on one side seem so foul and muddy, and the shores of Republicanism on the other hand so full of quicksands, that honest men find it hard to decide whether it is better to be drowned in the dirty waters or swallowed up in the choking sands.

Everything possible to be reached by the Committee will be investigated by it, but it is doubtful whether any good will come out of the inquiry. We must all hope for the best, but in the meanwhile it is somewhat hurtful to our pride as citizens to find that the government of our State seems, in numerous instances, to mean little more to the party in power than "How much is there in it for us?"

An interesting fact was brought out by the Industrial Commission which is sitting in Washington for the purpose of examining into the trusts In Regard to Trusts. and the commercial interests of the country. Mr. H. O. Havemeyer, president of the American Sugar Refining Company, was called, and startled the Committee by announcing that:

"The mother of all trusts is the Customs Tariff Bill."

He declared that the Dingley bill offered such immense protection to the industries of the country that it encouraged the owners of large businesses to combine and keep up the prices of their goods; that through his tariff they had nothing to fear from foreign