"Go and tell your people," said he once to a deputation from the
uitlanders, "that I will never change my policy."
For once he spoke the truth, and having seen him I feel convinced he
never will, but he has persuaded so well and spoken so fairly, that I
doubt if a Colonial Office official will abandon hope of him.
I recall to mind the last portion of Article 14 of the London
Convention, which refers to those persons other than natives who may
enter the South African Republic. "They shall not be subject, in their
persons or property, commerce or industry, to any taxes, local or
general, other than those which are or may be imposed on citizens of the
South African Republic."
How does that agree with a fourpenny tax on a four-pound loaf of bread?
Or a shilling tax for every four pounds of meat, or a shilling tax on
every four pounds of potatoes, or a sixpence for every half-pound of
butter eaten at breakfast by a miner and his family?